Barefoot Contessa's Barbecue Sauce

The Contessa told an interesting story about this recipe. She said that about 20 years ago she asked a chef on the show to make three types of barbecue sauces: one mustardy, one tomatoey, and one Chinesey. When she tasted them, the first one was too mustardy, the second was too tomatoey, and the third was too Chinesey! She decided to try combining the three, and she said it turned out being the best sauce she'd ever tried. This is the result, and it's her favorite to this day.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Yields: 1 1/2 quarts

Ingredients

• 1 1⁄2 cups  chopped yellow onions (1 large onion)
• 1  tablespoon  minced garlic (3 cloves)
• 1⁄2 cup  vegetable oil
• 1  cup tomato paste (10 ounces)
• 1  cup cider vinegar
• 1  cup honey
• 1⁄2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1  cup Dijon mustard
• 1⁄2 cup soy sauce
• 1  cup hoisin sauce
• 2  tablespoons chili powder
• 1  tablespoon ground cumin
• 1⁄2 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

1. In a large saucepan on low heat, saute the onions and garlic with the vegetable oil for 10 to 15 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not browned.
2. Add the tomato paste, vinegar, honey, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili powder, cumin, and red pepper flakes. Simmer uncovered on low heat for 30 minutes.
3. Use immediately or store in the refrigerator.
4. The Contessa recommends using this with about 2 1/2 to 3 pounds of chicken. Just marinate it in 2/3 of the barbecue sauce for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator, then slap it on the grill. Serve it with the extra sauce on the side!