I love all kinds of hot sauces, but sriracha sauce beats them all. What makes it so superior to other hot sauces unique is its smooth blend and perfect ratio of chilies, garlic, sugar and vinegar. I’ve been wanting to make my own homemade sriracha for a while, but never pursued it because it’s just so easy to buy a huge bottle of the stuff in Chinatown for three bucks … and why mess with perfection? However, when the kind folks over at Location 27 presented me with a pound of fresh, straight-from-the-garden habaneros last week, I took it as a sign to move forward with making my own sriracha*, even though the much-milder fresno is typically used to make the sauce. Due to its dramatically intense heat level, a habanero-based sriracha is best when used very modestly and will yield a seriously amazing and intense flavor without burning out your tastebuds.
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HOMEMADE SRIRACHA SAUCE
- Yield: 2 cups
Description
Adapted from Randy Clemens’ sriracha recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of chilis
- 1/2 head of garlic, peeled and minced
- 3 TB palm sugar
- 1/2 TB salt
- 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
Instructions
- Put on a pair of plastic gloves and make sure your prep area is well-ventilated. Destem and half the chilis. Place in a blender with the garlic, sugar and salt. Puree until well-blended.
- Using a spatula, scape the contents into a glass container and cover. Store it at room temperature, stirring it once a day for seven days. This will allow the flavors to blend and slightly mellow.
- After a week, pour the puree with the vinegar into a small pot over medium heat. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about five minutes.
- Transfer the contents to a blender and puree again for two minutes. Strain the puree through a fine-mesh strainer, retaining a bit of the pulp in the end if you’d like. Keep it stored in the refrigerator.
Notes
*Habaneros are seriously hot and the fumes alone can cause coughing, sneezing and skin irritation. Wear plastic cloves when handling them and always work in a well-ventilated area during prep.
