• About
  • Work with Me
    • Contact
  • Food Photography
  • Newsletter

Chef Janet

So good, they'll never know it's gluten-free.

  • Gluten-Free Recipes
    • Appetizers and Snacks
    • Baked Goods
    • Breakfast
    • Dessert
    • Main Course
    • Salads
    • Sauces and Dressings
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Cooking Basics
  • Gluten-Free Diet Tips
Home Β» Vegan Β» No Tomato, Low Acid BBQ Sauce

February 23, 2022 (last updated November 29, 2022)

No Tomato, Low Acid BBQ Sauce

No ratings yet
Leave a Comment Jump to Recipe

This recipe for low acid BBQ sauce uses a combination of low acid spices and sweetness with no tomato and no ketchup. Use this flavorful sauce on chicken, beef, fish, pork and ribs.

Be sure to check out my other low acid recipes including my no tomato, low acid pasta sauce, low acid salad dressing with tahini and ginger and my creamy low acid zucchini soup.

Glass jar of low acid barbecue sauce and brush with sauce on wood board. Pan on left with chicken drumsticks coated in sauce.

Is Barbecue Sauce Acidic?

Yes, barbecue sauce is usually made with a base of tomato paste or ketchup. Vinegar, sugar and spices make it a sweet and tangy sauce. Barbecue sauce is quite acidic because of the tomatoes with a pH of 4.3-4.9 and vinegar with a pH of 2-3.

In order to make a BBQ sauce that is low acid, tomatoes, ketchup and vinegar need to be omitted or kept to a minimum.


Ingredients

Pumpkin puree – I know it may sound crazy, but it really works. Tomato paste or ketchup is the traditional base for barbecue sauce, creating that thick body. But both are quite acidic and not an option for a low acid sauce.

Pumpkin puree provides a perfect background and thick base for this BBQ sauce. And don’t worry, with all the spices and flavors added, the pumpkin flavor will fade into the background.

Spices – This sauce contains a mix of several spices (no hot or acidic spices). The spices include mild paprika, ground ginger, ground coriander and cumin. If you like a more smoky flavor in your barbecue sauce, you can use smoked paprika in place of regular paprika. The spice section of your grocery store usually has smoked paprika.

Smoked salt adds another layer of smokiness to the sauce. It can be a little more difficult to find, but also adds a nice depth of flavor to this sauce. If you don’t like smoky flavor, it is ok to leave it out. If you do omit smoked salt, you may need to add a little extra regular salt.

Overhead view of round wood board with small terra cotta bowls of spices and jar of low acid, tomato free, BBQ sauce. Beige napkin underneath.

Barbecue sauce also needs a sweet element. Maple syrup, brown sugar or agave provide some flavor along with the sweet.

Apple cider vinegar in just a small amount provides a little bit of tang that you want in a barbecue sauce. The amount is small enough that it keeps the acid level pretty low in this sauce.

I know that there is some evidence that apple cider vinegar is processed as an alkali in your system. I also know that some people on low acid diets completely avoid it. So I wanted to keep the amount low so that it has some effect on the flavor but a small effect on the pH of the final product.

Black strap molasses adds a wonderful bittersweet flavor to this barbecue sauce. This was the final ingredient that I added to the sauce. Creating this sauce a bit of a process that involved me starting with the pumpkin puree base, adding ingredients a few at a time and tasting after each addition. The molasses added that final indescribable oomph to the sauce.

The sauce will be simmered with fresh green onion for another layer of zingy savory flavor.

Close up of jar of low acid BBQ sauce (tomato free) on wood board. Spoon above with sauce.

How to Use BBQ Sauce

This barbecue sauce can be used on any protein. It is perfect on grilled chicken, fish such as salmon or swordfish, baby back ribs, pork chops, chicken or beef kabobs, shrimp or even tofu.

Barbecue sauce works best when it is brushed on near the end of the cooking process. Because it contains a good amount of maple syrup and molasses, it can burn easily. So, after one side is cooked and is facing up, brush on some barbecue sauce for the last five to 15 minutes of cook time. This way it will add some flavor without burning.

Close up of jar of low acid BBQ sauce on wood board. Basting brush with sauce on left. Pan With BBQ chicken in right rear.
close up of jar of low acid not tomato BBQ sauce. Spoon with sauce ablove jar.

Low Acid BBQ Sauce (No Tomato)

Author: Janet Harlow
Course: Sauces and Dressings
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
This low acid barbecue sauce is flavored with a combination of spices and sweetness with no tomato and no ketchup.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 5 mins

Ingredients
  

  • 1 c pumpkin puree
  • β…”-ΒΎ c water
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup or agave
  • 1 Tbsp molasses
  • 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Β½ tsp paprika
  • Β½ tsp ground ginger
  • ΒΌ tsp ground cumin
  • ΒΌ tsp coriander (ground)
  • β…› tsp smoked salt (optional)
  • Β½ stalk green onion cut into 3 large pieces (do not chop)

