DIY Montana Huckleberry BBQ Sauce
The mild summer and wet conditions earlier in the season have really made the huckleberry harvest pop this year. We are seeing reports from lots of people all over western Montana, finding some good huckleberry harvests. Now is the time to get up high on the mountain, enjoy the cooler breeze and pick some hucks.
According to Wikipedia
In taste, they may be tart, with a flavor similar to that of a blueberry, especially in blue- and purple-colored varieties, and some have noticeably larger, bitter seeds. The fruit is versatile in various foods or beverages, including jam, pudding, candy, pie, ice cream, muffins, pancakes, salad dressings, juice, tea, soup, and syrup
Today we are going to try and incorporate huckleberries into something everyone uses this time of year...Barbecue sauce.
According to a recipe from Kleinworthco.com, here is what you will need:
- 1-1/2 cups ketchup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 1-2/3 cup fresh or frozen huckleberries you could sub with black or blueberries
- 1/4 bell pepper - finely chopped
- 2 large sweet peppers- chopped
- 1 whole garlic small minced
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1-1/2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp salt
- 5 tbsp salted butter
- 1 tbsp granulated garlic
Here is what you need to do to make the magic happen:
- In medium saucepan combine all ingredients except butter.
- Cook over medium-low heat stirring until fully combined & hot (almost boiling)
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in butter until completely melted
- Allow to cool at least 10-15 minutes
- Transfer to blender - use caution with hot liquids!!
- Blend 60-120 seconds - or until all larger pieces are fully incorporated into sauce
- Taste test- (you can add more seasonings like salt or a couple drops of hot sauce to reach desired flavor)
- Transfer to prepared sterile jars
- Store in refrigerator or freezer.
I have used this recipe on everything from elk burgers to pork loin. The tangy/tart flavor of the huckleberries adds a whole new level of flavors than your average barbecue sauce. Now go get to picking, while the picking is good.
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