My grandpa’s Hot Pepper Sauce is a hot sauce recipe that goes with everything. Everything! Extremely flavorful sauce bursting with hot pepper flavor, and super spicy so proceed at your own risk 🙂 Whipped up in a food processor so no cooking required! Best Homemade Hot Sauce ever!
I know there are plenty of hot sauces at your grocery stores, and I’ve tried a bunch of them. However, they often times have an off taste of something. It could be vinegar, garlic, a certain spice, a type of oil..something.
And for that I always have a jar of this sauce. It’s my go to hot sauce recipe. Chunky, flavorful and ready in minutes!
HOT PEPPER SAUCE
First of all, any pepper here would work but I chose those spicy red thai chillies so I should probably call this a Red Pepper Sauce.
The rule of thumb when making homemade hot sauce is always that, the type of flavor you get is based on the type of pepper you use.
And this rule specifically applies here because it’s a no cook sauce. Often times when we cook hot sauces, the pepper flavor is cooked down with spices or vinegar. But today we’re maximizing on the flavor of the pepper.
Since this is a no cook sauce also, keep in mind this is a chunky sauce. You could always opt for processing it more and straining the sauce, but honestly please don’t.
There’s something about the texture of this sauce that makes it stand out. So I can’t urge you enough to keep it chunky as it is.
HOT SAUCE RECIPE
If you haven’t attempted to make a homemade hot sauce before, you’re quite missing out! This hot sauce recipe is the perfect one to start with. And here’s why.
- It tastes like pure hot peppers with a hint of garlic.
- No harsh vinegar, spice, oil taste that overpowers the peppers.
- Ready in minutes without cooking or waiting for it to cool.
- Chunky texture that adds to the taste.
- It’s my grandpa’s homemade recipe that has been around for years!
- It’s influenced by the flavors of the Mediterranean.
- It goes with EVERYTHING!
Ingredients for the Hot Pepper Sauce:
- Peppers : the absolute STAR of the hot sauce. Make sure you pick the type of pepper that has the best flavor you’re looking for. This is the dominant flavor in this sauce, so choose it wisely 🙂
- Garlic
- Salt
- Vinegar (just 2 tablespoons to add the saucy-ness, not flavor)
- Olive oil (also to emulsify and create the sauce consistency)
- Herbs : Cilantro and a touch of mint
- Optional: Sweet bell pepper to balance out the heat.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE HOT SAUCE
Super simple.
Gather all the ingredients above and place them in the bowl of your food processor.
Puree the sauce until it’s chunky.
This is the perfect chunky texture you need to look for!
At that point you’ll pour the sauce into a mason jar and pour olive oil on the surface just to cover it. That should be probably around 1 1/2 tablespoons.
And you’re done!
HOT SAUCE TIPS
- Start with quality peppers for the utmost flavor. Also keep in mind the level of heat, not just the flavor of the peppers.
- Use a sweet bell pepper to offset the heat from the hot peppers.
- The amount of vinegar is just to create a slight sauce and the flavor of vinegar is not meant to be dominating.
- The hot sauce is meant to be chunky, so don’t over process it.
- Adding a thin layer of oil over the top of the sauce helps preserve the sauce.
- Store the sauce in your fridge for up to 3 months.
- For the Salt–to use the full tablespoon of coarse salt, make sure you’re using Kosher or Sea salt. If you’re using table salt, then drop the salt 1 teaspoon – 1/12 teaspoon at most.
RECIPES TO PAIR WITH THIS SPICY SAUCE
Spicy Harissa Lamb Shoulder Chunks in Pita Cones with Tahini Sauce
One Pot Meal Of Lentils And Spinach
Smashed Potatoes With Spicy Lamb
Spicy Sweet Sriracha Mango Chicken Sandwich
Grilled Chicken Breast Skewers
Grilled Lamb Skewers BBQ Party
Hot Pepper Sauce
My grandpa's Hot Pepper Sauce is a hot sauce recipe that goes with everything. Everything! Extremely flavorful sauce bursting with hot pepper flavor, and super spicy so proceed at your own risk 🙂 Whipped up in a food processor so no cooking required!
