Ingredients
Spices and Oil
- ½ Tablespoon cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ - ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
Fruit and Liquids
- 12 ounces fresh apricots (about 5 medium apricots), washed, pitted and diced
- ¼ Cup filtered water
- 3 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Cup ketchup
Additional Flavors
- ¼ Cup brown sugar (light or dark)
- 1 Tablespoon dijon mustard (preferably whole-grain)
- Fine kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly-ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Gather all ingredients, washing, pitting, and dicing the fresh apricots as needed. Measure everything out to have ingredients ready for cooking.
- Toast Spices: Heat the cooking oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, and cayenne pepper if using. Stir and toast the spices for about one minute until fragrant and aromatic.
- Simmer Apricots with Liquids: Add the diced apricots, filtered water, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce to the pot. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring occasionally, then reduce heat and let it simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes until the apricots become very soft and start to break down.
- Add Remaining Flavorings: Stir in the ketchup and Dijon mustard, then continue to simmer the sauce for another 5 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Optional Pureeing: For a smooth sauce, use an immersion blender or standard blender to puree the mixture on high speed for about 90 seconds until completely smooth.
- Season and Store: Taste the sauce and season with kosher salt and freshly-ground black pepper as desired. The Apricot BBQ Sauce can be served warm immediately or cooled to room temperature and refrigerated in an airtight container for later use. The sauce remains good in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks.
Notes
- Use ripe apricots for the best sweetness and flavor; frozen apricots work if fresh are unavailable but drain excess liquid first.
- Worcestershire sauce adds depth and umami; use a vegetarian version if desired for dietary needs.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control heat level or omit for no spice.
- Pureeing the sauce is optional based on texture preference: chunky or smooth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American