Name: Basic Barbecue Sauce
Yield: Makes 2 1/2 to 3 cups
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 1 medium-size onion, minced; 1 clove garlic, minced; 1/4 green bell pepper, cored, seeded, and minced; 1/2 cup ketchup; 1/2 cup tomato sauce; 3 tablespoons cider vinegar, or more to taste; 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 2 tablespoons pineapple juice (optional); 1 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce, or more to taste; 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke, or 2 tablespoons meat drippings; 2 tablespoons molasses; 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar, or more to taste; 2 tablespoons prepared mustard of your choice; 1 teaspoon dry mustard; 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; Salt

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Editor's note: The recipe and introductory text below are from The Barbecue! Bible 10th Anniversary Edition, by Steven Raichlen. To read more about Raichlen and barbecue, go to our feature The Best Barbecue in the U.S.A.

A good barbecue sauce is a study in contrasts: sweet versus sour, fruity versus smoky, spicy versus mellow. Here's a great all-purpose sauce that's loaded with flavor but not too sweet. It goes well with all manner of poultry, pork, or beef. The minced vegetables give you a coarse-textured sauce, which I happen to like. If you prefer a smooth sauce, puree it in a blender.

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