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Last update on July 11 , 2024

involve a niggling excess spice in your lifetime , or a fun way to preserve homegrown peppers ? Come hear how to make fermented red-hot sauce with this simple step - by - step templet !

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Even if you are n’t a Brobdingnagian fan of red-hot sauce or spicy nutrient , or have n’t splash around with fermentation much in the past , do n’t worry . This fermented pepper live sauce recipe is easy make , andeasy to tailorto your taste bud using any diversity of Piper nigrum you care to use . We often combine a mix of bothhot chili con carne and sweet peppersto make a nice balance of savor .

Honestly , I never wish hot sauce before … or racy foods for that affair . Now , homemade ferment blistering sauce is one of my go - to condiments . It ’s fantastic with tacos , tostadas , bollock , veggie burgers and more . It get to also makes afun giftfor the red-hot sauce lover in your life !

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Two small glass bottles full of fermented hot sauce, one bright orange and one bright red, with fresh hot chilies laying around the base including habanero and red jalapeno. There are several more red and orange bottles of hot sauce blurred in the background.

What’s the difference between fermented hot sauce and regular hot sauce?

Fermented hot sauce is made by immix Piper nigrum , onion , and spices in a mildsalt water saltwater – not acetum . As the pepper souse in common salt H2O for a calendar week or longer , good lactic acid bacterium course present on the peppers multiply and turn down the pH of the seawater . Thus , the lacto - fermentation appendage efficaciously preserves the raging sauce AND introducesgut - hefty probiotic flora , making this fermented red-hot sauce recipemore nutritiousthan unconstipated blistering sauce .

In line , traditional ( sweet ) hot sauce that is preserved with acetum is devoid of probiotics . It also tends to have an overpoweringly hot and single - banknote acetose tone . or else , the fermentation mental process transforms the sharp , blistering , often sweep over flavor visibility of chili capsicum into something farmore mild , complex , flavorful , tangy and tastythan any other hot sauce you ’ve ever tried !

Should I add vinegar to fermented hot sauce?

Some sept wonder if they should add vinegar to homemade ferment hot sauce once it ’s done fermenting , as some formula intimate to do this to potentially extend the shelf life . However , I do n’t find it necessary . Naturally lacto - fermented hot sauce without vinegar already has an incredibly retentive shelf life : well over a year when stored in the refrigerator .

Plus , adding too much acetum will halt the fermentation cognitive process and kill the good probiotic bacterium you worked so hard to produce ! That kill much of the role , if you ask me . Instead , we add a small dab offresh calcium oxide juiceat the ending of our work hot sauce formula – which give way it a nice lemonlike little zing , but is n’t strong enough to kill the good bacteria .

Ingredients

The follow constituent inclination fills aone - quartmason jolt for fermenting , and makesabout 16 ounces of finished raging sauceat the end . Scale up or down as needed , keeping the proportions similar .   We routinely double the formula and make a half - gallon !

Adding other vegetables to fermented hot sauce

We ’ve made many fun variations of this sour hot sauce recipe over the years , using other vegetables in addition to peppers . Adding different vegetables creates even more complex and interesting flavors , so experience free to try out ! For example , we have addedcarrots or tomatillosfrom the garden .

To do so , just perplex with the same proportion ( 1 Egyptian pound of veggies / peppers ) per the other listed ingredients . For illustration , half a Irish punt of hot peppers plus half a pound of chopped Daucus carota sativa . I indicate thin out husk tomato in half or quarter . Everything will get combine together afterwards .

Supplies Needed

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare Peppers and Onions

Wash your pepper of pick . When preparing them , keep in mind that the goal is to suit as much veg affair into the jarful as potential , so I suggest tocut the peppers into slice or rings(depending on the size / shape of your pepper ) instead of leave them whole . Next , Robert Peel anddice the onioninto lowly piece as well .

To make your sour hot sauce more mild , you’re able to also core the peppers to remove most of the come and blank inner tissue layer . I also extremely suggestwearing gloveswhile work on with hot chili pepper !

