Like experimenting? This recipe has no hard and fast rules, think of it as a basic starter sauce that you can put your own spin on. Add extra ingredients, mix up the chilli varieties, or try roasting the garlic before processing for a super sweet flavour.
Another important ingredient in getting the best flavour out of your hot sauce is the vinegar. It’s important to find a good-quality vinegar that will add depth to the dish and work well with the fruity flavours fo the chillies. White vinegar works well, but you can also try apple cider vinegar for a hit of fruity sweet and sourness.
You can also enhance the flavour of the sauce to add some fresh or dried herbs, ginger, cumin, or chilli powder if you like it extra spicy. Citrus fruits like lime or lemon juice can also add a wonderfully zingy twist to the sauce and offset the heat of the chillies so well. Another way of adding some sweetness the natural way is with some roasted carrots.
Do you still have questions?
1. How long can you keep the Carolina reaper hot sauce?
You can keep the sauce in the fridge for up to a few months thanks to the acidity from the vinegar. To be technical, the target level pH for shelf food items is below 4.6 pH, but it should probably be lower for home cooks, around 3.5 or so, leaving room for errors. This recipe has a pH of 4.3 so will store well, however, if you want it to last even longer, then add more vinegar or citrus fruit juice (such as lemon juice or lime juice) to lower its pH. Sauces made with fermented chilli peppers will last even longer.
2. How much can you use in one serving?
Due to its mega heat, a few drops are good enough to do the job. It all depends on the amount of heat that you can handle without blowing fire from your mouth. Keep in mind that you are eating the world’s hottest pepper, so start small and add as you go.
3. Where can you get those hot sauce bottles?
You can usually find them in your local stores like Target or Kmart or order them online