trying to cut out sugar and wondering what to do about Ketchup and BBQ sauce

[Elizabeth2008]

Does anyone have any suggestions on Ketchup and BBQ sauce if you're trying to go no-sugar, but also don't want artificial sweeteners.   I don't mind molasses so much, but am trying to avoid cane sugar and HFCS.  It seems that all the low carb or low sugar options have artificial sweeteners. 

Or anyone have a good low or no sugar BBQ recipe??

[Arduinna]

Are you cutting all sweeteners including maple syrup, honey, brown rice syrup, sorgum ect? You could use fruit puree or fruit juice for sweetener also, unless you have also eliminated those. I make homemade bbq sauce and I substitute mango or peaches for some of the ketchup when I want to make a fruity bbq sauce. But I'm not sugar free so I no recipes for that and mine all call for some ketchup because I like it that way.

[Elizabeth2008]

I wouldn't mind natural sweeteners like honey or maple.  Would prefer to use just a little though..

[Magelet]

I buy a cane sugar ketchup (I think it's muir glen?) because we use ketchup very infrequently, and it tastes good and is easier than making it. BBQ sauce, I don't have a recipe, but we make it at work with just molasses as the sweetener. I think. It might have a little palm sugar as well.  Honestly, I'd take any BBQ sauce recipe, and just sub in palm sugar for sugar, and maybe some molasses if you wanted.

[cristeen]

Honestly, you learn to do without some things when going SF.

You can find recipes for fruity sauces that you can lightly sweeten w honey if necessary. Ive done cran, blackberry, peach and kumquat. But for ketchup, it will never taste like what you're used to, and you're probably gonna hafta make ut yourself. I love my homemade ketchup, but it tastes nothing like storebought.

[SuburbanHippie]

IMO, if you enjoy ketchup, there's nothing wrong with using the cane sugar kind when you need it.  It won't taste the same if you use molasses, maple sugar, or honey.  My kids wouldn't touch my homemade stuff.  It's just too different.  The bbq sauce recipe I like uses molasses and maple syrup and it is amazing!  Allrecipes 

[rhianna813]

I make BBQ sauce from scratch sometimes with a recipe I found online but can not seem to find it now. You can probably find many nice ones online. I've subbed tomato paste instead of ketchup to cut back on sugar. My recipe uses mollasas and brown sugar. I suggest using molassas, tasting the completed recipe then deciding if you want to add more or perhaps some maple syrup or honey.

Recipes you could work with:

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/sweet-and-tangy-bbq-sauce/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/kathys-award-winning-barbeque-sauce/Detail.aspx

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Bar-B-Que-Sauce/Detail.aspx

Here is someones recipe for home made ketchup using honey or agave:

http://www.asksasha.com/Healthy-Cooking/Homemade-Ketchup-Recipe.html

http://www.anoregoncottage.com/2011/03/updated-pantry-basic-homemade-ketchup.html     (looks very good!!)

Rhianna

[spiderdust]

Westbrae makes a bottled unsweetened ketchup.

[blessedwithboys]

 You can make your own ketchup with stevia and then for BBQ sauce, mix ketchup, dijon mustard, and stevia.  I don't measure, just taste as you go!

[Elizabeth2008]

thanks everyone for the great suggestions and recipes!