Savoury Elderberry Recipe

Elderberry BBQ Sauce

A deep, tangy barbecue sauce with elderberry richness, a little sweetness, and a savoury finish. It is perfect for ribs, chicken, pulled pork, burgers, roasted vegetables, and summer grilling.

Prep: 10 minutes Cook: 30 minutes Makes: About 2 cups Best served cooked
Bowl of elderberry barbecue sauce with a basting brush, grilled meat, herbs, and elderberries

Elderberry BBQ sauce is a beautiful way to bring local berry flavour into savoury cooking. The elderberry adds colour, depth, and a gentle tartness that works especially well with smoky, salty, and slow-cooked foods. This recipe is designed to use elderberry juice, making it smooth, simple, and easy to brush onto grilled or roasted dishes.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup elderberry juice
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar or maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons molasses
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
  • Optional: pinch of cayenne or chili flakes for heat
Using frozen elderberries?
Cook and strain them first to make juice. Elderberries should be cooked before being used in recipes.

Instructions

  1. Add the elderberry juice, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar or maple syrup, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt to a medium saucepan.
  2. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  3. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring often, until the sauce thickens and the flavours come together.
  4. Taste and adjust. Add more vinegar for tang, more sugar or maple syrup for sweetness, or a pinch of cayenne for heat.
  5. For a smoother sauce, blend with an immersion blender or transfer carefully to a blender.
  6. Cool slightly, then store in a clean jar in the refrigerator.
Tip: Brush this sauce onto meat near the end of grilling or roasting so the sugars do not burn.

Best With

Ribs, chicken, pork chops, pulled pork, burgers, meatballs, roasted squash, grilled onions, and roasted root vegetables.

Storage

Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. For longer storage, freeze in small portions.

Flavour Notes

Tangy, smoky, slightly sweet, and richly savoury with a deep berry finish from the elderberry juice.

Recipe Notes

This elderberry barbecue sauce can be made sweeter, smokier, or spicier depending on how you plan to use it. For ribs and pulled pork, keep it slightly sweeter and thicker. For chicken or roasted vegetables, add a little extra vinegar to brighten the flavour. If using cold-pressed elderberry juice, simmering the sauce gives it a rich cooked flavour and helps thicken it into a brushable glaze.

More Elderberry Recipes

Explore more ways to use elderberries in drinks, baking, preserves, savoury sauces, and farm kitchen favourites.

Back to Savoury Uses Back to Elderberry Recipes
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