PANTRYFLEX

On the jar: Guava BBQ

stove · bbq sauce

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERPrep 10 minCook 15 min

Guava BBQ Sauce

Independent adaptation of a publicly published Illyanna Maisonet recipe. Not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Illyanna Maisonet.

Sticky guava barbecue from Puerto Rican home cooking.

Ratio

Ratio by volume: Ketchup 480 ml, Water 60 ml, Brown Sugar 60 ml, Cider Vinegar 30 ml, Lemon Juice 30 ml, Soy Sauce 15 ml, Fish Sauce 15 ml, Sriracha 15 ml, Chili Garlic 15 ml, Guava Paste 240 ml
Ketchup 480 mlWater 60 mlBrown Sugar 60 mlCider Vinegar 30 mlLemon Juice 30 mlSoy Sauce 15 ml

Ingredients

  • Ketchup2 cups (480 ml)
  • Water1/4 cup (60 ml)
  • Brown Sugar1/4 cup light (60 ml)
  • Cider Vinegar2 tbsp (30 ml)
  • Lemon Juice2 tbsp fresh (30 ml)
  • Soy Sauce1 tbsp (15 ml)
  • Fish Sauce1 tbsp (15 ml)
  • Sriracha1 tbsp (15 ml)
  • Chili Garlic1 tbsp (15 ml)
  • Onion Pwdr1 tbsp (7 g)
  • Garlic5 cloves, finely minced
  • Guava Paste1 cup, cut from block (240 ml)

Method

  1. This sauce is cooked on the stove — the jar is for storing it, not making it.
  2. Cook ingredients gently according to the published technique, adapted here as pantry quantities only.
  3. Finish off heat; adjust seasoning.

Provenance

Puerto Rican food writer and author of the cookbook Diasporican; recognized with a 2023 James Beard award for her food writing.

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FAQ

Can this go in a shake jar?

No — this one needs a blender or stove, so make it from this page. Jars only carry pour-and-shake sauces.

What do the quantities mean?

Amounts follow the published recipe in household units (with metric in parentheses). On a jar, every sauce scales to the same fill height.

Where did this recipe come from?

Adapted from Illyanna Maisonet / Food52 (published as “Guava BBQ Sauce”). Full citation lives in Provenance.