Dead Guy Sauce
3 whole cups of apple cider vinegar. Watch your nose!
As always, we deftly turn a one-person job into a two-person job.
Onion powder is a crucial ingredient.
Apparently, Tabasco also requires two people to measure.
In goes some brown sugar -- but not too much!
We used Heinz ketchup, but if you make your own at home, by all means use that.
1 teaspoon of black pepper is a lot to grind.
But so worth it.
The sauce bubbles slowly on the stove, thickening and becoming darker.
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Food52 Review: Remember Shakespeare's famous line about a rose by any other name? Apparently it applies to barbecue sauce as well. We were both amused and baffled (Googling made us none the wiser) by ShoeboxKitchen's recipe title, but the sauce speaks for itself: it's tangy and bright with layers of flavor, but without the cloying sweetness of so many other barbecue sauces. This sauce would be great slathered on chicken, or with pulled pork, which is how ShoeboxKitchen recommends serving it on their blog. - A&M - A&M
Makes about 2 cups once reduced
- 3 cups apple cider vinegar
- 2/3 cups brown sugar
- 2/3 cups ketchup
- 1 teaspoon tobasco
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for about half hour, whisking periodically, until the sauce just begins to thicken. Serve immediately, or reserve in the refrigerator and reheat.
- Your Best Condiment Contest Winner!
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about 1 month ago Trena
I made this for the first time the other day. I roasted a chicken and shredded some of the meat and poured this sauce on top of it. Oh my goodness, it was amazing! I served it with the Spanish potato salad recipe that is also on this site. They are really tasty together.
8 months ago ssnow
serve with pulled pork
over 2 years ago Greg Diablo
Added a 1/4 tsp. Kitchen Bouquet for a richer color. When I saw the title, I thought this would be made with Dead Guy ale. I usually like more onions in my barbeque sauce (Fanny Farmer 12th edition recipe is the one I usually favor), but this can more easily double as a marinade, I suppose.
over 2 years ago RaquelG
Mmmmmm reminds me of my meatloaf sauce - I use just your first three ingredients (apple cider vinegar, brown sugar and ketchup) and bake it on. This sounds like an awesome spicy version that will definitely be on the next one!
over 2 years ago imwalkin
Just saw this yesterday, made it, and marinated some thick cut rib pork chops. Cooked the chops slow over indirect heat on the grill, basting twice with more of the sauce. It was outstanding. Really liked that it was not too sweet, not to spicy, just nicely balanced. Drizzled some on a sandwich of sliced chicken breast today and it was again a winner. Thanks!
over 2 years ago KristiB
We were out of BBQ sauce so I made this for our brisket last night. It was really good!
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
Thanks, everyone. We are truly and humbly thankful to be recognized among so many wonderful recipes and experienced cooks. We are relatively new to this whole test kitchen and food blogging gig and we have learned much more from this community than we could ever hope to contribute. Many, many thanks to all of you!!
Edamame2003, we honestly think your rooster sauce looks amazing and plan to try it out ourselves. We also love what you're doing on your blog. Thanks for the recipe and the healthy competition!
TheshoeboxKitchen
over 2 years ago Sagegreen
Congrats, Shoebox Kitchen! Wonderful recipe. I love your use of cider vinegar and brown sugar.
over 2 years ago edamame2003
congrats shoebox! now you've made me hungry for a pulled pork sandwich...
over 2 years ago lapadia
I would like to add that I look forward to seeing future recipes from you both!
over 2 years ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I'm SO glad you won!!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!
over 2 years ago thirschfeld
I am glad this won. It so reminds me of a legendary pit man's bbq sauce from deep in the heart of Texas. Congratulations.
over 2 years ago rroseperry
This sauce works great with finely minced onions, sautéed in a little bacon fat. (I didn't have any onion powder in the house). The reducing vinegar smell did send my partner out of the house.
over 2 years ago kbrunsmann
Love the name! Sounds delicious...
over 2 years ago advicecook
http://notecook.com/salads...
you can find the recipe here
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
Thanks for this link, advicecook. Lots of great variations on the vinegar-based BBQ sauce.
over 2 years ago gbuda
A week later, I'm still enjoying this sauce on my smoked pork. Tonight, smoked pork sandwich with Dead Guy Sauce. Outstanding.
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
gbuda - Glad you're enjoying the sauce. As soon as we read "smoked pork sandwich" we got really hungry. Mmmm.
over 2 years ago Kayb
I'm down with this. Pork loin going on the grill tomorrow, with a dry rub, and I think this would be perfect to serve with. If I can stand the smell of vinegar reducing for half an hour....
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
Kayb, we hear you on the smell of reducing vinegar - just think back to childhood and dying easter eggs . . . ;-)
over 2 years ago annalea
making this tonight to go with spare ribs for end-of-summer BBQ tomorrow. so far it looks and smells great! simple recipe packed with flavor.
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
Annalea, let us know how it tasted on the ribs!
over 2 years ago ShoeboxKitchen
Thanks everyone for your kind comments and votes!! If you're cooking barbecue over the holiday weekend, we do encourage you to give it a try!
And about the origin of the name - sorry, we want to tell the story, but we've been sworn to secrecy!
over 2 years ago lastnightsdinner
I look forward to trying some this weekend - we got a nice pork butt that's destined for the smoker, and I bet this will be great with it :)
over 2 years ago mtlabor
this sounds amazing! can't wait to try it out!
over 2 years ago Forni
Gonna whip some up for this weekends pulled pork. All 30# of it!