Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

Ancho (Ahn-cho) Chile (Capsicum Annum) means Wide Chile Pepper. This chile ranges from 3 – 4 on a heat scale of 1 to 10. An Ancho is the dried form of a Poblano Pepper and often is mislabeled as a Pasilla or Mulato Pepper. Anchos have sweet fruity flavor with hints of cherry, prune, and fig. Anchos, combined with the Pasilla and Guajillo, form the Holy Trinity of chiles used to prepare the traditional mole sauces. Scoville heat units are 1,000 to 3,000.

Heat Scale
Submit Recipe

For sauce:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 bunches green onions, chopped
2 cups chopped white onions
8 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 cups (packed) golden brown sugar
1 cup ketchup
1 cup tomato paste (about 9 ounces)
1 cup whole grain Dijon mustard
1 cup water
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup apple juice
1 large dried ancho chili, stemmed, seeded, cut into small pieces
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 cups bourbon

For spice rub and ribs:
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon coarse salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cardamom
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
6 pounds baby back pork ribs (about 3 whole racks)

Preparation:
Make sauce
Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-low heat. Add green onions, white onions and garlic and sauté until tender, about 15 minutes. Mix in all remaining ingredients, adding bourbon last. Simmer sauce until thick and reduced to 7 cups, stirring occasionally, about 1 hour. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Sauce can be prepared 2 weeks ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

From brazilianflairintheusa.com