Memphis style barbecue sauce is a distinctive tomato-and-vinegar based sauce originating from Memphis, Tennessee. It is one of the four predominant regional barbecue styles in the United States, along with Kansas City, Carolina, and Texas styles.
A Brief History of Memphis BBQ Sauce
Memphis barbecue traces its roots back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries when West African slaves were brought to the Memphis area to work on cotton plantations. These slaves brought their grilling traditions with them, which involved slow-cooking pork over indirect heat and using basic sauces made with vinegar and spices.
Over time, Memphis pit masters added tomatoes and molasses to the sauce to provide more depth, sweetness, and tanginess. By the early 20th century, the classic Memphis-style sauce made with tomatoes, vinegar, spices, and molasses was well established. The ribs and pulled pork doused with this sticky, slightly sweet sauce became synonymous with Memphis barbecue.
Prominent Memphis barbecue joints like the Rendezvous and Corky’s helped popularize the city’s style nationally. Today Memphis-style sauce and barbecue ribs are beloved across the U.S.
Characteristics of Memphis BBQ Sauce
Memphis-style barbecue sauce has the following defining qualities:
- Tomato base – Most Memphis sauces use tomato paste or tomato sauce as the foundation. The tomato provides body, flavor, and color.
- Vinegar – Cider and white vinegar offer a tangy counterbalance to the sweetness of the tomato and other ingredients. Vinegar also cuts through the richness of pork.
- Molasses, brown sugar or honey – These sweeteners add depth of flavor, caramelized notes, and help balance the acidity.
- Spices – Common spices include cayenne, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, and celery salt. They provide heat and seasoning.
- Minimal smokiness – Memphis sauces have a mild smoky flavor compared to the dominant smoke flavors of Kansas City and Texas sauces.
- Thin, sauce-like consistency – Memphis sauces have a smooth, thin texture and easily coat food without being too sticky or thick.
Flavor Profile
The overall flavor profile of Memphis BBQ sauce can be described as:
- Sweet and tangy from the blend of tomatoes, vinegar and sugars
- Mildly spicy from black pepper and other spices
- Umami depth from tomato paste and worcestershire sauce
- Moderate smokiness from spices like paprika
- Fruity notes from citrus juices added for brightness
- Molasses or brown sugar flavors come through but don’t overwhelm
- Acidic but balanced
Compared to the thicker, smokier Kansas City style, Memphis sauce has more sweetness and a thinner consistency. Carolina vinegar sauces are much more sharply acidic without tomatoes to balance the flavor.
Uses for Memphis BBQ Sauce
Memphis-style barbecue sauce has many classic uses:
- As a sauce for smoked pulled pork sandwiches
- Brushed on spare ribs and baby back ribs before and during cooking
- Served alongside smoked pork ribs, shoulder, and chicken
- Used as a dip for French fries, tater tots, and onion rings
- Drizzled on baked beans, collard greens, and other barbecue side dishes
- Added to ground beef to make Memphis-style sloppy joes
- Used as a sauce for smoked chicken wings or drumsticks
- Whisked together with oil, vinegar and spices as a veggie dip or salad dressing
- Brushed on salmon, shrimp, chicken, and other proteins before grilling
The sauce’s tangy and slightly sweet flavor makes it very versatile for barbecue and grilling. It can be used as a condiment, marinade, grilling sauce, and ingredient in many recipes.
How To Make Memphis BBQ Sauce at Home
Making authentic Memphis-style barbecue sauce at home is easy to do. Here is a basic recipe to try:
Ingredients:
- 1 cup tomato sauce or ketchup
- 1⁄4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1⁄4 cup molasses or brown sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1-2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄4 teaspoon black pepper
- Cayenne pepper and hot sauce, to taste
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar (optional)
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients except brown sugar in a medium saucepan. Whisk well to blend.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce heat and let sauce simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened.
- Remove from heat and taste. Add more vinegar for more tang, spices for more heat, or brown sugar for more sweetness, if desired.
- Allow to cool then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
The great thing about Memphis sauce is that it’s easy to customize to your tastes. Make it your own by experimenting with different vinegar types, sweeteners, spices, citrus juices, etc. Apply it liberally on ribs, pulled pork, chicken, etc. for true Memphis barbecue flavor.
Popular Brands of Memphis Style Sauce
While homemade Memphis sauce is best, there are some excellent pre-made brands capturing the city’s signature flavor:
- Rendezvous Barbecue Sauce – The signature sauce of famous Memphis rib joint The Rendezvous. Sweet, tangy and moderately spicy.
- Corky’s Sauce – Offered in original and spicy varieties. Closely follows the Memphis profile.
- Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous Famous Seasoning Sauce – Created by the owner of The Rendezvous restaurant to duplicate their recipe.
- Payne’s Original – A bit thicker and sweeter than most Memphis sauces. Uses raisin puree.
- Tom Lee’s Origi – From another iconic Memphis barbecue restaurant. More heavily spiced with lots of black pepper.
