If you’re a hot sauce lover, making your own fermented hot sauce is a game-changer! Fermenting hot sauce offers several benefits, including adding a unique flavor, increasing shelf life, and providing probiotic benefits.
Making your own hot sauce allows you to control the ingredients, heat level, and flavor profile. Fermentation enhances the taste by allowing the peppers to develop a deeper, richer flavor profile. Additionally, fermenting the hot sauce increases its shelf life by creating an acidic environment that inhibits the growth of harmful bacteria and creates beneficial bacteria that promotes gut health.
Customizations
One of the best parts about fermenting hot sauce is that it can be modified in a number of ways to suit your desired level of spiciness, smokiness, or sweetness.
If you like it hot: Consider using habaneros or Thai peppers.
If you like a medium sauce: Consider using jalapeños or Anaheim chilis.
If you prefer a mild sauce: Consider using banana peppers, shishitos, bell peppers, or carrots
For a smoky hot sauce: Add a few chipotle peppers or add liquid smoke after fermentation.
For a sweet and spicy hot sauce: Add in a few pieces of pineapple or a tablespoon of sugar or honey after fermenting.
How to Make Fermented Hot Sauce
Ingredients:
- 10-12 hot peppers (jalapeño, serrano, cayenne, or a mix)
- 1 medium tomato, chopped
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 4-5 garlic cloves
- 2 cups (475 g) filtered water
- 2 ½ tsp (14 g) fine sea salt (non-iodized is important)
Hot to make it:
- Cut peppers, tomatoes, onion, and garlic into equal sized pieces then add them to a clean quart jar.
- Dissolve the salt in water to make your brine. Pour brine over veggies until everything is fully submerged, removing air bubbles.
- Place a weight on top to weigh down the veggies. Top the jar with an airlock and secure.
- Let ferment at room temp (65–75°F) for 7-14 days. The longer it ferments, the tangier and more complex it becomes.
- Once fermented to taste, strain the veggies and blend until smooth. Add a splash of brine if needed for consistency. Store in the fridge.
How to use Fermented Hot Sauce
Once you’ve made your fermented hot sauce, there are numerous ways to use it. As with all vegetable ferments, remember that if you cook the hot sauce, while it still tastes great, you will lose some of the benefits of fermentation.
- On tacos, burritos or enchiladas
- As a condiment for burgers or wraps
- In salad dressings
- In a marinade for meat or vegetables
- On eggs
Happy Fermenting!
