Starnes Sauce

[flying illini]

Yep, ate a lot of Starnes growing up. Also, Leigh's about 15 miles straight west of Paducah on Highway 60 in Kevil, KY. (no web site for either)

I'm sure Glenn will back me up on this one, If you're ever down in Paducah, KY. Make sure you stop at Starnes BBQ. There Western KY bbq sauce is quite unique. Their wax paper wrapped PP sammies are out of this world!

At Starnes or Leigh's, no sauce is served on the meat. (maybe finishing sauce but I doubt it) They offer a vinegar based sauce on the side. Usually you just at a few drops. This is pretty close to Starnes as I found it searching for 'Starnes' on google. (it is at SMF ironically) Someone from Paducah posted it I recall.

I always add more cayenne and Tabasco.

Recipe:
3 TBSP Ketchup (Heinz)
4 TBSP Apple Cider Vinegar (1/4 cup)
1 TBSP water
1 Tsp Black Pepper (fine ground)
¼ Tsp White pepper
½ Tsp Cayenne (red) pepper (or more to taste, locals will use 1 Tsp)
2 Tsp Tabasco or other red pepper sauce

All measures are level measurements.

Mix it in a small Tupperware container and shake to mix. Store at room temperature but if you are not going to use it for a while, refrigerate or just throw it away and make fresh next time. Some folks add a little sugar but I think this is closer to the Starnes recipe in taste. This sauce is hot but not as hot as some like it. Just add more cayenne if you want it hotter like at the restaurant. Enjoy!

[Q-N-Brew]

Copied to a new thread. I hate to see useful recipes lost in threads. Thanks for posting this with us.

[Joneser]

Yeah, I tried this a few monthhs ago...it's really close. Good stuff if that's what you like....it's got some decent kick.

[flying illini]

Joneser: I have thought about reducing apple cider vinegar a tad to get it closer to Starnes.

Another challenge is to try to come up with something close to Leigh's in Kevil, KY. (It is similar though)

[chadd17]

Thanks for posting. I will give it a try

[flying illini]

A picture of the establishment:



This recipe is in this book I found:
http://www.amazon.com/Great-BBQ-Sauc.../dp/089815944X

[Chargrilled]

Glen his place is one of many places featured in a book called "Real Barbecue" that I have read. It got real good ratings. I will have to get down there and check it out.

Book says, pulled chopped pork on white bread then the sammie is grilled with a sprinkle of their sauce which is used more as a seasoning than a gravy.

[toastedtom]

That Starnes sauce sounds pretty darn good. I lived in Western KY most of my adult life and them folks can cook. Thanks for finding and posing recipe! tt

[tsunami_tommy]

Glen his place is one of many places featured in a book called "Real Barbecue" that I have read. It got real good ratings. I will have to get down there and check it out.

Book says, pulled chopped pork on white bread then the sammie is grilled with a sprinkle of their sauce which is used more as a seasoning than a gravy.

that book must have a lot of pictures if you are enjoying it.

[flying illini]

My Dad will make his sammie this way on a white bun even now! (he will toast it for a minute on a george foreman) Yep, the 'sauce' is just lightly added.

Glen his place is one of many places featured in a book called "Real Barbecue" that I have read. It got real good ratings. I will have to get down there and check it out.

Book says, pulled chopped pork on white bread then the sammie is grilled with a sprinkle of their sauce which is used more as a seasoning than a gravy.