- Jack Daniel’s Memphis Pit Original BBQ Sauce – A collaboration with the famous Tennessee whiskey maker, combining whiskey and Memphis flavors.
- Sweet Baby Ray’s Memphis Barbecue Sauce – A solid grocery store option for Memphis-style flavor.
Trying out different bottled sauces is a tasty way to get acquainted with Memphis barbecue style. But for full authenticity, make your own sauce at home. The from-scratch versions outshine most store-bought labels.
Memphis BBQ Sauce vs Other Styles
How does Memphis sauce compare to the other major regional barbecue sauce styles in America?
Memphis vs Kansas City:
- Memphis is thinner, vinegar-based, and tangy-sweet. KC is thick, tomato-and-molasses based, and sweeter.
- Memphis has a subtler smoky flavor. KC sauce often heavily smoky.
- Memphis uses more spices for heat. KC relies more on pepper flavor.
Memphis vs Texas:
- Texas sauce is usually tomato-based like Memphis but often adds chili peppers and Tex-Mex spices.
- Memphis is a little sweet. Texas sauce isn’t sweet at all.
- Memphis has a smooth consistency. Texas sauces can be thinner or chunkier.
Memphis vs Carolina:
- Memphis contains tomatoes. Carolina sauces are vinegar- and mustard-based.
- Memphis is moderately spicy. Carolina can be very mildly flavored or fiery hot.
- Memphis has molasses/sugar sweetness. Carolina sauces don’t.
Memphis vs Alabama White Sauce:
- Memphis sauce is tomato-based. White sauce has mayo or vinegar base.
- Memphis sauce is tangy, sweet and spicy. White sauce is tangy, tart and mildly spiced.
While they all contain regional differences, any high quality, authentic barbecue sauce contributes its own sense of soulful, smoky, mouthwatering flavor to America’s barbecue traditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Memphis BBQ Sauce
Here are answers to some common questions about Memphis-style barbecue sauce:
What ingredients are in Memphis style sauce?
The classic Memphis sauce contains tomatoes, vinegar, molasses or brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, black pepper, and other spices for seasoning.
Is Memphis sauce tomato or vinegar based?
It’s both! Memphis sauce combines tomato sauce/paste and vinegar as primary flavor bases.
Is Memphis sauce thick or thin?
Memphis sauces have a smooth, pourable consistency – not too thick or sticky, but not watery thin either.
How sweet is Memphis BBQ sauce?
Memphis sauces have moderate sweetness, usually from molasses or brown sugar. They are sweeter than Carolina sauces but less sugary than Kansas City sauces.
What’s the difference between Memphis and Kansas City sauce?
The main differences are that Memphis sauce is thinner, more vinegar-tangy, and less intensely smoky compared to the thick, sweeter flavor of classic KC barbecue sauce.
What ribs are smoked with Memphis sauce?
In Memphis, dry rub ribs are more popular. But the sauce complements classic Memphis pork spare ribs and baby back ribs beautifully when brushed on before or during smoking.
What meats pair best with Memphis style sauce?
Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, chicken, sausage, turkey, and ham all pair well with the Memphis barbecue sauce flavors.
Conclusion
Memphis style barbecue sauce adds sweet, tangy tomato and vinegar notes with a blend of spices to embody the flavors of Tennessee barbecue. Generations of Memphis pitmasters have crafted this regional sauce to complement smoky, slow-cooked pork. Beyond Memphis, the sauce’s versatility makes it popular for ribs, pulled pork, chicken, seafood and much more nationwide. Experimenting with homemade Memphis sauce recipes allows you to experience authentic, mouthwatering barbecue flavor at home.
FAQs
Q1: What is the main ingredients in Memphis style BBQ sauce?
A: The main ingredients in Memphis style barbecue sauce typically include tomato sauce/paste, vinegar, molasses or brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and spices like smoked paprika, garlic, onion, black pepper, and cayenne pepper to add tangy, sweet and spicy flavors.
Q2: What type of consistency does Memphis BBQ sauce have?
A: Memphis barbecue sauce has a smooth, thin and pourable consistency. It coats food easily without being overly thick or sticky like some sauces. It strikes a nice balance between tomato thickness and vinegar thinness.
Q3: How does Memphis style sauce compare to Texas style BBQ sauce?
A: Memphis sauce is a little sweeter and tangier compared to the savory and spicy profiles of classic Texas-style barbecue sauces. Texas sauces also tend to use more chili peppers while Memphis sauces opt for milder spices like black pepper.
Q4: What are some popular Memphis style BBQ sauce brands?
A: Some of the most popular pre-made Memphis style barbecue sauce brands include Corky’s, Rendezvous, Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous, Payne’s Original, and Jack Daniel’s Memphis Pit Original. But many barbecue fans prefer to make their own from scratch.
Q5: What is the difference between Memphis and Carolina barbecue sauces?
A: The main differences are that Memphis sauces contain tomatoes while Carolina sauces are mustard or vinegar-based without tomatoes. Memphis also has more sweetness from sugar or molasses. Carolina sauces range from mildly flavored to very spicy.