Description
Spicy jalapeño hot sauce delivers bold Mexican-inspired flavors with simple fresh ingredients. Home cooks can quickly blend peppers, vinegar, and seasonings to create a zesty condiment that elevates multiple dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (453.6 g) jalapeño peppers or other hot peppers
- 2 large cloves garlic, peeled
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
- 2–4 tbsps (30–60 ml) white vinegar
- ¼ cup (4 tbsps or 60 ml) water
Instructions
- Preparation: Trim jalapeños by removing stems and slicing lengthwise. For reduced heat, delicately extract seeds with a small spoon.
- Blending: Combine jalapeños, garlic, salt, and liquid ingredients in a high-powered blender. Pulse initially to break down peppers, then blend continuously until achieving a velvety, uniform texture.
- Flavor Refinement: Taste and calibrate seasoning by incorporating additional salt or vinegar as needed. Ensure no chunky fragments remain in the mixture.
- Preservation Techniques: Select from three primary methods – refrigeration, fermentation, or gentle cooking – to finalize your hot sauce.
- Refrigeration Method: Transfer the vibrant sauce to a sterilized glass container. Seal and store in the refrigerator, where it will maintain its robust flavor profile for approximately three months.
- Fermentation Approach: Allow the uncovered sauce to rest at room temperature for 24 hours, developing a more complex, tangy character. Once fermented, immediately refrigerate to arrest further fermentation.
- Cooking Technique: Pour the mixture into a saucepan and gently simmer over medium heat, stirring consistently. Watch the color transition to a deeper green, which typically occurs within two minutes. Cool completely before transferring to storage container.
- Exploration: Experiment with different methods to discover your ideal hot sauce variation, embracing the nuanced differences in flavor and heat intensity.
Notes
- Choose Pepper Heat Wisely: Select jalapeños based on desired spice level; seeds and membranes significantly impact sauce intensity.
- Blending Technique Matters: Pulse initially to break down peppers, then blend continuously for ultra-smooth consistency without chunky fragments.
- Storage Savvy: Refrigerated sauce maintains peak flavor for three months; proper sealing prevents contamination and preserves vibrant taste.
- Flavor Enhancement Options: Experiment with fermentation or gentle simmering to develop deeper, more complex taste profiles that elevate your hot sauce experience.
- Prep Time: 10min
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: Blending
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 20
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 460 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg