Recipes: Barbecue & Steak Sauces & Marinade

In Kansas City, steak and barbecue are a way of life. Use these recipes to bring a little bit of Kansas City into your home.

Barbecue Sauce

Gates Bar-B-Q is a Kansas City original. The family restaurant established in 1946 has grown to five restaurants, all struttin’ the Gates Bar-B-Q unique red roof design and man in a full tuxedo top hat. Ollie Gates, owner and executive chef, shares this recipe he uses at home.

Ingredients

1 cup sugar
¼ cup salt
2 Tbsp celery seed
2 Tbsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp ground red pepper
2 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 qt catsup
2 cups apple vinegar
1 ½ tsp liquid smoke
1 tsp lemon juice

In a small bowl, mix together sugar, salt, celery seed, cumin, red pepper, garlic powder and chili powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine catsup, vinegar, liquid smoke and lemon juice. Add dry ingredients and mix until very well blended. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Whiskey Sauce for steak

Perfecting a great steak can be a daunting task. There’s no doubt, however, Chef Richard Barry of Hereford House mastered the challenge long ago. He serves some of the most savory meats straight from the charcoal grill.

Ingredients

5 cups whiskey
1 cup minced peeled shallots
1 tsp dried thyme
½ tsp cracked black pepper
40 oz canned beef broth
1½ cups heavy cream
½ lb frozen demi-glaze
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 

Combine whiskey, shallots thyme and cracked pepper together in sauce pan. Reduce by half over high heat. Add beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce by half again over high heat. Add cream to the broth, then whiskey mixture and reduce heat to medium. Stir in demi-glaze and whip vigorously to incorporate. Add mustard and Worcestershire and mix well. Simmer for an additional 10 min. Remove from heat and strain. In a sauté pan sear 3oz medallions on both sides, until specified temperature. Pour Whiskey Sauce over medallions and serve with sautéed vegetables.

Steak Marinade

Westin Crown Center’s Executive Chef Martin Heuser came to Kansas City having prepared extravagant meals for Her Majesty The Queen of England, Mexico’s President Vicente Fox and many other dignitaries. He shares a secret that helps make the cuisine at The Westin’s signature restaurant,Benton’s Steak & Chop House, so fantastic.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 tsp grainy mustard
2 Tbsp red wine
dash of pepper
2 steaks 

Mix all ingredients and place in heavy plastic bag. Add steaks of your choice. Marinade for a few hours. Grill steak on an outdoor or indoor grill.