Fermented Hot Sauce

Name: Fermented Hot Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 32 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb fresh red Fresno or cayenne chili peppers, stems removed; 6 garlic cloves, peeled; 2 tsp non-iodized kosher salt; 2 cups filtered or non-chlorinated water; 1/4 cup white vinegar

A tangy, complex hot sauce made by fermenting fresh chili peppers in a salt brine, then blending smooth. Plan ahead: allow 5-7 days of fermentation at room temperature.

20 minMediumServes 3210 cal/serving

AmericanSauceFermentedVeganLow CarbKetoPaleoGluten-FreeDairy-FreeNut-FreeEgg-FreeSoy-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

1 lb fresh red Fresno or cayenne chili peppers, stems removed
6 garlic cloves, peeled
2 tsp non-iodized kosher salt
2 cups filtered or non-chlorinated water
1/4 cup white vinegar

Instructions

1

Dissolve 2 tsp non-iodized kosher salt in 2 cups filtered or non-chlorinated water in a clean mason jar, stirring until fully dissolved.
2

Roughly chop 1 lb fresh red Fresno or cayenne chili peppers (stems removed) and 6 garlic cloves (peeled), then pack them tightly into the jar with the brine. All solids should be submerged.
3

Cover the jar loosely with cheesecloth or a loose-fitting lid. Leave at room temperature (65-75°F) for 5-7 days, pressing solids down daily. The brine will turn cloudy and bubbles will appear - this is normal and desired.
4

Once the ferment smells tangy and pleasantly sour, drain the solids and reserve the brine.
5

Blend the fermented fresh red Fresno or cayenne chili peppers and garlic cloves in a blender until smooth. Add 1/4 cup white vinegar and enough reserved brine to reach your preferred consistency.
6

Taste and adjust with extra salt or vinegar. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a smooth sauce, or leave unstrained for a chunky style.
7

Pour into clean bottles or jars and refrigerate. The sauce keeps for up to 6 months refrigerated.

Questions

Can I make Fermented Hot Sauce ahead?

Yes, it takes well to being made ahead. Refrigerated in a sealed jar, it keeps four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Fermented Hot Sauce?

Yes. As written it serves 32. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. There is no cooking pitfall here; the quantities simply scale.

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