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.
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Habanero Hot Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 habanero peppers
- 3/4 cup peach
- 1/4 cup pineapple
- 1 small onion
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1" piece of ginger
- 3/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- dash of cumin (optional)
- dash of agave or honey (optional)
- olive oil
Instructions
- Give the habaneros a good rinse and de-stem them. Out of habit, I usually scrape out the seeds and pith of habaneros but you can consider this optional. Use caution (or gloves) when handling habanero peppers.
- Saute a roughly chopped onion and 2 whole, peeled garlic cloves in a dollop of oil. It's best to use a non-reactive pan for this recipe with stainless steel being a good option.
- Once the onion has softened (5-8 minutes) add the six habanero peppers, 3/4 cup peach, 1/4 cup pineapple, 1" piece of peeled ginger, 3/4 cup white vinegar, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let the mixture simmer for 5-10 minutes or until everything is at a uniform temp.
- Add mixture to a blender or food processor and combine well.
- Take a taste. It will be plenty hot so consider yourself warned! You can add dashes of agave or honey to sweeten it up and temper the heat if you want.
- Serve immediately or store in hot sauce bottles in the fridge where it will keep for at least a month.
Notes
We also have recipes for some fiery Chipotle Hot Sauce:
And this awesome Green Hot Sauce:
Still hungry?!
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Ryan Gutowski
So I made this recipe, leaving out the peaches, earlier this week. The sauce is amazing and we have used 1/2 a bottle already. It's been stored in the fridge for 3 full days, capped in a sauce bottle, and today the sauce has a sour taste to it.
I can only think this has something to do with using fresh pineapple. I used just under a 1/4 of a cup. Anyone have advice here?
Patrick
Hey Ryan thanks much for your note! I'm a little surprised to hear this as I used fresh pineapple too and didn't notice any sour notes even after weeks in the fridge. Can I ask if you added in some other fruit in place of the peaches?
James Conrey
This recipe seems a bit sweet for my taste, but none the less I may try it out. I wanted to comment mainly about handling, cutting, and cooking these pepper types. I highly recommend using gloves when dealing with these peppers or any other super hot peppers, because they will actually leave a burning sensation on your skin like a sunburn but sometimes worse and for a couple days. Also when cooking them, be sure to have decent ventilation (hood, open window) because they can produce a vapor that really hurts if breathed in lol. I have made my own version of Habanero sauce as well as Apocalype Scorpion and even blended the two together. The AS is extremely hot but has a taste that draws you in like the Habanero, just be warned, it's called a super hot for a reason lol.
Patrick
Hi James, thanks much for mentioning this. Cheers.
Wanda
I made this recipe twice. The first time it was just too sweet so I decreased the fruit part. The second time around it was better, but the composition is such that the sauce will always have that fruity note. Nevertheless it was well received! I’m ready to try another one though. I would also recommend to work with the most neutral tasting vinegar you can find.
Patrick
Hey thanks much for your notes Wanda, it's super helpful to hear your adjustments. Cheers.
Marc
How can I store it longer? I will have a lot of peppers this year and want to put a lot up.
Patrick
Hey Marc! Sorry I can't a better answer but I have never tried any long term preserving with this recipe. Cheers.
Michael Bonville
Nice hot sauce for fish tacos
Patrick
Thanks Michael!
Lynda
I just made this sauce, it turned out great! I substituted fresh orange 🍊 for the pineapple, added extra habaneros and added honey 🍯 to offset them. I also added cilantro 🌱 for a bit more of the tropical flavor! I am growing habaneros in my garden 👩🌾 this year and look forward to making this when I harvest them! Thank you again 👍🏻
Patrick
Ahh great to know, thanks much for mentioning your adjustments Lynda! Cheers.
Nikki
I substituted 1 cup of raspberries and raspberry vinegar, and used up my ten red habanero peppers, but otherwise followed the recipe. The hot sauce turned out great! I had to add a little honey, after overdoing it with the extra peppers, but it was very flavorful and super easy to make! Thank you, Patrick!
Patrick
Ahh great thanks much for mentioning your adjustments Nikki, sounds delicious!
Tally
I just made this fantastic sauce. I was first worried about the number of habaneros but figured to trust the recipe. The tender balance between sweet and sour while letting the pleasant hotness prevail made this sauce exceptionally addictive.
I am a big fan of (vegetarian) Mexican food and really appreciate your blog and efforts in sharing these fantastic recipes.
Patrick
Hey thanks much for the feedback Tally, so glad this hot sauce was a hit for you! Cheers.
Grace
This is so delicious I have the compliment the chef, or the recipe maker, in this case. I followed the recipe whole except that I used all pineapple instead of combining it with peaches, and I might have used 8 or 9 peppers instead of 6 per cup of fruit. Habaneros are not very common where I live in Malaysia, nor are recipes for what to do with them. I have the sauce, lots of it, over eggs sunny side up. But really, a spoon is all I need to go with it. Yums.
Patrick
Hey thanks much for your note Grace! What a treat knowing that this recipe has made it over to your neck of the woods 🙂
Dereck
Great easy recipe with really good flavor. I used jefe peppers instead and this still turned out great.
Patrick
Ahh good to know, thanks much for your note Dereck Cheers.