Name: Vinegar Sauce
Yield: Makes about 4 cups
Ingredients: 2 cups cider vinegar; 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons ketchup; 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, or more to taste; 5 teaspoons salt, or more to taste; 4 teaspoons hot red pepper flakes; 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

Image may contain Bowl Syrup Food Seasoning Drink Tea and Beverage

Editor's note: To read more about Raichlen and barbecue, go to our feature The Best Barbecue in the U.S.A.

Peppery and piquant, this vinegar sauce is the preferred condiment of eastern North Carolina. In the western part of the state, the sauce becomes more tomatoey, while in southern parts of the Carolinas, mustard sauce reigns supreme.

Recipe notes

Caramelized Onion Pasta

Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.

Béchamel Sauce

This classic 15-minute sauce is your secret weapon for homemade mac and cheese, chowder, lasagna, and more.

Butternut Squash–Kale Salad With Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette

Round out these autumn greens with tart pomegranate seeds, crunchy pepitas, and a shower of Parmesan.

London Fog Brownies

Yes, brownies can—and should—be made with white chocolate.

Mascarpone Cheesecake

An extra-silky filling (no water bath needed!) and a smooth sour cream topping make this the ultimate cheesecake.

Crème Anglaise

The silky French vanilla sauce that goes with everything.

Classic French Bouillabaisse With Rouille

This flexible recipe is all you need to bring this iconic Provençal seafood stew to your table.

Our Favorite French Onion Soup

Caramelized onions, melty Gruyère, and a deeply savory broth deliver the kind of comfort that doesn’t need improving.