Ingredients
- 3 cups Hot peppers whole
- 1/4 cup red bell pepper or any colored pepper
- 6 cloves garlic whole
- 1 tablespoon coarse salt Kosher or Sea salt (see note below)
- 2 Tablespoons vinegar White or white balsamic
- 1/4 cup olive oil extra virgin
- 1/3 cup cilantro leaves
- 1/4 cup mint leaves
Drizzle
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil extra virgin
Instructions
-
Place all ingredients in a food processor, and process until chunky.
Pour the sauce into a mason jar and drizzle with the extra tablespoon of olive oil over the top.
Store in the fridge and Enjoy!
Recipe Notes
HOT SAUCE TIPS
- Start with quality peppers for the utmost flavor. Also keep in mind the level of heat, not just the flavor of the peppers.
- Use a sweet bell pepper to offset the heat from the hot peppers.
- The amount of vinegar is just to create a slight sauce and the flavor of vinegar is not meant to be dominating.
- The hot sauce is meant to be chunky, so don't over process it.
- Adding a thin layer of oil over the top of the sauce helps preserve the sauce.
- Store the sauce in your fridge for up to 3 months.
- For the Salt--to use the full tablespoon of coarse salt, make sure you're using Kosher or Sea salt. If you're using table salt, then drop the salt 1 teaspoon - 1/12 teaspoon at most.
i love it! I made a few jars from our first harvest. All are gone! With our last harvest I am making WAY more than we can consume in 3 months. Hoping it will freeze well… in bags?
The peppers will turn to mush. I suggest that you override the “chunky” suggestion, and buzz it down to a smooth, spreadable consistency then freeze it.
I like the flat baggie technique.
Can you add onions?
Oh wow! So much flavor packed into this hot pepper sauce. I love how versatile and how easily it comes together too.
You’re right, this sauce can literally go on EVERYTHING! The mint is amazing for freshness! SO GOOD!
How long will will this sauce keep and how should it be stored?
Wondering if you can use white wine vinegar instead in grandpas hot sauce?
Can you use mix green and red cayenne peppers? I just got a bunch of them from my co-worker and needed a recipe to use them up, and this seemed perfect. I also have a lot of banana peppers too, was thinking of using that as the sweet pepper to offset the heat.
Thanks!
can this be canned? Thanks!
You would need to add VERY much more vinegar to be safe from botulism.
Anyone recommend what type of Peppers to use I’m looking for little heat bur great flavors
Can I mix on multiple types of peppers? Was thinking chilli pepper and jalapeno.
Also, what if I mixed in fire roasted peppers too?
Hi Jay, I actually LOVE the peppers combo you mentioned!! These would be a terrific sauce! YES you can absolutely blend any types of peppers together for this sauce, we’ve always done that!:)
It was too salty for me. I liked everything else about. Colorful and the mix of cilantro and mint was nice.
Hi Gael, happy you liked this sauce too! Just wondering if you use table salt or kosher/sea salt? It can make a difference if you’re using regular table salt.
Hi Gael, also wanted to let you know that I edited the salt in the recipe to highlight using sea salt or kosher salt only for the full tablespoon.
OMG! This Pepper Sauce looks amazing! I love anything spicy, so having a homemade sauce is right up my alley!
Shanika this sauce is a MUST try!
Can this recipe be canned for shelf life?
I have so many things I could put this on! Delish!
I use it on everything too!!
Once you try a homemade pepper sauce, you can’t go back to store bought! I’m going to use this on everything!
so happy you enjoyed this Pam
This looks gorgeous, I love the colors! I”m getting better with being able to eat spicy food, but my husband absolutely loves spicy sauces, so I might have to give this one a try!
Erica, your husband will absolutely love this!
This sauces looks quite tasty an flavorful. Love that I can enjoy it with everything. I look forward to trying it!
I love how easy this is to make!! Thanks for the recipe!
This is a great sauce, so versatile. And I agree, its best to leave it chunky!
This hot sauce is seriously delicious! It’s good on pretty much everything, and I love how quick and easy it is to prepare.
This recipe is a keeper! I have made it and love it! Thanks for this recipe
Definitely hot and spicy and flavorful. Nothing like stocking some in my kitchen. I can enjoy it with everything yum.
This sounds marvelous. Something my family will love on Everything!
So many delicious uses for this wonderful sauce! Delicious!