Cooking barbecue

There’s just something about barbeque, whether you write it BBQ or barbecue, whether it’s Latino or Brazilian; from hanging out with friends beside the grill, to serious debates in the kitchen over what type is best, barbeque has captured the taste-buds of Hispanics in America. In the South, you can hear arguments over what type is best based on state and even in some places, which local area of the state!

In North Carolina, barbeque is prepared by slow cooking in a pit or smoker. The meat is chopped and placed on rolls or platters, then the customer pours sauce over the meat. Some BBQ joints will pour the sauce on, or mix it into the meat before serving. A favorite ‘type’ of BBQ sauce in North Carolina is Lexington style, which originated in the town of Lexington.

Other states have dry ‘rubs‘, which is a mix of dry spices that is rubbed onto the meat before it is smoked or cooked. Memphis rub is well known among barbeque fans, and is a favorite in BBQ competitions. You can make your own sauces and rubs to emulate these time honored favorites with various recipes found online.

Most barbeque sauces have a vinegar base. The method of cooking, and the personal style of the cook, will determine whether the sauce is thick or thin. In North Carolina most sauces are thin and soak into the meat. This type of sauce is lower in calories when prepared at home, especially when compared with the thick, sugary grocery store sauces.

To make your own lower calorie North Carolina Style Barbeque sauce you will need: (Adapted from the traditional)

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup water

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup ketchup

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of ginger

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all of the ingredients in a saucepan and warm over low heat. Stir well to dissolve the sugar. Allow to cook over low heat until the sauce begins to slightly thicken. Remove from heat, allow to cool, then bottle. Pour over your barbeque or any other meat.

You can make your own pulled pork, or North Carolina Style barbecue at home with a slow cooker. Take any size pork roast and place into your crock pot. Pour in one cup of water and one cup of your homemade sauce. Allow to cook on low heat all day, or on high heat for 4 hours or more. When the pork is done it will come apart with a fork. Shred and place on buns while hot.