This Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce is a new twist on an old favorite. Try this amazing homemade sauce on pulled pork, ribs, burgers, and smoked chicken.
Our mustard sauce recipe takes this traditional BBQ sauce and blends it with a new spicy, smoky ingredient. And that ingredients folk is chilis in adobo! Typically this gold-colored sauce is sweet, spicy, smoky, and tart. We’ve simply enhanced the smoky and spicy elements to match a modern palette. Ideally, this sauce should be made the day before to give the flavors a chance to evolve.
Where does Carolina mustard sauce come from?
Legend has it that this mustard sauce, also known as Carolina Gold sauce, originated in the German immigrant community of South Carolina.
What is mustard BBQ sauce?
It is mustard-based and includes other ingredients like honey or brown sugar, yellow mustard, cider vinegar, red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper, and liquid smoke. Pitmasters and home cooks serve this sauce on smoked pork and chicken. However, this can be used as a burger topping or a dipping sauce.
What is the difference between North & South Carolina BBQ Sauce?
East North Carolina is known for their thin, spicy, vinegar-based sauces like Piedmont. South Carolina serves up a thicker mustard-based variety. Both areas also use tomato-based sauces on barbecued meats.
Ingredients
- Yellow mustard
- Cider vinegar
- Dark brown sugar
- Chili in adobo plus adobo sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
- Mild chili powder
- Onion powder
- Butter
- Salt and pepper to taste (start small and work up from there)
Spice level:ย Make this sauce as mild or spicy as you like. Want it spicier? Use two tablespoons of minced chipotles in adobo peppers. For a mild BBQ sauce, reduce the chilis in adobo sauce amount by half.
How to make it
- Place all ingredients except butter in a medium saucepan. Simmer mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often. If the sauce is too thick, add about 2 tablespoons of water at a time until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Remove sauce from the heat and stir in the butter. Let the sauce cool for 15 minutes before using.
- Store sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 days after initial preparation.
- To use: Mix small amounts in with pulled pork, and serve the rest of the sauce on the side. Treat as you would a table sauce or condiment for chicken and burgers.
Try this Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce on:
Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups yellow mustard
- 1/2 cup cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon minced chili in adobo
- 1- 1 1/2 teaspoons adobo sauce
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoons butter
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except butter in a medium saucepan. Simmer mixture over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring often. If the sauce is too thick, add about 2 tablespoons of water at a time until you reach your preferred consistency.
- Once sugars have melted through and the sauce is well combined, remove the saucepan from heat, and stir in the butter. Let the sauce cool for 15 minutes before using.
- Store sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 7 days after initial preparation.
