Habanero Hot Sauce Recipe

Fireball habanero peppers should come with a warning sign tied around their stems for the uninitiated, and that applies to this Habanero Hot Sauce as well.

So consider yourself warned!  This is a massively fiery hot sauce and all you need is a drop or two to amp up your favorite dishes, with a special nod to Fish Tacos and lighter grilled meats.

Peach seems to pair effortlessly with habaneros and that's the key to this version.  The result is a sweet, flavorful burst of searing heat that will wait patiently in the fridge for the inevitable house guest in search of something hotter.

Habanero Hot Sauce Recipe

If you're new to habaneros you'll frequently find them next to the jalapenos in the produce section.

They turn orange when they ripen and that's typically how they are sold.

As is usually the case, the smaller the pepper the hotter it is, and habaneros are no exception.  They are legitimate fireballs and normally you don't need to use more than a slice of them to take advantage of their heat.  Unless, of course, you're making hot sauce so we'll use six of them.

Take a quick look at this Scoville table that ranks chili peppers from hottest to mildest.

Yes, you read that right, habaneros are typically 20-30 times hotter than jalapenos.

That's no joke so keep in mind that it's best to use caution when handling them.  If you have any scrapes on your hands or have sensitive skin then it's best to wear gloves when handling them.   If you mistakenly touch your eyes or nose after working with them you'll get some unpleasant burning.

Once you get familiar with them you can get away without using gloves as long as you wash your hands (and knife) thoroughly after handling them.  (How To Handle Hot Chili Peppers.)

Scraping out the seeds and veins is a good way to tame their heat but it isn't necessary for something like hot sauce so you can consider this optional.

Roughly chop a small onion and saute it in a dollop of oil along with 2 peeled garlic cloves.  I usually leave the garlic cloves whole because all of this is going in the blender eventually.

If, like me, you reach for your cast iron pan out of habit to saute onion and garlic, then consider switching to a non-reactive pan like stainless steel for this recipe.  I mistakenly used cast iron for this batch and even though it's a quick simmer once the vinegar is added the acidity did eat away some of the seasoning layer of the pan and that is no bueno.

Once the onion has softened (5-8 minutes) we'll also add:

6 habanero peppers
3/4 cup sliced peaches
1/4 cup pineapple
1" piece of peeled ginger
3/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/2 teaspoon salt
dash of cumin (optional)

A single cup of fruit seems to be a good ratio for this recipe, with peach, pineapple, and mango all being good options.   Habaneros are naturally fruity and will pair well with any of them.  I used canned peaches and fresh pineapple for this batch but definitely try to use fresh fruit whenever you can.  Here's a recent Mango Habanero batch. 

Let this simmer for 5-10 minutes or until everything is at a uniform temp.

Add it to a blender or food processor and give it a whirl.

But before you try it remember that you've been warned!

Just take a small taste at first.  If all went according to plan you've got a sweet, fiery, tangy hot sauce on your hands.  Nice!

I think there is plenty of sweetness from the fruits but you are welcome to sweeten it further with agave or honey.  Adding sweetness can also temper some of the heat if you think your batch is too volcanic.

This recipe will make 2 cups worth of Habanero Hot Sauce.  That's enough for two 5 oz. bottles (hot sauce sized).

Save your old hot sauce bottles because you can always use them to make your own.  Or you can buy hot sauce bottles on Amazon for about a buck each.

And keep in mind that you can strain this hot sauce if you want a thinner, more liquidy version.   I usually skip the straining and leave it slightly chunky.

Either way, this will keep in the fridge for at least a month and now you've got the perfect answer for when someone asks for something hotter.

There's something remarkably satisfying about making your own hot sauce and a homemade version has a life-affirming zip that you might get hooked on.   And don't forget that there are no set rules when making hot sauce, so feel free to get creative and adjust this version to suit your palate.

Just don't forget to warn your friends and family when you plop a bottle of this fiery Habanero Hot Sauce down on the table.  They will appreciate the warning, and then ask you for the recipe.

Buen Provecho.

Want the latest recipe?  Click your favorite from these options and follow me:  Instagram,  Facebook,  Pinterest,  TikTok,  YouTube.

We also have recipes for some fiery Chipotle Hot Sauce:

 

And this awesome Green Hot Sauce: