Chocolate on the Barbie

In the early 80's until about 1991, I owned a very successful wholesale bakery in the Northwest. I made seven varieties of a gourmet chocolate chip cookies. I believe I was the first to sell a very upscale cookie in the US. It was priced at $1.25 each and up depending where purchased. My cookie business allowed me to travel throughout the US, Canada and Japan to promote new business. While in Japan on one trip for a huge world showcase food show, I met a group from Australia who were selling Aussie Fish, shrimp and great lamb. We traded with their booth- cookies for shrimp.

The folks from down-under called my cookies "Biscuits." One of the Mate's, John, remarked to me, "We love our chocolate back home." They had set up a large BBQ or Barbie and were grilling fish and shrimp all show for samples and for me to trade. John then said, “too bad we can’t grill chocolate.” Well that’s all it took for me. When I arrived back in the States I had already thought of how to use chocolate on the BBQ. I created a Chocolate Barbeque Sauce. Now this sauce is not unlike a Mexican style Mole but a bit more spicy and not quite as thick in viscosity. The sauce was and still is the hit of the BBQ event and always draws questions such as “What is in this?” Just enough chocolate to give it a different flavor profile, subtle but excellent with Chicken, Pork or Beef Ribs. Not so great on Fish.

Johnny's (The Aussie) Chocolate Barbie Sauce

2- 28 oz Cans of Tomato Sauce or Crushed Tomatoes (28oz per can)
¼ Cup Oil
1 medium white onion chopped fine
4 large clove of garlic chopped fine
½ cup molasses
2 tablespoon dry red pepper flakes
¼ cup Hot Tabasco sauce (you may use less if desired)
½ cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
salt, black pepper

In a heavy bottom sauce pan heat and add your oil. When Oil is hot add the onion and lower heat to medium for about 5 minutes. Now add garlic and simmer for another 4 minutes, careful to adjust to prevent burning. Now add the two cans of tomato. Simmer for about 8 minutes or till tomato's start to boil gently. Now add the molasses, red pepper and hot sauce. At this time you may also add a pinch or two of salt and a teaspoon of black pepper. More salt to your own taste; I use very little salt in all my recipes but that's healthy me speaking. Simmer entire batch for about 20 minutes on low heat. Give it a taste and make sure you give a stir as its cooking... Now sprinkle in and stir in slowly the Cocoa Powder. Turn off the heat and cover.

After about 10 more minutes give a stir and you may use it as you would use any BBQ Sauce or cool and Refrigerate or freeze for later. NOW I need RIBS!