Oriental Bbq Sauce

This Asian-inspired BBQ sauce packs a complex flavor into 10 minutes of work. Toasted sesame seeds, peanut butter, curry powder, soy sauce, brown sugar, sherry, and black pepper get blended smooth, then stirred together with fresh ginger, garlic, and sliced scallions for a marinade that hits every flavor note: nutty, sweet, salty, spicy, and savory.

Blending the first eight ingredients creates a thick, emulsified base where the sesame seeds and peanut butter act as natural thickeners. The sauce clings to chicken instead of sliding off, which means more flavor in every bite after grilling.

Fresh ginger, garlic, and scallions get stirred in by hand after blending. Keeping them out of the blender preserves their texture and gives the sauce little bursts of sharp, aromatic flavor that you’d lose if everything was pureed smooth.

Kitchen Tips

• Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan until golden before blending. Raw sesame seeds have a fraction of the nutty, aromatic flavor that toasted ones bring.
• Marinate chicken for at least 2 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor. The soy sauce and curry need time to penetrate the meat.
• This sauce burns easily on high heat because of the brown sugar. Grill over medium heat and watch closely.
• Double the batch and freeze half. It keeps well for months and thaws quickly for weeknight grilling.

Variations

• Spicy version: Add a teaspoon of sambal oelek or sriracha to the blender for a fiery kick.
• Pork or tofu marinade: This works just as well on pork tenderloin or pressed tofu as it does on chicken.