Apple-Bacon Barbecue Sauce & Mop

By stancec44

The smoky-sweet flavor of this mop and sauce is a classic complement for pork ribs.

Ingredients

• 1/4 lb. (4 to 5 slices) bacon
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 5 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 tsp. ancho chile powder
• 1/2 tsp. sweet paprika, preferably Hungarian
• 1/4 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp. celery seed
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium-low heat until browned and crisp, 10 to 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain the bacon on paper towels and eat it whenever you like. Pour about one-half the bacon fat into a small saucepan and reserve the remaining fat in the skillet for the barbecue sauce. To the saucepan, add 1/2 cup of the apple juice and 2 Tbs. of the cider vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and then remove from the heat (this is the mop).

Add the remaining 1/4 cup apple juice, 3 Tbs. cider vinegar, and the ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, chile powder, paprika, cumin, celery seed, and pepper to the bacon fat in the skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking until smooth. As soon as the barbecue sauce simmers, remove the skillet from the heat.