Low Carb Smokey, Sweet and Hot Barbecue Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 medium onion, minced fine
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder

• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1/4 cup low-carb ketchup

• 1 (12 ounce) can diet cola, Splenda-sweetened preferred like Diet rite cola
• 3 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon allspice
• 1 tablespoon Tabasco chipotle pepper sauce (to taste)
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon hickory liquid smoke
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 pinches kosher salt, to taste
• 6 drops cholula hot sauce (to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon Sweet'N Low brown sugar substitute
• 10 drops sweet and low liquid low-calorie sweetener
• 1/2 cup water, at the end to thin sauce a little

Directions

1. 1

   heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in pan, Add the onion and cook over medium until soft - 3-5 minutes.

2. 2

   Add fresh garlic at this point and cook it for half a minute or so.

3. 3

   Add the rest of the ingredients, stir to combine.

4. 4

   Heat over medium heat till sauce bubbles, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45-60 minutes. Sauce will cook down a bit and flavors will combine.

5. 5

   Add about a half a cup of water at this point to thin the consistency a bit.

6. 6

   Note : If you can't find low carb catsup, leave it out, but add about 1 extra tablespoon of vinegar and some sweetener, to taste.

7. 7

   Adjust the seasonings so you have the balance you want - you can add vinegar, artificial sweetener, or hot sauce or liquid smoke. (If it's too hot, adding more sweetener will tone it down.).