Ever been to Franklin Barbecue? Neither have I! To be honest, it’s on my radar every time I go to Austin, but I don’t seriously entertain the idea of waiting on it’s legendary mile-long lines, even though I know the place is Mecca for Barbecue enthusiasts. I guess, file this one under “I’m too old.”
I’m comforted by the idea that until I make it there, I at least have this: Aaron Franklin’s signature barbecue sauce. It’s from Franklin’s new book/manifesto, which I included in a New York Times cookbook round-up last weekend. As I wrote in the review, his book is as much a manual for entrepreneurs as it is a complete education on every possible facet of barbecue. I find the word “passion” is ridiculously overused, but in this case there’s just no avoiding it — Franklin built his empire on passion, hosting huge cookouts for his friends when he could afford it, scouring the free section of Craig’s List for all the necessary gear, once high-tailing it through Austin at 2:00 in the morning to pick up a smoker that he saw had been discarded curbside. It was one of those stories that made me say to myself “Why don’t I take more risks?” and then say out loud to whoever is listening, “People are amazing.”
Anyway, until I risk everything to start my own business, I have Franklin’s sauce. It takes five minutes to make and, when poured into a Mason Jar and tied with some twine, I’m guessing would make a lovely Father’s Day gift. That’s my kind of DIY project.
Franklin’s Barbecue Sauce
Franklin is famously exacting, as you can see from the measurements below. So far, we’ve used this on ribs, basic weeknight baked chicken legs (page 72, Dinner: The Playbook), and mixed into turkey burgers. It will not let you down.
1 3/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/4 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon chile powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
Combine all the ingredients in a sauce pan and warm gently over medium heat, stirring occasionally. There is no need to bring the mixture to a boil, as the idea is just to warm it enough to melt and integrate the ingredients. Once you have done that, remove from the heat and let cool. Transfer to a jar, bottle, squeeze bottle, or however you want to store it. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month.
Ribs. Wow, I love summer.
Recipe reprinted with permission from Penguin Random House.
Ok, I want this to help me #makedinnernotwar
Love the suggestion to make this as a Fathers’ Day gift (and that way my husband doesn’t need to know that there’s ketchup in it). Feeling rebellious, I plan to put a full tablespoon of brown sugar in there, instead of 3/4 Tbs (=1/4 Tbs + 1 1/2 tsp). (Can anyone tell me why cookbooks always call for 1 1/2 tsp instead of 1/2 Tbs?)
#makedinnernotwar
My guess is because there is not a measuring spoon size that says 1/2 tablespoon, but there is a teaspoon and a half teaspoon size.
I can’t wait to try this recipe! Thanks for always posting just what I need to inspire another dinner. #makedinnernotwar
Will try it. it must give my bbq such a delicious taste. thanks for sharing.
See, what you have to do is unwittingly show up at Franklin’s 15 minutes after they re-open from a blackout and you get right in and they serve you a beer while in (the short) line and eat the best BBQ of your life and sigh and say “let’s move here” and then three months later you do. I hear that will never happen to us again.
Just in time for father’s day – I typically make ribs and this look and sounds incredible.
Barbacue sauce looks like it is very delicious.
Jenny–love the blog and the books! Just a heads up…I think you might have a typo on the amount of ground cumin…I believe it should be 1 teaspoon not one tablespoon. I just made the sauce, and even though it seemed like an awful lot of cumin, I thought, “Who am I to argue with Aaron Franklin?” But the cumin flavor is overpowering! After a quick google search, it looks like it should be 1 teaspoon. Not sure whether to be sad about my cumin sauce or proud that my instincts were right! I think I’m just going to triple the rest of the recipe…that should solve the dilemma! (It’s not like we won’t use it, right?)
Thanks Jessica! The recipe is printed exactly as it runs in the book. Franklin calls for 1 tablespoon of cumin, but that doesn’t mean you are wrong. Listen to your instincts, no one knows better what you like more than you! Thanks for reading.
I thought the cumin was powerful at first, but it kind of mellowed out later.
Made this sauce (on a weeknight) for some BBQ chicken and it got a huge thumbs-up from my non-spicey-food eating clan. I personally would have liked a bit of heat, but this sauce is perfectly tangy/sweet to be a crowd-pleaser! I am pretty excited that I still have a mason jar FULL of this stuff. I think it’s our summer go-to! thanks!
any specific ketchup? the one we use in CZ is bit s..ty. Just today i had ribbs with Jack Daniells BBQ sauce so this one goes to next.