Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce

In the South, we sure do know our barbecue. Each year, we ask our readers to help us rank the South's Best BBQ Joints, and the list is bound to elicit some fiery debate. How is one supposed to rank smoked chicken smothered in vinegary white sauce against Central Texas brisket?

Our studies in Southern barbecue have proven that this revered culinary landscape is far from a monolith—each Southern region, state, and even city has its own unique expression of barbecue. And more often than not, the secret is in the sauce.

What Is Eastern Carolina BBQ Sauce?

It's impossible to miss the fierce debate in North Carolina over the winning BBQ style: Eastern vs. Western. While the Western North Carolina camp champions a tomato-based barbecue sauce, the version that you'll find in Eastern North Carolina keeps it plain and simple with a vinegar-based sauce.

Our Test Kitchen considers this Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce the most fundamental of barbecue sauces. Using just four ingredients, our Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce leans heavily on distilled white vinegar, only adding three spices (salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes) to draw out the flavor.

Since this BBQ sauce is essentially a seasoned vinegar, the longer it sits, the more infused and flavorful it will become. Let your BBQ sauce sit for at least 4 hours, but it can go way beyond that to develop a rounder, more complex flavor. Did we mention that this sauce is incredibly easy to make? No cooking required: Simply combine the ingredients in a mason jar, seal, and shake it all up. The result is a light sauce that's spicy, peppery, and piquant.

Main Types of Barbecue Sauces

Generally, the main varieties of barbecue sauce fall into four categories: tomato-based, vinegar-based, mustard-based, and mayonnaise-based. Each type can include a variety of sauces, ranging from spicy to sweet and tangy.

Eastern North Carolina barbecue sauce, often used as a "mop sauce," is vinegar-based and thin enough to mop over a whole hog using a sauce mop or basting brush. The high vinegar content helps tenderize proteins while providing great flavor in the process.

Don't confuse it with Western or South Carolina BBQ sauces: The former contains ketchup, and the latter is mustard-based.

Ingredients for Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce

To make this barbecue sauce, you'll need:

• Distilled white vinegar: Can also be substituted with apple cider vinegar for a mild, fruity flavor that pairs well with pork, or other types of vinegars, if preferred.
• Kosher salt: To enhance the flavor of the meat.
• Crushed red pepper: A touch of heat.
• Black pepper: To add a spicy depth.

Want to bring even more flavor into the mix? Add brown sugar and hot sauce for an extra punch.

Best Uses for Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ Sauce

This Eastern North Carolina Vinegar BBQ sauce packs lots of tang, making it the perfect accompaniment for a nice, fatty cut of meat, including pulled pork, ribs, or a whole hog. Don't forget a slice of white bread to soak up all that extra sauce.

Should This BBQ Sauce Be Made in Advance?

Like most barbecue sauces, making this sauce a day in advance gives the flavors time to meld and deepen. Make at least four hours in advance, but let it sit longer if you have the forethought.

How To Store Eastern Carolina BBQ Sauce

This BBQ sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one month.

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.