Barbecue Sauce

Time to prepare:  30-40 minutes
Difficulty: Very Easy
Utensils: knife, blender / Food processor / Immersion blender, frying pan/skillet/wok
Adaptable: Yes
Vegetarian: Yes
Vegan: Yes
Dish origin: USA

Ingredients:

•  300g tomato paste or 500g fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
• 120g of pitted dates or other sweetener of choice
• 100ml of soy sauce/tamari/liquid aminos/coconut aminos
• 60ml vinegar of choice
• 6 garlic cloves minced
• 2 peppers (paprika), minced
• 1 small onion, minced
• 1 teaspoon miso or salt

Optional:

• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke 
• 1 fresh herb of choice, chopped
• 1 teaspoon each of 2 spices of choice 
  
• 2 tablespoons of dried mushrooms of choice, diced

Preparation:

In your frying pan/skillet/wok add the onions, garlic, dates and peppers. Cook them with a pinch of water, vinegar or oil, your choice, for 2-3 minutes on medium heat. Add the tomato paste/diced tomatoes and the herbs if using any. Cook for 2-3 more minutes then add the water and the rest of the ingredients. Once the water is boiling let the mixture simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes. Then add everything to your blender/food processor/immersion blender and mix until you get a smooth sauce. Let it cool and store in a jar in the refrigerator for 2-3 months.