This sauce is dirty, low and dirty, which means we get to the bottom of things, to the true ingredients of what a sauce should be. In New Orleans, people may move slowly, but no one has time to play.

The world is full of things added to our food these days that aren’t dirty but downright unholy. GMO monstrosities, high frack-toes corn syrup, pesticides, it’s a miracle our bodies aren’t in worse shape. A few years ago I started making some difficult changes to the way I ate and how I chose the foods to put into my body. My choices were informed by science, logic, and spirit, like most good decisions.

Shhhhhhh, it’s a secret!

Everyone has their own BBQ sauce recipe, family honor has been lost and won on such a battlefield. I have heard of people putting everything from Chai tea to Cola in their secret concoctions and the results are good, as can be expected. When it comes to the southern part of the US, BBQ sauce almost becomes a religion. However, when I look at the shelves in my store, my eyes start to water, and not from the heat of the sauce. The supermarket selections are pitiful and plentiful. Most of the major brands are located in Chicago or St. Louis, not that they can’t make BBQ sauce in these places, but it’s not a legend. The ingredient lists are as long as my arm, not that it’s a bad thing, but half of these chemicals I can’t even pronounce. Making your own sauce may take a few minutes, but the flavor and benefits are well worth the effort.

Dirty Voodoo Barbecue Sauce Recipe

1 cup organic tomato sauce

1 6-ounce can organic tomato paste

2 tablespoons honey

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 tablespoon Coconut Aminos or Soy Sauce

1 tablespoon coconut oil

1 red onion, chopped

2 minced garlic cloves

2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

1 teaspoon onion powder

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon chipotle chili powder

2 teaspoons Paprika

¼ teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

salt and pepper to taste

Heat the coconut oil in a saucepan over low heat. Add the onions and cook until they start to turn translucent. Add garlic to pan, just beginning to brown, add tomato sauce, tomato paste, honey, vinegar, coconut aminos, or soy sauce. Cook over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then add the remaining ingredients. Cook for another 20-30 minutes, continuing to stir and making sure that the mixture does not boil. Remove from heat, add salt and pepper to taste. Indulge in everything from ribs to burgers to chicken and indulge in some delicious and dirty voodoo mojo.