Spicy Sweet spice blend and sauce

 

This combo is good on pork and chicken.  

Spice Blend:

1 tablespoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

2 teaspoons sweet smoked paprika

2 teaspoons garlic powder

2 teaspoons onion powder

1 to 5 teaspoons red pepper flakes, depending on how spicy you like it

This will make more spice than you need.  I keep it on hand to add to various dishes.

Sauce:

Olive oil, for drizzling

1 jalapeño, sliced

1 medium yellow onion, diced

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 to 2 tsp Kosher salt

2 cups pitted frozen cherries

One 7.5-ounce can Dr. Pepper

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

Juice of 1/2 lemon

2 oz of bourbon

Heavily sprinkle spice blend on chicken pieces, pork tenderloin, ribs or pork steaks. Leave in fridge overnight uncovered.  

Make the spicy cherry sauce: Drizzle olive oil into a medium sauce pan add the jalapeño and onion. Season with the coriander, cumin and salt and sweat until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cherries, soda, brown sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook until the cherries have softened, and the sauce begins to thicken. Transfer to a blender and purée until smooth. Add the balsamic, bourbon and lemon juice and purée again. Transfer back to the saucepan and cook until the sauce thickens and reduces, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

Brush sauce on meat at the end of cooking time.  Serve with additional sauce on the side.

If using on wings grill wings toss in sauce and return to grill to dry them off a bit.