Cara Cara Orange Molasses BBQ Sauce

One of the best parts about summer is BBQ season! It’s always a blast to be outside with friends and family cooking your favorite food. Whether you use it for a marinade, throughout grilling or as a dip for your meal, bbq sauce is a staple for summer cooking! Today, we are sharing how to make this delicious and easy Cara Cara Orange Molasses BBQ Sauce!

Swap the store-bought BBQ sauce for this better-for-you version. Many store-bought sauces are loaded with unnecessary ingredients such as artificial flavors and colors, preservatives and more. This recipe is made with ingredients you most likely already have in your pantry and really taste amazing! It’s truly the perfect addition to your favorite grilled proteins and veggies!

Glass container with bbq sauce and spoon coming out of jar. Grilled food on left side and sliced oranges on bottom right.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF BBQ SAUCE INGREDIENTS

ORANGES

Oranges are a great source of prebiotic fiber! This is the type of fiber that feeds your good gut microbes and helps them thrive! When those microbes are well nourish, your gut is able to heal itself and digestion runs smoother. Oranges are also a good source of potassium, which is essential for heart function, nerve function and muscle contraction.

TOMATOES

Tomatoes contain different antioxidants. One of those is lycopene, which is what gives tomatoes their beautiful red color. Lycopene may protect against heart disease and even lower the risk of cancer. It also protects your cells from damage by fighting free radicals!

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

Apple Cider Vinegar is made from the fermentation of apples! When buying apple cider vinegar, look for unpasteurized or organic brands that contain “The Mother”. This simply means it contains yeast and other fermented by products. The yeast looks like stringy cobwebs you will be able to see in the vinegar. There are so many potential benefits to regular ACV consumption, such as helping the body naturally detox, supporting healthy digestion and balancing pH within the body.

white plate with grilled skewers and a cup of bbq sauce. Orange slices on the side of plate.

If you make this BBQ sauce, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what recipes you’re enjoying.

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CARA CARA ORANGE MOLASSES BBQ SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

1 Limoneira cara cara orange
1 (15-ounce) can fire roasted tomatoes
¼ cup blackstrap molasses
½ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder

INSTRUCTIONS

In a blender, add zest from orange along with ½ cup fresh orange juice.
Add in the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.
Add sauce into a medium saucepan and simmer for 15 minutes.
Serve BBQ sauce on anything grilled or any of your favorite recipes!

If you love this recipe, see below for more delicious sauce recipes! As always all Healthy Grocery Girl recipes are gluten-free, dairy-free and predominately plant-based.