Make Hot Sauce

So you love a killer hot sauce? This article will show you how to make a simple one from scratch, so it has the level of heat that you like.

Ingredients

 * 1/2 to 2 lbs of peppers
 * 1 clove of garlic
 * 1/2 large onion
 * 16 oz tomato sauce
 * 1 tbsp vinegar
 * 1 tbsp crushed red peppers

Steps

 * 1) [[Image:Ahhh, the best part of any food section The hot peppers 5511.jpg|thumb]]Choose your peppers. Pepper selection is very important. This will determine how mild or hot your sauce will be.  Here is a small list of peppers and how they taste:
 * 2) * [[Image:Jalapeño peppers 8318.jpg|thumb]]Jalapeños: These peppers are ideal for making mild sauces.  They have a strong flavor with less kick than other peppers.  They are typically green and about 1.5 inches in length with a curved shape. They look a little "stubby".
 * 3) * [[Image:Hot pepper 4997.jpg|thumb]]Serranos: These peppers look like jalapeños but are probably twice as hot.  Use these peppers for a hotter sauce.  They look similar to jalapeños but are not as wide. They're green when they're not ripe, but the color varies when they do ripen.
 * 4) * [[Image:Capsicum anuum (pequin) fruit and flower 5731.jpg|thumb]]Pequin: These peppers look like small red berries.  They have a unique flavor and are also very hot.  The difficulty encountered when using this pepper is obtaining a large enough quantity to make a good sauce.
 * 5) * [[Image:Habañero Peppers 7058.jpg|thumb|Habaneros]]Habanero: This pepper is one of the hottest of all peppers. Use this pepper if you want to burn your mouth with fire.  It looks shriveled and is usually bright orange or red.
 * 6) * Bhut Jolokia: This pepper is the Guiness Book of World Record's hottest recorded chili. The "ghost chili" tips the scales at over one million Scoville units. This is a rare chili that comes from parts of India.
 * 7) Select the appropriate quantity of peppers for your taste. After selecting the pepper you should further determine the heat level of your sauce by deciding on the appropriate quantity of peppers.  Mild sauce will use half a pound and very hot will use 2 pounds.
 * 8) Mince one clove of garlic.
 * 9) Dice one half of a large onion.
 * 10) Mix garlic, onion, hot peppers and 16 ounces of tomato sauce in a food processor. Puree the mix until all thick chunks are gone.
 * 11) Place the mix in a frying pan. Cook on low to medium heat until simmering.
 * 12) Add one tablespoon of vinegar.
 * 13) Place hot sauce in a jar.

Tips

 * To reduce the heat of the sauce, cut open the peppers and remove the seeds and membrane.
 * The heat of the sauce can also be reduced by adding shredded carrot. This especially helps habanero sauces, where the sweetness of the carrot helps to bring out habanero's naturally fruity flavor.
 * Experiment. There are many different kinds of hot sauces from many different pepper-loving countries, so consider this just a starting point.
 * It is better to start out too mild than too hot.
 * Add salt to taste.

Warnings

 * Do not touch your eyes or any sensitive area after handling peppers; the oils from the pepper skin will irritate it. Wash your hands WELL with lots of soap.
 * If you have any cuts, eczema, or any similar skin problems on your hands you should wear gloves when cutting hot peppers. The burning from the oils won't go away with washing after a while. If you are dealing with many very hot peppers (and even some jalapenos can be quite hot) it is best to wear rubber gloves even if your skin is intact. By the time you notice your hands being burnt, it will be too late and you will be in for several hours of suffering.
 * You may want to cook this outside. The fumes coming off may irritate your lungs if your kitchen is small!
 * This recipe does not give instructions on how to safely can or preserve the hot sauce, so it is best to keep it in your refrigerator for a week or two or in the freezer. Also, a layer of oil will help to keep it fresh in the freezer; vegetable oil is good, sesame oil adds a distinctive but tasty flavour.

Related Tips and Steps

 * How to Cool Burns from Chili Peppers
 * How to Prepare Pimientos De Padron
 * How to Roast Peppers on a Gas Stove
 * How to Make a Hot Mayonnaise and Mustard Dipping Sauce