Florida BBQ Sauce Recipe
Florida BBQ Sauce Recipe stands out for its bright tropical character and balanced sweet, tangy flavor. Fresh orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, and orange zest give this sauce a lively citrus profile that differs from traditional smoky barbecue varieties.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Measuring cups and whisk
- Measuring spoons
- Wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 cup 240 g tomato ketchup
- ½ cup 120 g fresh orange juice
- 2 tablespoons 30 g fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons 30 g fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup 85 g honey
- 2 tablespoons 30 g apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon 15 g mustard
- ¼ cup 40 g finely minced yellow onion
- 2 garlic 6 g cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon 2 g orange zest
- 1 tablespoon 15 g Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ teaspoon 0.5 g crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon 1.5 g salt
Instructions
Step 1
- Finely chop the yellow onion and garlic. Squeeze fresh orange, lemon, and lime juice into separate bowls. Grate a little orange zest and measure the remaining ingredients before you start cooking.
Step 2
- Add the ketchup, orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, mustard, chopped onion, garlic, orange zest, Worcestershire sauce, red pepper flakes, and salt to a medium saucepan. Stir well until the ingredients blend into a smooth mixture.
Step 3
- Set the saucepan over medium heat and stir gently as the sauce warms. Once small bubbles appear around the edges, lower the heat slightly. Keep the sauce from boiling too hard, as the honey can stick to the bottom and burn.
Step 4
- Reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Stir from time to time so the sauce cooks evenly. The onion and garlic will soften, and the citrus juices will blend with the ketchup and honey to create a sweet, tangy flavor. Remove the saucepan from the heat once the sauce reaches your preferred thickness.
Step 5
- Leave the sauce in the saucepan until it cools. Taste it and add a little extra citrus juice or salt if needed. Pour the finished Florida BBQ sauce into a clean, airtight jar and refrigerate it before serving. The resting time allows the orange, lemon, lime, and spices to settle into the sauce.