8 Must-Try Sauces to Elevate Your Summer BBQ Game and Impress Your Guests

Jun 7

5 min read

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Summer is just around the corner, bringing the perfect opportunity to fire up that grill and host BBQs that everyone will remember. One of the easiest ways to enhance your outdoor cooking experience and impress your guests is by using a variety of flavorful sauces. The right sauce can make grilled meats, veggies, or seafood truly special. In this post, we’ll explore eight delicious sauces that will elevate your summer BBQs and leave your guests asking for more!

No preservatives, vegan, gluten-free, halal

1. Southern Braai Fermented Vintage BBQ Sauce

This South African barbecue sauce has a mild kick from fermented red pepper, with sweet, umami, salty, and warm spice notes. It's perfect for beginners who want flavor without overwhelming heat and is ideal for meats, embodying the essence of Real Southern BBQ sauce.

A braai, or traditional South African barbecue, is a cherished social event. It's all about grilling over wood or charcoal while enjoying meats like boerewors, steak, chicken, and lamb chops. More than just a meal, a braai brings friends and family together for great food and fun, just like summertime.

Close-up view of a bottle of classic BBQ sauce — A hand drizzles Southern Braai sauce onto a juicy piece of grilled meat, enriching its taste with a rich, tangy glaze.

2. Sweet Dream Sauce

The Sweet Dream Sauce from African Dream Foods is a tasty, thick, fruity delight that hits you with jam-like sweetness and a little kick of spice at the end. You might even catch yourself sneaking spoonfuls at night when no one's looking!

No matter how you use it, this sauce adds a sweet and flavorful punch to your dishes.

A sweet chili sauce, this is a fun and versatile condiment that strikes a great balance between sweet and spicy. With its mild heat and vibrant red color, it’s perfect for dipping spring rolls, glazing grilled meats, or drizzling over salads. Its mix of sweet and tangy makes it a must-have in kitchens everywhere, elevating your meals no matter your flavor preference.

A tantalizing display of crispy chicken wings glazed with African Dream Sweet Dream Sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds and garnished with fresh herbs, ready to be enjoyed alongside a rich dipping sauce.

3. Jalanasco Fermented Jalapeño Sauce

The Jalanasco - Fermented Jalapeño Sauce is tangy and vinegar-forward, perfect for cutting through rich dishes. With jalapeños aged for 6 to 12 months, this sauce is packed full of flavor with a mild kick.

It's perfect on everything—especially eggs, avocado toast, and in guacamole. The Jalanasco Fermented Jalapeño Sauce takes you on a flavor adventure! The fermentation process gives it a unique, umami-rich taste that regular hot sauces can't beat. Plus, it's great for gut health and full of nutrients, making it fun to mix with different ingredients for endless flavor combos.

High angle view of delicious grilled sausages with mustard sauce — Delicious loaded nachos topped with seasoned meat, fresh guacamole, diced tomatoes, and jalapeños, accompanied by a bottle of Jalanasco Fermented Jalapeno Hot Sauce for an extra kick.

4. Lemon & Garlic Peri-Peri Sauce

Peri-Peri, or Piri-Piri, is a spicy chili pepper and sauce with roots in Africa. The name comes from the Swahili word "pili pili," meaning chili pepper. These small, fiery peppers pack a punch, ranging from mild to super hot. Peri-Peri sauce is a zesty mix of these chilies, lemon, garlic, vinegar, and herbs. It started in Southern Africa, especially Mozambique and South Africa, and has become a global favorite for spicing up grilled meats, seafood, and veggies.

The Lemon & Garlic Peri-Peri Sauce is a smooth, vibrant orange sauce that's mildly spicy. It has a sweet, umami-rich flavor with a nice lemony garlic kick. This sauce features tasty Thai Chili Peppers, fresh lemons, and lots of garlic.

Give it a try this Summer - it won the sofi Award for Best New Hot Sauce from the Specialty Food Association and can win you extra points with your guests!

5. Ghost Peri-Peri Sauce

This Ghost Peri-Peri sauce is seriously unique, with a great mix of robust flavor and a mild kick. The heat sneaks up on you, giving a warm vibe along with sweet, salty, and tangy notes. Thick and deep orange, this sauce is a must-have for hot sauce fans. It goes perfectly with everything from eggs and sandwiches to pizza and pasta!

Peri-Peri, or Piri-Piri, is a spicy chili pepper sauce that hails from Africa. The name comes from the Swahili word "pili pili," meaning chili pepper. These small, fiery peppers pack a punch, ranging from mild to super hot. The sauce itself mixes these chilies with lemon, garlic, vinegar, and herbs. Originating in Southern Africa, especially Mozambique and South Africa, it’s become a global favorite, adding a zesty kick to grilled meats, seafood, and veggies. Spice lovers adore its bold flavor that amps up any dish!

Sliders topped with African Dream Foods' Ghost Peri-Peri sauce for an all-natural, fiery flavor boost.

6. Bird's Eye Chilli Sauce

The African Bird's Eye Chilli, also known as the African Birdseye or Peri-Peri, is a small but mighty chili pepper from Southern Africa. It packs a serious punch, hitting up to 175,000 on the Scoville scale. This little pepper is a must-have in African cooking, known for its vibrant red color and intense heat. The African Bird's Eye hot sauce uses this chili to bring authentic, bold flavor that really gets your taste buds going. With a unique fruity and tangy twist, it promises a spicy kick you'll love.

Try this sauce this Summer; it's got the perfect balance of heat and flavor, making it a great addition to any meal. Spice up your pizza, chicken, meat, fish, and more with this everyday hot sauce. It has a clean finish, so the heat won’t stick around too long, giving you a great culinary experience.

Add this awesome sauce to your collection and elevate your dishes with a taste of African heat!

7. Habanasco Fermented Habanero Hot Sauce

The Habanasco Fermented Habanero Hot Sauce is all about that vinegar kick, perfect for cutting through rich dishes and adding a zesty punch. It’s great on avocado toast or in guacamole! The sauce packs a serious heat, but with a fruity, floral twist that sets it apart and makes it a bold hot sauce you won't forget. One taste and you’ll be hooked!

Made with only top-notch African habanero peppers, the habaneros are fermented for 6 to 12 months, giving the sauce a sharp, tangy kick and creating a unique flavor.

8. African Ghost Pepper Sauce

The African Ghost Pepper Sauce is super spicy! The heat kicks in fast, peaking in about 30 to 60 seconds, and you'll feel a burn for around 10 minutes.

This is the hottest sauce we've got! Grab some milk—you'll definitely need it! It mixes sweet, salty, and intense heat that sneaks up on you. The flavor of the African Ghost Pepper is like nothing you've tried before!

African ghost peppers, scientifically known as "Bhut Jolokia," rank among the spiciest chili peppers in the world, with a Scoville heat unit of over a million. Their heat gives you a wild culinary experience, plus they add a unique fruity and smoky taste to your meals. This sauce is all about delivering an unforgettable kick!

Get Ready for your Summer BBQs!

As summer approaches, gear up for those sunny BBQ gatherings and outdoor celebrations. By incorporating these eight delicious sauces into your cooking arsenal, you can easily impress your guests and elevate your menu. Whether you're searching for a classic BBQ flavor, something spicy, or sweetness with a little kick in it, you'll find a sauce for every palate.

So, gather your friends and family, fire up the grill, and enjoy the warm weather while indulging in mouthwatering dishes with these amazing sauces. Happy grilling!