I only very recently found this out but BAB in the Northern Quarter not only serve up some proper nice kebabs – they also make an impressively long list of hot sauces in-house.
The list of what’s available is always changing as they experiment and move with their menu, but you’re always guaranteed a fair few crackers on there, they once even did a RUM & COKE Hot Sauce which was truly MEGA. Let’s start a petition right now to bring that back!
In the mean time I went down and tried EVERY SINGLE ONE that was on the menu, some were good, some were hot and one or two were outstanding. Here’s what to expect…
Scotch Bonnet & Apple
I thought I’d start off with something that’s up near the top on the heat scale – well, I was wrong. Even though this sauce has Scotch Bonnet chillies in it, it’s not very hot – perfect for people with a little delicate tummy. The apple flavour really comes through though meaning that it’s perfect with a pork kebab.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥
Pair with: Pork Cheek Shawarma
Masala Mayo
Next up was a combination of two of my favourite foods – curry and mayonnaise. Of course, it’s a lot more complex than that – with a cocktail of spices thrown in there – and it’s not exactly what you’d expect. It is in fact really smoky – with a considerable Indian twist. I can imagine this as being perfect alongside absolutely anything – but dipping your chips in it – heaven.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥
Pair with: Paprika Fries
Scotch Bonnet Sweet Chilli
Another Scot bonnet number but this one is a considerable step up from the Apple option. There’s some real heat starting to trickle through now, a twinge that works perfectly with that classic Sweet Chilli flavour we all know and love. This one is quite oily so it’s fantastic for drizzling all over your BAB and just tucking right in.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Pair with: Harissa Octopus Kebab
Scorpion Pear
I’m typically not much of a fan of anything pear related, but this was exceptional. It’s fruity, it’s fresh and it’s tasty – everything you want from a hot sauce. There’s also a considerable amount of heat running through it – heat that sticks around for just the right amount of time. This is a sweet number, so it’s great alongside some salty cheese.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥🔥
Pair with: Chip Shop Halloumi Kebab
Naga & Black Garlic
My absolute favourite hot sauce of the options (and quite possibly my most favourite ever), this sauce gives you an instant kick in the face with the Naga chilli (between 1 – 1.5m on the Scoville Scale), and then sticks around for a while. The Black Garlic gives this sauce a slightly sweet tang that works perfectly with all of the heat. Outstanding.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Pair with: Lamb Adana Kebab
Four Horseman
I was initially struck with some serious sweetness when tucking into the Four Horsemen – it’s almost actually a lot like marmalade when you first get it in your gob. It’s rather sweet and there’s a distinct orange-y taste to it, but after a couple of seconds you’re hit with a right big bloody kick right in the back of your throat and your mouth is on fire. Again, the sweetness will work well with meat – especially red meat.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Pair with: Flat Iron Steak Kebab
Reaper
With a name like ‘Reaper’ you probably should be expecting to have to change your underpants after eating a lot of this – and you’d be right. This bad boy is HOT – by far the hottest of BAB’s sauces and that’s all down to the famed Carolina Reaper chilli that’s laced throughout. One of the hottest chillies ever – the heat stays with you a long time, causing your lips and tongue to tingle. You don’t need much because it makes a big impact.
BB Burnt Tongue Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Pair with: Crispy Oyster Mushroom Kebab
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Homemade Hot Sauces at BAB
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BAB, 14 Little Lever St, Manchester M1 1HR
0161 806 0813
