Flavor of the Week: Alabama white sauce is an outside-the-box barbecue option

A regional specialty from Alabama, white barbecue sauce is mayonnaise-based and also has vinegar, hot sauce and seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder and black pepper. As with all types of barbecue sauce, Alabama white sauce’s exact contents varies somewhat from cook to cook, and can include mustard, horseradish and other potent ingredients. It is creamy, tangy, peppery and usually slightly sweet, and is served with barbecued pork as well as grilled proteins such as chicken and fish. It is also sometimes offered as an all-purpose table sauce.

Alabama white sauce also can be used as a dip or base for a dip, salad dressing or binding agent for coleslaw.

Market research firm Datassential reports that Alabama white sauce is found on fewer than 1% of menus in the United States, its prevalence has increased by 90% over the past four years. There is equal awareness of this sauce among Millennials, African American and Southern consumers, according to Datassential.

Find out more about this Flavor of the Week, Alabama white barbecue sauce, and see how one restaurant is implementing the ingredient on its menu.