There is no shortage of barbecue sauces in the marketplace but you’d be hard pressed to find one that combines stout beer and bacon as in this recipe from the geniuses at Bacon Today!

BACON AND GUINNESS BBQ SAUCE

Ingredients

1 lb. bacon
3 Tbsp. bacon grease
2 sweet onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
½ cup molasses
1 cup Guinness beer
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup white vinegar
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. black pepper
½ tsp. cayenne
6 oz. tomato paste

Instructions

1. For the BBQ Sauce: Cook the bacon. Prepare grill for medium-high heat cooking, approximately 375 degrees.  Lay a few strips of bacon on foil-lined rimmed baking sheets. Place baking sheet on the grill and bake until crispy, about 17-20 minutes. Place cooked strips on paper towels and allow to cool. If you already have bacon grease in your fridge, you can skip this step.

2. Take 3 tablespoons of bacon grease and add to a large frying pan. Add the chopped sweet onions to the pan and sauté on the grill until they start to caramelize, about 15-20 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 more minutes.

3. In a large bowl, mix the molasses, Guinness, brown sugar, vinegar, salt, pepper and cayenne together until evenly combined. Pour into the pan with the onions and garlic and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Add the tomato paste and let the sauce simmer for 30 minutes, stirring every few minutes. Remove from the heat and let the sauce cool. Puree in a blender until smooth and no chunks remain. May add finely chopped bacon bits to the sauce, or use as is.

5. To make the BBQ bacon: Prepare grill for medium-high heat cooking, approximately 400 degrees,  Glaze uncooked bacon strips with sauce and place on a foil-lined, rimmed baking sheet. Place baking sheet on the grill for 15-17 minutes or until crispy.

Recipe courtesy of Bacon Today