Caribbean-Style Jerk Sauce

Budget Tip

I will admit, this recipe is pretty spice intensive so it requires that you have a fairly well stocked pantry.  Spices can be expensive, so feel free to check out your local dollar store for the more common spices, which they all are.  Also, next time you are in your grocery store, instead of heading down the spice aisle where the big name spices are, pop over to the ethnic section. The spices here tend to be a lot less expensive.

Suggested Ingredients

3 TBSP butter - use the real stuff
a couple of stalks of green onions, white and green parts, chopped into rings
1 cup water
3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup brown sugar plus a little extra - the dark brown kind is best for color
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 TBSP white vinegar
2 TBSP hot sauce - I like to use Franks however any sort of cayenne based hot sauce will do.
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 tsp lemon juice
1- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried parsley flakes
1 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder, I actually use a spice blend for making garlic bread spread
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp rubbed sage

Suggested Cooking Method

In a medium sized sauce pan that won't react to the tomato acids, saute the onions in the butter until soft.  Don't let the butter or the onions get brown.  Remove the pan from the stove and whisk in all the other ingredients.  Put the pan back on the stove and bring to just above a simmer.  Turn the heat down slightly and let simmer for about 45 minutes.  Let cool and then store it in the fridge until you need it.

This sauce has a bit of a kick, but nothing too spicy.  My son loves it!

This sauce is really good tossed with grilled chicken wings.  It's also good when brushed over chicken breasts as they are grilling.  I would imagine, that it would be good if used as the baking sauce for chicken thighs as well, but I haven't tried that yet.