Low Carb Smokey, Sweet and Hot Barbecue Sauce

After a trip to Kansas City where I was in barbecue heaven, I got inspired and purchased a smoker and decided to try to make my own low carb, no sugar added barbecue sauce. The regular store bought ones have a ton of sugar in them, and the low carb or sugar free ones taste really bad. After doing some research online, and remebering that my Grandpa used to use coca cola in his venison marinade, I created this tasty concoction in my ver own kitchen. A 12 0z can of diet soda sweetened with splenda and a 6 oz can of tomato paste is a perfect base for a low carb barbecue sauce-if you don't like the flavors in my sauce, use this base and create your own sauce according to your tastes.

• Ready In: 55 mins
• Serves: 6-8
• Yields: 3 cups

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon olive oil
• 1⁄2 medium onion, minced fine
• 3  garlic cloves, minced
• 2  teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1⁄4 cup  low-carb ketchup
• 1 (12 ounce) can  diet cola, Splenda-sweetened preferred like Diet rite cola
• 3  tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 1 1⁄2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1⁄4 teaspoon allspice
• 1  tablespoon TABASCO® brand Chipotle Pepper Sauce (to taste)
• 1  tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1  teaspoon hickory liquid smoke
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2  pinches kosher salt, to taste
• 6  drops  cholula  hot sauce (to taste)
• 1⁄2 teaspoon Sweet'N Low brown sugar substitute
• 10  drops  sweet and low  liquid low-calorie sweetener
• 1⁄2 cup water, at the end to thin sauce a little

Directions

1. heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan, Add the onion and cook over medium until soft - 3-5 minutes.
2. Add fresh garlic at this point and cook it for half a minute or so.
3. Add the rest of the ingredients, stir to combine.
4. Heat over medium heat till sauce bubbles, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45-60 minutes. Sauce will cook down a bit and flavors will combine.
5. Add about a half a cup of water at this point to thin the consistency a bit.
6. Note : If you can't find low carb catsup, leave it out, but add about 1 extra tablespoon of vinegar and some sweetener, to taste.
7. Adjust the seasonings so you have the balance you want - you can add vinegar, artificial sweetener, or hot sauce or liquid smoke. (If it's too hot, adding more sweetener will tone it down.).