Caribbean Barbecue Sauce

Living in the Caribbean is pretty spectacular! I am always trying to come up with new recipes that combine my new culture with my roots. Although I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, southern US barbecue made a huge impression on me. My family and I spent a lot of time coming up with tasty sauces. Spice this Caribbean influened sauce up or down to suit your own tastes.

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 24
• Yields: 3 cups

Ingredients

• 2  tablespoons olive oil
• 1  cup onion, finely minced
• 2  garlic cloves, finely minced
• 3  tablespoons  fresh gingerroot, peeled and finely minced
• 2  cups ketchup
• 1⁄2 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄4 cup molasses
• 1⁄2 cup spiced rum, divided
• 3  tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2  tablespoons tomato paste
• 2  tablespoons sherry wine vinegar
• 1  tablespoon chili powder
• 1⁄8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Stir in the onion, garlic, and ginger, and cook until tender. (About 10 min).
3. Reduce heat to low.
4. Mix in ketchup, brown sugar, molasses, 1/4 cup rum, hoisin sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, chili powder, and cayenne pepper. Cook and stir 5 minutes, until well blended and heated through. Stir in remaining rum.
5. Excellent on chicken and pork loin or ribs!
6. Not that you'll have any left-overs but this sauce keeps well in the refrigerator.