Step 2: Pack the Jar

Step 3: Make and Add Salt Water Brine

On the kitchen stove top , combine2 cupful of sink in water system with 1 tablespoon of sea saltin a potbelly to create a childlike salinity water brine . The salt is what encourages a good ferment process and beneficial bacteria , while inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens .

Gently heat the water until the saltiness dissolves , but avoid overheating it . The brine want to beroom temperatureor scarce lukewarm by the time you add it to the jar . ( That say , you could also do this tone prior to the veg prep , allowing extra time for it to cool . )

Once the seawater has cool down to the desired temperature , pour it into the ferment vas until the peppers are completely enshroud with liquid . Gentlytap and wigglethe jounce or press down on the peppers to release zephyr pocket . Top off with more saltwater as needed after settling occurs .

A close up of a half mason gallon jar full of red peppers cut into rings, with chopped onions at the bottom, and a air lock fermentation lid on top

Step 4: Cover with an Airlock Lid

When fermenting intellectual nourishment , it is authoritative to keep the veggie ( capsicum , in this case)submerged below the brine . This helps prevent the development of stamp . As the peppers turn , they will release gasses that require to escape from the jar . Ideally , those gases should be allowed to elude without interrupt the fermentation process or introduce raw atmosphere . This is where your weight and airlock lid get in handy !

Cover the tempestuousness vessel with your weight andairlock hat arrangement of selection . The stainless brand Kraut Source ferment twist we use has a spring and plate that do as a weight to keep the peppers submerged , along with a moat organization on the top of the hat that create an airlock . Thisall - in - one ferment lidfrom Ball accomplish the same .

Alternatively , you may expend a separate fermentation weight likethese deoxyephedrine weightsmade for   wide - mouthpiece jar , ceramic versions , or even boiled stones . Then , tot up a separateairlock lidon top .

A wooden bowl is partially full of chili peppers of various shape and color. Amongst the peppers, there are three cloves of garlic, one small yellow onion, two limes, one of which is slice in half, and a bunch of fresh cilantro.

Step 5: Ferment

How long should hot sauce ferment? How do I tell when it’s done?

Now it ’s clip to let the peppers and lactobacillus do their thing ! position the fermentation vas in a temperate location to ferment for7 to 14 days . ( See more temperature note of hand below . ) Dark or light – does n’t matter ! Ours usually lives on the kitchen counter .

The shorter the unrest , the less “ developed ” and complex the flavor profile will be . However , the longer the ferment – the more chance there is to develop kahm yeast ( also explained below ) and get a little funky , especially in warm conditions .

As the capsicum work , the saltwater will convert from clear-cut tocloudy , the pepperscolorswill become more muted , things willcompactunder your weight , and will likely producebubbles .

Three quart jars full of fermented hot sauce, each jar still has a fermentation lid on top of it while one of each jar is labeled “mild”, “medium”, and “hot”.

Some fermentation vessels bubble so much that they overflow from the container . Therefore , we always set ours on a plate to catch any overspill .   Also note that agitation ordinarily smell a spot smelly , but do n’t occupy – they taste good than they smack ! I promise .

What temperature should I ferment my hot sauce?

The idealistic zymolysis temperature for peppers and fermented hot sauce is about68 to 73 ° F . Other ferments do okay with temperature somewhat warmer , up to the 80 to 85 degree range , but capsicum pepper plant are more picky and prone to growing kahm yeast . Therefore , do your best to find oneself a position in the favorite image .

A note about kahm yeast

In too warm of conditions , the peppers in fermented hot sauce are prone to developing something calledkahm barm . Though not harmful , kahm yeast can create an off - putting aroma and flavor . It will appear as a thick livid layer of sediment on the bottom of the jarful , on the peppercorn themselves , or floating on the airfoil . A modest amount of white sediment or motion picture in wholly normal in any ferment . In contrast , too inhuman of temperatures can lead to improper fermentation and mould development .

