Tangy smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe - Rhubarbarians (2024)

Smoky rhubarb bbq sauce recipe! Tangy, sweet, and savory bbq sauce made with fresh rhubarb and chipotle peppers.

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Hiya, Rhubarbarians! It's rhubarb season! Let's try something new and unexpected with those rhubarb stalks and make some fresh rhubarb bbq sauce.

I know that using rhubarb, mostly sweetened for pies and desserts, as the backbone for a chipotle bbq sauce is kind of out-of-the-box. But, the tartness of rhubarb is perfect for tangy bbq sauce. This sauce is sweet, tangy, smoky, and super flavorful.

Why you'll love this

If you're someone who loves incorporating seasonal produce into every meal like I am, you are going to love this! The blend of tart rhubarb with the rich, smoky flavor of chipotle is a game-changer.

It's vegan and vegetarian-friendly, opening up a world where everyone, regardless of dietary preferences, can enjoy it at a gathering. What sets this sauce apart is how well it pairs with any dish you would add bbq sauce to - be it grilled vegetables, tofu, or a portobello burger.

The ingredients are seasonal and simple, the preparation is a breeze, and the result is a vegan BBQ sauce that will impress everyone.

Ingredients and equipment

Here is everything you need to make a batch of this rhubarb barbecue sauce at home.Full ingredient amounts with instructions are listedhere in the recipe cardat the bottom of this article.

Step by step instructions

Here is a step by step guide to making rhubarb bbq sauce at home.Full instructions with ingredient amounts are listedhere in the recipe cardat the bottom of this article.

• Chop your rhubarb and gather all of your ingredients.
• Add the ingredients to a large sauce pan or pot on the stove top.
• Stir well and heat over medium heat until bubbles start.
• Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the rhubarb has broken down and softened.
• Puree and then return to the pot.
• Add the salt, taste, and add more if desired.

Serving suggestions

You can use this spring/summer bbq sauce any way that you love to use bbq sauce!

I love drizzling it onto grilled vegetables. The unique tartness of the sauce perfectly complements the sweetness of the vegetables.

Additionally, this vegetarian BBQ sauce works miracles on tofu. Marinating tofu slices in the sauce for a few hours before grilling them makes an amazing vegetarian bbq main course.

Try making tofu or halloumi and vegetable bbq kabobs, spreading it onto a portobello burger, making bbq sauce pizza, using it as a dip for chickenless nuggets, or using it as the sauce for this bbq chickpea veggie bowl.

When is rhubarb season? Rhubarb is in peak season in the spring time from April to June. It grows well in cooler climates and grows through August here in the Pacific Northwest US.

Recipe tips an substitutions

I always love making sauces with the fresh ingredients of the season. This bbq sauce is very simple, but a few tips and tricks could make all the difference for you.

• Feel free to use frozen rhubarb if that's what you have!
• I find that an immersion blender works great, but a high speed blender will create an even smoother sauce.
• If you're not vegan/vegetarian, by all means use regular worcestershire sauce.
• The balsamic vinegar can be swapped for red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
• If you don't want to use chipotle chiles, go ahead and add a teaspoon or two of smoked paprika for the smoky flavor.
• Swap the maple syrup for honey or agave.

Storing, freezing, and canning

This recipe makes 3 cups of rhubarb bbq sauce, so it's quite a lot! Here's how to store it.

Storing: store the sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 4 weeks.

Freezing: allow your sauce to cool completely, maybe even chill overnight in the refrigerator. Place it in freezer safe sealed containers in batch sizes that you will want to use in the future. The sauce will expand a bit as it freezes, so give it some room. Use within 3 months.

You can check out this guide for freezing bbq sauce!

Canning: Follow proper water bath canning guidelines for canning bbq sauce found here on the Ball Jar site.

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Recipe

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