09 Mar How Spicy O’Reilly’s Turn Fresh Chilli Peppers into Hot Sauce
Are you passionate about spicy food? Do you love the tangy, complex flavours of hot sauce? If so, then get ready to embark on a journey into the world of fermentation! In this blog post, we’ll explore how, at Spicy O’Reilly’s headquarters, we turn fresh chilli peppers into Spicy O’Reilly’s Original Hot Pepper Sauce through the magical process of fermentation. From selecting the right peppers to perfecting your recipe, we’ve got you covered. So let’s dive in and discover the exciting world of fermented hot sauce together!
Fermentation… What’s it all about?
Fermentation is a process of food preservation that has been used for centuries. It involves the use of microorganisms to convert carbohydrates into alcohols or acids. This process can be used to preserve fruits, vegetables, and meats. In the culinary world, fermentation is used to create flavour-packed dishes such as sauerkraut, kimchi, and hot sauce.
Spicy O’Reilly’s Original Hot Pepper Sauce is a delicious fermented condiment made from chilli peppers, vinegar, and salt. The fermentation process adds great depth of flavour to the sauce and rounds out the heat of the chilli peppers. Fermented hot sauce is a straight forward process to make, only requires a few ingredients, but certainly requires some patience while it ferments.
What is a Fermented Hot Sauce?
Fermented hot sauce is a type of sauce made from chilli peppers that have been fermented. The fermentation process breaks down the peppers’ cell walls, making them more easily digestible and giving the sauce a deeper, more complex flavour. Fermented hot sauces are typically lower in acidity than their non-fermented counterparts, and they can range in heat from mild to extremely spicy. In the Spicy O’Reilly’s experimental kitchen, we use chilli peppers of all kinds, some of which have been fermenting for over three years!
If you’re looking to add a little extra zing to your cooking, fermented hot sauce is a great way to do it. You can use it as a condiment on sandwiches and burgers, or add it to soups and stews for an extra kick of flavour. And because it’s lower in acidity, it’s less likely to cause indigestion than other types of hot sauce. So go ahead and give it a try – your taste buds will thank you!
The Different Types of Chilli Peppers Used for Spicy O’Reilly’s Hot Pepper Sauce
Chilli peppers are a type of fruit that belongs to the nightshade family. There are many different varieties of chilli peppers, and they can be used fresh or dried. Chilli peppers are usually used to add heat and flavour to food.
Naga Morich peppers are an extremely hot pepper variety coming in at a whopping 1,382,118 Scoville Heat Units. While it boasts absurd heat levels, it also (fortunately for Spicy O’Reilly’s) has a very unique and delicious flavour and is used to create the delicious heat of our Smokin’ Hot Pepper Sauce.
Another type of chilli pepper often used for hot sauce is the Habanero pepper. Habanero peppers are small and round, with a smooth skin. They are very hot, with a Scoville rating of 100,000-350,000.
Jalapeño peppers are a well known type of chilli pepper used for hot sauce. Jalapeño peppers are medium in size and have a ridged skin. They range from mild to medium in heat, with a Scoville rating of 2,500-5,000.
Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeño peppers that have been dried and smoked. They have a deep red colour and a smoky flavour and is a important ingredient to our Spicy O’Reilly’s Smokin’ Hot sauce. Chipotle peppers are mild to medium in heat, with a Scoville rating of 2,500-5,000.
To make a fermented hot sauce, you will need:
– Fresh chilli peppers (I use a mix of Jalapeños, Serranos, and Habaneros)
– White vinegar
– Salt
– A clean glass jar with a tight fitting lid
– A strainer
How To Turn Chilli Peppers into Hot Sauce
The process of turning fresh chilli peppers into hot sauce is a fermentation process. The peppers are left to sit in a sealed container with salt and occasionally with water for a period of time, usually around 2-3 weeks. During this time, the natural bacteria on the surface of the peppers break down the flesh of the peppers, releasing their capsaicin (the compound that makes them hot). The longer the peppers are left to ferment, the hotter and tastier the resulting sauce will be.
Once the fermentation process is complete, the peppers are then blended into a smooth paste along with the vinegar and water they were fermented in. Salt is then added to taste. The final step is to bottle the sauce and allow it to age for at least 2 weeks before using, though it will continue to improve in flavour over time.
Making Your Own Delicious Hot Sauce
If you’re a fan of hot sauce, you know that there’s nothing quite like the taste of a fresh, spicy, batch. And while it may seem like a daunting task to make your own hot sauce at home, it’s actually quite easy! I’ve listed these tips to help get you started:
1. Start with fresh, ripe chilli peppers. This is the key to making a great-tasting hot sauce. If your peppers are not fresh, they will not have as much flavour.
2. Use a food processor or blender to puree the peppers. This will make them easier to work with and will give you a smoother sauce.
3. Add vinegar and salt to taste. These two ingredients will help preserve your sauce and give it its signature tangy flavour.
4. Experiment with other ingredients to find your perfect recipe. Some common additions include garlic, onion, and different spices.
5. Be patient! Fermentation can take up to several months, but it’s worth the wait for that authentic hot sauce flavour.
Hot Sauce Variations
Hot sauce is a staple of many cuisines around the world, and there are endless possibilities for creating your own unique blend at home. Get off to a great start on your hot sauce journey with these simple ideas:
1. Simple Chilli Sauce
This basic recipe is perfect for those who like their hot sauce on the milder side. Simply combine fresh chilli peppers, vinegar, salt, and water in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as necessary. Bottle and store in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
2. Smoked Chilli Sauce
For a deeper, smokier flavour, you can smoke the chilli peppers before making your sauce. Sit the peppers on a rack over a gas stove burner set to medium-high heat, and char evenly all over.
Grill the peppers until totally blackened and blistered, then steam them in a covered bowl for 10 minutes until the charred skin peels away easily.
3. Fermented Chilli Sauce
If you’re looking for a probiotic-rich hot sauce with loads of depth, fermentation is the way to go. Combine equal parts chopped chilli peppers and carrots with garlic, ginger, salt, sugar, and water in a clean jar. Stir well to dissolve the sugar, then seal tightly and leave at room temperature for 3-5 days until bubbly and slightly sour-smelling. Once fermented, transfer to the fridge and enjoy! Please research the fermentation process thoroughly before proceeding though. There are many great books and free web resources for any information you may need.
Alternatives and Variations
When it comes to making your own hot sauce, there are endless possibilities for experimentation. Get off to a good start with a few of these ideas:
- Use different types of peppers. In addition to the standard red chilli peppers, you can also use green peppers, habaneros, or any other type of pepper that you like.
- Experiment with different types of vinegar. White vinegar is the most common choice for hot sauce, however you could also try using apple cider vinegar or another type of vinegar for a different flavour.
- Add other ingredients to your hot sauce to change up the flavour. Common additions include garlic, onion, fruit, lime juice, and salt. Feel free to get creative and experiment with other ingredients that you think might taste good in a hot sauce.
Why do I do it?
We use fermented chilli peppers to make our wonderful Spicy O’Reilly’s Hot Pepper Sauces (get yours here) and it’s an amazing way to turn a fresh ingredient into something entirely unique and delicious. Whether you are looking for the perfect hot sauce for your bbq and want to experiment with creating original flavours, fermenting chilli peppers can be a great way to do it. With a bit of patience and some simple ingredients, you can easily create delicious hot sauces that will take your dishes from ordinary to extraordinary!
If you’re also looking for further info about fermentation, here’s a great book to start you off…
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