These are common ingredients found in local cuisine. You can find these ingredients readily available in your local supermarket.

BARBECUE SAUCE

Barbecue sauce, also known as char siu sauce, is made from fermented soybeans, vinegar, tomato paste, chili, garlic, sugar and other spices. It has a thick jam-like consistency and a sweet and spicy taste. This bright reddish brown sauce gives the appealing color and flavor to Chinese barbecued spareribs and barbequed pork found at your local Chinese deli.

Use barbecue sauce as you would popular American barbecue sauces for marinating, basting or as a dipping sauce for meats and poultry. Its sweet and spicy flavor will enhance any barbecue from roasted meats to grilled vegetables.

Barbecue sauce is available in jars. Don't confuse this barbecue sauce with Southeast Asian satay barbecue sauce. They are both used as barbecue sauces, but satay sauce is made from dried fish, dried shrimp and other seasonings. Refrigerate an opened jar of barbecue sauce. It will keep for a year.

Copyright © Yan Can Cook Group, 2005.