Again, in an effort to consume the load of beef we were given, I created a new barbecue sauce without tomatoes, gluten-free, of course. A little variety is the spice of life, right? Molasses along with sugar and salt is a great tomato-free substitute for ketchup when cooking. Skip the hot sauce and cayenne to create a milder version.
You can spice this sauce up or down to your liking. If you do not care for a spicy barbecue sauce definitely remove the cayenne and chipotle sauce. Or if a slightly mild sauce just remove one or the other. This sauce is not real hot (spicy), just a tad. Perfect for me, and can be made refined sugar-free!
A gluten free barbecue sauce recipe made with carrots instead of tomatoes. It works just as well, and includes healthier ingredients.
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup chopped onion
- 3/4 cup carrots, grated
- 2 cloves garlic - minced, grated or crushed
- 1/2 cup gluten-free white vinegar*
- 1 teaspoon gluten-free tomato-free chipotle sauce or hot sauce (I use Buffalo brand.) (optional)
- 1 teaspoon hickory liquid smoke
- 1/2 cup agave nectar (or honey or sugar)
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon mace
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 15-20 turns freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup pure dark molasses
- Filtered water (may need)
- Fruit juice (may need)
Instructions:
- In a medium size pan add enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan and preheat on medium heat. Add and sauté the onion and carrots until tender. Lower heat to medium-low; stir often.
- Add garlic; stir and sauté an additional minute.
- Add vinegar and spices; stir; add liquid smoke, molasses, juice and agave; stir. Simmer for about 30 minutes; increase heat to medium-high and cook for 10 minutes, constantly stirring. Pour sauce into a blender and refrigerate for about 20 minutes. Puree in blender until smooth, about 2-3 minutes.
- Use as needed, warm or at room temperature; refrigerate leftovers.
Tips
* For corn-free dieters use apple cider or rice vinegar.
Hey! One of my daughters has 46 allergies, 23 of them food, and one of them tomatoes… With all of her allergies, I couldn’t use your whole recipe, but I combined it with another to come up with an amazing sauce! Thanks for the tips. I will definitely look at your blog in the future to find things to substitute for comfort foods the rest of us are missing… like Christine’s suggestions for spaghetti sauce in the comments above!
Tricia,
I’m glad this recipe helped you create something useful for your daughter. I’m looking forward to interacting with you in the near future.
Carla
I will definitely be trying this! We just found out that my 4 year old is allergic to citric acid, and he won’t eat anything without ketchup or bbq on it. Thanks!
Ashley,
Wow, citric acid in so many things nowadays. Though it will cause additional work for you, this is a great opportunity to eat healthier.
Thanks for leaving a comment.
Carla
I can’t wait to try this!!! We just went gluten free, and looking for a BBQ sauce my dad can eat…he can no longer digest anything with tomatoes.
Colleen, I’m sure he’ll enjoy this recipe. I recently made it without the chipotle sauce and cayenne pepper, as it is pretty spicy, and enjoyed it even more! I’ve changed the recipe to make these ingredients optional.
Thanks for your comment.
Carla
Per the founder of “I Like to Cook Gluten Free” -
“…turned out really well! The barbeque sauce had all the traditional flavors that I expect and the texture was quite good.” See her recipe she used it in at: http://iliketocookglutenfree.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/tomato-free-barbeque-nachos/
I can’t have gluten or tomatoes so thank you so much for a gluten free tomato free sauce. I’ve been looking for one forever!
You are very welcome, Kathy. My next gluten-free tomato-free recipe will probably be a spaghetti sauce. Stay tuned in, in the coming weeks/months.
Carla
I can’t have gluten or tomatoes either. Im going to try this bbq sauce tonight. For spaghetti sauce i use diced red peppers cooked overnight in my crock pot puree them and add your favorite spaghetti sauce ingredients & spices. It also works well for a pizza sauce substitute too.
Hi Christine,
Thanks for your comment and for sharing your tomato-free spaghetti sauce recipe. I hope you enjoy the BBQ recipe.
Carla