Step 6: Strain and Blend into Hot Sauce

After 7 - 14 Day have passed , it is time to turn those fermented veggie chunks into fermented hot sauce ! To do so , localize a hunky-dory - mesh strainer over a bowl . Yes , over a bowl – notthe sink ! Next , capable and take out the lid and weight from your ferment vessel and deck the contents of the container into the strainer . Keep the collected brinethat is in the stadium below !

Transfer the fermented capsicum , onions , garlic and Coriandrum sativum into ablender . Next , add together one tablespoon offresh - squeezed calcium hydrate juice , along with ¼ cup of the reserved ferment saltwater . Blend , and watch the body .

Continue to add little sum of the brine , little by little and blend as you go , until the fermented spicy sauce has achieve your desired thickness . Some like it thin , some like it thick!That is entirely up to you . Give it a little taste - test too , and add another squeeze of linden if you ’d like .

A two part image collage, the first image shows the bottom of a quart mason jar, it is lined with fresh cilantro and three cloves of garlic. The second image shows the inside of a quart mason jar which is now partway full of chili peppers sliced into rings. You cans see red, yellow, and green pepper slices.

Step 7: Bottle and Enjoy

Once meld , transfer the finish fermented red-hot sauce into a reposition container . Ideally , something that is glass and has an airtight lid . We like to store ours in these classic5 - ounce hot sauce bottles(especially for gifting),fun swing top feeding bottle , or in small mason jarful .

Now you get to bask your very own sourish , perfumed and spicy fermented hot sauce ! We enjoy drizzling this sauce over , eggs , frittata , veggie with Sir Tim Rice and beans , fiesta - way stuffed squash , lentils … the list goes on . Aaron like to eat it with chips like salsa , or even sum a dash to his soup !

How long does fermented hot sauce last?

Fermented hot sauce appease good for up to ayear in the refrigerator(or longer ) which is where it should be put in . We ’ve eaten ferment hot sauce that was over two years old before ! Shake to mix before use , because someseparation is normal . Discard if mould or off - flavors develop .

Do n’t omit these tasty formula !

Easy Fermented Hot Pepper Sauce Recipe

Equipment

Ingredients1x2x3x

A saltwater brine is being poured into a quart mason jar that is packed full of peppers, cilantro, onions, and garlic. The jar has been packed in layers, from the bottom to the top is cilantro, onion, sliced peppers, cilantro, and more sliced peppers. The colors are vibrant.

A hand is holding a Kraut Source device lid, it is made of stainless steel and is used to ferment foods. The lid is being held at an angle and is destined to sit atop the quart mason jar full of peppers, cilantro, onion, and garlic in the background.

The jar of peppers, cilantro, onion, and garlic is sitting with the Kraut Source lid on top of it, ready to ferment. There are various chili peppers, lime, garlic, and cilantro laid about the foot of the jar, highlighting the ingredients which are inside of the jar which will turn into fermented hot sauce.

The jar full of chili peppers, cilantro, onions, and garlic is shown sitting on a white plate. The Kraut Source lid is still on top of the jar, showing that it is still fermenting. The ingredients inside have shrunk slightly, only filling the jar two thirds of the way now, and the clear salt water brine has now turned cloudy. All of these things are typical of fermenting foods. The background is a brick fireplace flanked on the left by houseplants such as monstera, fiddle leaf fig, and alocasia. The ingredients will be blended to make fermented hot sauce.

A stainless steel strainer full of fermented peppers, garlic, and onions is hovering over a white below below. The bowl holds the drained cloudy yellow brine from the fermentation process, which a portion will be blended back with the peppers to create the final fermented hot sauce.

A hand holds a slender 16 ounce glass bottle full of bright orange fermented hot sauce, with a weathered wood wall in the background. The bottle has the words “hot sauce” written in silver marker on it.

Ten finished bottles of hot sauce arranged in a triange or pyramid on a table. The middle center bottle is bright orange, with four more orange bottles to the right, and 5 red lined up bottles to the left.

Two flip top glass jars full of fermented hot sauce that is green in color. Each jar has been labelled “hot pepper sauce”.

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