So, I know it’s not quite spring yet, but every time we get a little warm break during the winter weeks, I think most Albertans crave some good barbecue. Making homemade barbecue sauce is really easy, so shame on you if you haven’t tried to make a batch on your own stove before!

After trying out with recipe, marinate some nice pork chops pre-grilling or spoon onto some slow-cooked pork shoulder for some wicked pulled pork sandwiches. Yum!

What you’ll need…

1 yellow onion (chopped)

2 cloves garlic (minced)

1 cup fresh strawberries (trimmed, quartered)

1/2 cup pinot noir

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

1/3 cup white sugar

1 TBSP soy sauce

2 TSP worchestershire sauce

2 TSP garlic powder

1 TSP tobasco

1 TSP cayenne pepper

salt and pepper

olive oil

Directions:

What happens when you have a bottle of red wine and some freshly purchased strawberries on your counter? A barbecue sauce experiment, of course! I love trying out different variations on a traditional barbecue sauce (like this Root Beer one). More so in the spring/summer, when a sunny day is practically begging you to be outside grilling something! The best part about cooking with wine is that you never need a whole bottle, so you can enjoy a glass while you’re cooking with it! Or, that’s what I do anyway…

Start off by cooking down the onion and garlic in some olive oil on medium-high heat until the onion softens, about 5 minutes. Add the chopped strawberries to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Next, pour in the pinot noir and let the mixture cook until reduced by half, about 8-10 minutes.

Once the mixture has reduced, stir in all remaining ingredients. Reduce to low heat and let simmer for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly, then puree in a food processor or blender until smooth. Store in a container in refrigerator until ready to use. Will keep for up to one week.

Great on salmon or chicken! Serving with a chilled, creamy potato salad is highly recommended!

Yields 2 1/2 cups barbecue sauce

Totally cook time…45 min