Let me start by saying that this is a recipe that is made by taste. Every recipe I read had different ingredients and different amounts so cook with your heart.
INGREDIENTS
- Around 1 pound of hot peppers (I used a mix of hot and mild varieties)
- 1 quart filtered water
- 3 tablespoons salt
- ½ cup white vinegar
- 1-2 Garlic cloves
- ½ Onion
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DIRECTIONS
Step #1 Ferment the peppers.
- Roughly chop the peppers, garlic, and onions then pack them into a canning jar, leaving at least 1 inch of head space. The peppers may rise a bit when fermenting.
- Next, mix 1 quart unchlorinated water with 3 tablespoons sea salt. Pour just enough brine over the peppers to cover them, pressing them down a bit as you go. It is important to keep the peppers covered with brine to avoid spoilage. Check this daily.
- Screw on the lid and set the jar away from direct sunlight to ferment for at least 1 week. Ideal temperatures are between 55-75 degrees F. The most active fermentation period is between 1-2 weeks, so be sure to monitor it during this time. “Burp” the jars often by unscrewing the lid a bit to let out some of the accumulating gases. Or, use an airlock or membrane for easier fermenting. See our page, “How to Ferment Peppers”, for more detailed instruction.
- After 1-2 weeks, the fermenting activity will diminish and the brine will turn cloudy and taste acidic.
Step #2 Make the Sauce
- Drain the peppers, but reserve the brine.
- Add the fermented peppers to a food processor or blender, along with 1/2 cup of the brine and 1/2 cup vinegar. You can add more or less of each as desired to your preference. More brine will have more salty flavor, more vinegar will be more acidic.
- Process until smooth. This would be the time to taste the sauce and see if you want to add any additional seasoning.
- Strain the mixture to remove the solids if desired, or use as-is for a thicker hot sauce. Pour into hot sauce bottles and enjoy.
- You can add more vinegar or water to thin out the hot sauce if needed.
- Refrigerate after making.