A super-easy habanero sauce tastes delicious and is perfect for everyone who loves a dipping sauce that works with chips, crisps, nacho and just about anything else you can think of. Sauces made from scratch are much healthier and cheaper than store-bought ones, and the best part is that you can make them as sweet or as spicy as you wish.
Habanero lovers, here's the recipe for you, simple and easy to make and sweet and mild in taste.
What is habanero hot sauce
Habanero hot sauce is made from habanero peppers. Habanero peppers are fiery hot, so you need something sugary to make a milder sauce that everyone can enjoy. The mighty habanero is one of the hottest peppers out there, but it's super easy to handle once you have mastered the art and science of habanero hot sauce.
These are the ingredients for the perfect habanero sauce:
Habanero peppers. These peppers make your hot sauce unique because of their fantastic flavour. Hot sauce made from fresh habanero peppers is the best. We recommend using just one habanero pepper per batch of hot sauce. If you do not want it too hot, remove the stem and seeds – this way, you will achieve a medium heat level.
Yellow bell pepper. You can use any coloured bell pepper, but we recommend using the yellow one because it will maintain the vibrant yellow hues in your hot sauce.
Carrot. Select the best carrot from your local market. Go organic if you can.
Orange juice. This recipe's secret ingredient. Adding a bit of sweetness to hot sauces tends to boost their taste.
Lime juice. To lower the pH of the sauce, you will need either lime juice or apple cider vinegar. Lime juice is ideal for your hot sauce recipe because of its tartness, acidity and slight sweetness. If you opt to use vinegar, use apple cider vinegar instead of white vinegar.
Sugar. This will balance the hot peppers and the acidity in your citrus juices. Use brown sugar or caster sugar.
Habanero hot sauce recipe
Total time: 30 mins
Serves 10 people
Ingredients
Habanero peppers
Yellow bell pepper
Carrot
Orange juice
Lime juice
Sugar
Preparation
In a non-stick pan, combine all ingredients.
Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Combine all ingredients in a blender and whizz until smooth.
Return the smooth liquid to the pan and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, stirring constantly.
When it thickens, the sauce is ready. Let cool slightly, then transfer to a clean jar or glass bottle.
Store in the refrigerator and consume within two weeks.
Tips
If your sauce feels too thin, simmer it longer until it thickens. Be sure not to let it stick to the pan.
If your sauce is too thick, add a little more orange juice, one tbsp at a time.
To make your sauce spicier, add another habanero to the mix. Taste it after adding one habanero pepper at a time – these peppers are extremely hot.
For a sweeter sauce, add a little sugar.
If your sauce lacks acidity, add more vinegar or lime juice.
Put on gloves before cutting or handling the habanero – spicy residue can stick to your fingers for hours and is hard to remove.
The recipe makes one small bottle, enough to make 8-12 servings of hot sauce. Double it for a larger batch.
How do you use habanero sauce?
You can use it as a dipping sauce for pretty much everything. Yummy and tangy, this hot sauce is perfect for chicken wings, tofu, tacos, burrito bowls, tortillas, chips or crisps. Spread it on your sandwiches, over your eggs, or whenever you need a quick hit of heat. Habanero peppers are incredibly aromatic, so they pair well with almost all savoury dishes due to their flavour and aroma.
Chef Garwood, most recently of Atomix, will open his debut restaurant in NYC this October. He tells us all about it and why New York could be Tasmania.
Chef Brower is the winner of the S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy Competition 2024-24 USA Regional Final and will now go on to compete at the Grand Finale.
All of these easy recipes yield tender, juicy ham with a delectable caramelised crust. Learn just what you'll need to make the best Easter ham for your family.
Have you been longing for a mint julep? Learn how to make this signature drink of the Kentucky Derby. You'll love this easy recipe perfect for entertaining!
Looking for new dessert ideas? Try this easy grape cake recipe: learn how to make a soft white grape cake, perfect for your Autumn meals and breakfasts.
Looking for new dessert ideas? Try this easy grape cake recipe: learn how to make a soft white grape cake, perfect for your Autumn meals and breakfasts.