Instructions
 

  • Place β…” cup of water and the rest of the ingredients in a medium sized pot (about 2 qt size) and place on the stovetop over low-medium heat.
  • Whisk thoroughly to combine all of the ingredients.
  • When the sauce begins to bubble, turn the heat to low, cover the pot and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring 2 or three times.
  • Remove the pieces of green onion. If the sauce seems too thick (it will thicken as it cools), stir in 1 Tbsp water. Add another tablespoon if needed.
  • ο»ΏTaste. If it seems a little blah, you can add a couple of pinches of salt and another teaspoon ot two of molasses.
  • Cool and pour into a jar.
  • Use on chicken, fish, beef, pork, ribs and tofu.
  • This sauce will stay fresh in the refrigerator for at least 1 week. Shake well before using.
Did you make this recipe?Let me know how it was! Tag @chefjanetk on Instagram.
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Posted In: Sauces and Dressings, Vegan · Tagged: low acid

Leave a Comment & Rate this Recipe Cancel reply

If you love this recipe, please consider leaving a star rating and review when you post a comment. Star ratings help people discover my recipes online. Your support means a great deal to me.

Thank you!
Janet

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Me
Hi, Welcome! I'm Chef Janet and I create gluten-free recipes that everyone will love, gluten-free or not.

Set up a customized lesson with me to learn basic cooking techniques, gluten-free, menu planning and kitchen tips to make your life easier. Follow me on instagram to keep up with my latest and let me know how I can help.

Follow along on Instagram

Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Wheth Thanksgiving prep has started in my kitchen! Whether you need a gluten-free stuffing recipe, gravy or an easy side, I've got you covered. Need a delicious, decadent dessert? I've got that too. Link in my profile to my Thanksgiving recipes.
πŸ—πŸ₯§πŸ 
You'll find tips for perfect silky, smooth gravy, moist delicious stuffing, perfect pies, simple sided dishes and more.
🍠πŸ₯§πŸ—
#glutenfreethanksgiving #thanksgivingrecipes #thanksgivingdesserts #glutenfreestuffing #glutenfreegravy #losangeleschef #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreepiecrust #glutenfreedessert
Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put Pie and cupcakes are my favorite desserts so I put them together in one. These gluten-free apple pie cupcakes make for an awesome autumn dessert. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🍎 πŸ₯§πŸ§
These cupcakes have a fluffy cinnamon spiced cake, traditional apple pie filling and an apple cinnamon buttercream frosting.
🍎πŸ₯§πŸ§
#glutenfreecupcakes #glutenfreedessert #glutenfreeapplepie #losangeleschef #cinnamonbuttercream #glutenfreelosangeles #holidaydessert #glutenfreeholidays #autumndesserts #applepiecupcakes
Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry or Nothing says holiday brunch more than cranberry orange muffins. Link to the recipe in my profile.
🎈🍊🎈
#cranberryorangemuffins #glutenfreemuffins #holidaybrunch #glutenfreebaking #losangeleschef #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #cranberryorange
This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday This Sweet Potato Frosting is the perfect holiday topping for cupcakes, cakes muffins and anything your heart desires. There's just four ingredients and no cane sugar. Link to the recipe in my profile.
 🍠 🧁🍠
Sweet potato puree, cream cheese, butter and maple syrup are all you need for this amazing frosting. Amazing on carrot cake, spice cake, vanilla cake and so much more.
🧁🍠🧁
#sweetpotatofrosting #cakefrosting #glutenfreeholiday #holidaydesserts #glutenfreeblog #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #sweetpotatodessert #sweetpotatorecipe #cupcakefrosting #glutenfreecupcakes
Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slather Do you like your gluten-free pumpkin bread slathered in a rum icing or a straight up?? Get the recipe - link my profile.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
This recipe is super easy and makes an incredibly moist and delicious pumpkin bread that is good enough for dessert, brunch or a little autumn snack.
πŸŽƒπŸŽƒπŸžπŸžπŸŽƒπŸŽƒ
#glutenfreepumpkinbread #pumpkinbread #glutenfreebrunch #glutenfreebaking #autumndesserts #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreechef #glutenfreeblog #pumpkindessert #fallbaking
I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-f I hope you didn't miss it last week! This gluten-free lemon drizzle cake is too good! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #glutenfreecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreeblog #glutenfreechef #loasangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreelemoncake
This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of This Gluten-Free Lemon Drizzle Cake is the cake of my dreams. Link to the brand new recipe in my profile.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
The combination of lemon and butter in a sweet dessert is about as good as it gets, if you ask me. This cake is super moist and somewhere between a pound cake and a fluffy layer cake.
πŸ‹πŸŽ‚πŸ‹
#lemondrizzlecake #lemonloaf #glutenfreelemoncake #glutenfreecake #lemoncake #glutenfreelosangeles #glutenfreeblog #prettycakes #lemondesserts #glutenfreelemondrizzlecake
Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut Add a shot of peanut butter whiskey to your peanut butter cookies and you'll be hooked like I am! Link to the recipe in my profile.
πŸ₯œπŸ§ˆπŸͺ
#peanutbutterwhiskey #boozydesserts #glutenfreecookies #whiskeycookies #boozycookies #glutenfreeblog #peanutbutterwhiskeydessert #losangeleschef #glutenfreelosangeles

Copyright © 2023 Chef Janet · Support by Foodie Digital · Privacy Policy · Accessibility Policy · Web Stories