A shaker bottle or cruet of hot "peppa sauce" is a tradition on Southern tables. This spicy condiment used to sit on our table right next to the salt & pepper!
It's perfect for adding a little spark of flavor to savory foods.
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
This hot pepper sauce is about to become your new favorite condiment and kitchen table staple!
- You only need three cheap, simple ingredients and no special equipment.
- It brightens and enhances the flavor of meats and vegetables. From collard greens to pulled pork, fried chicken, potatoes, and more, hot pepper vinegar is a great way to kick up the flavor of your favorite Southern recipes.
- If you've never made infused vinegars or oils before you're in for a treat! They add a ton of flavor and variety to your dishes. This is an easy recipe to start with because it doesn't require cooking and it's done in minutes!
Just add it to the table with salt and pepper at every meal. Everyone can use what they want.
🧾 Ingredients
This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the green recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
📖 Variations
- White Vinegar: You can use another light variety, like white wine or apple cider vinegar. However, they'll make the flavor a little bit different.
- Cider vinegar will change the color, too. I prefer white vinegar both for flavor and the look!
- Hotter: Add extra heat by using a spicier variety of peppers, such as habaneros, cayenne peppers, or scotch bonnet peppers—whew! You could also use a mixture of peppers.
- Milder: Poblanos, chipotles, and jalapeno chili peppers rank lower on the Scoville scale, in case your taste buds don't love super hot vinegar.
- Other Flavor: Some people like to add a few garlic cloves, onion slices, or peppercorns to change the flavor a little. I don't usually add them, which keeps this hot pepper vinegar versatile for any dish!
🔪 Instructions
This is an overview of the instructions. Full instructions are in the green recipe card at the bottom of the page.
- Wash the peppers and remove their caps and stems.
- Use a chopstick or skewer to push the peppers into a glass bottle.
- Using the funnel, fill the jars with vinegar...
- ...and top them off with a few drops of olive oil. Let sit for 1-2 days before enjoying.
🥫 How to store southern "peppa sauce"
This simple sauce is easy to store, especially since it's already in a nice airtight container!
Keep the bottle of peppers and vinegar in a cool, dark place, away from direct sunlight. Stored at room temperature in the pantry, hot pepper vinegar lasts for months!
Generally, if you still have some left after about three months, it's best to pop it in the fridge. It'll keep just about forever (or until you use it up) that way.
*If it starts looking cloudy or smells bad throw it out.
Marye's notes
The olive oil trick is a well-known secret in the Southern states—it'll make your hot pepper vinegar taste even spicier! It also helps seal the vinegar and keep bacteria out.
💭 Things to know
- Small peppers look innocent, but they pack a punch! Use a skewer or chopstick to handle them, otherwise, your fingers will start to burn.
- After touching peppers, remember to wash your hands really well. Whatever you do, don't touch your face, the kids, or your pet!
- Most of the heat of fresh chili peppers comes from the inner membrane or pith. So, it's important to remove the cap to let that good flavor out!
- You can blend the mixture into a thicker texture, similar to Tabasco sauce. However, we like the versatility of hot, spice-infused vinegar.
👩🍳 FAQs
Oops! It's best to prevent this in the first place by wearing gloves. However, if you do get that tingly, burning feeling on your fingers, wash them off with a little bit of rubbing alcohol—works every time.
People used to say the hottest peppers were ghost peppers, but the answer is actually Carolina Reapers! Anything is fair game when it comes to hot pepper vinegar, but I'd recommend being very careful if you choose to go this spicy—don't let your kids or friends get into it without a warning (and, maybe a safety waver, too!)
📚 Related recipes
Condiments are easy to make at home!
🍽️ What to do with hot pepper vinegar...
A sprinkle of this easy "peppa sauce" brings the flavor of most vegetables and meats to life!
- Collard Greens (and turnip greens) need a little hot pepper vinegar to cut through the bitterness and give them that classic Southern flavor.
- Black-Eyed Pea Soup is really good, but a finishing splash of spicy vinegar makes it over-the-top delicious.
- Crispy Fried Potatoes taste even better with some acidity—it's the elevated version of dipping your diner french fries in malt vinegar!
- Sprinkle on fried catfish for a tangy, spicy flavor that really hits the spot.
- Use it in any homemade vinaigrette.
- Use a couple of drops in your favorite Bloody Mary cocktail.
- Add a bit to your refrigerator okra pickles or dilly beans.
📞 The last word
This is such an easy recipe and it's a great way to save all of those end-of-summer hot peppers in the vegetable garden.
Plus, it makes a great gift!
We always had a big vegetable garden when I was growing up and peppers love the Texas climate! There were always big colanders of peppers around and the best way to store them, besides slice and freezing, was to make this infused vinegar.
We just about drank the stuff.
It used to be as essential to the dinner table as salt and pepper. Once you try it you'll never let yourself run out!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Southern Hot Pepper Vinegar
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 8 ounces serrano chiles
- 2 cups white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Instructions
- Wash peppers and pop the cap and stem off.
- Pack into a clean, sterilized bottle or a pint jar.
- Using the funnel add vinegar to within ¼ inch or so of the top of the bottle.
- Add a layer of olive oil.
- Cover and let stand for 24 to 48 hours before using. It gets more flavor as it stands.
- No need to refrigerate.
Notes
- The olive oil trick is a well-known secret in the Southern states—it'll make your hot pepper vinegar taste even spicier! It also helps seal the vinegar and keep bacteria out.
- Small peppers look innocent, but they pack a punch! Use a skewer or chopstick to handle them, otherwise, your fingers will start to burn.
- After touching peppers, remember to wash your hands really well. Whatever you do, don't touch your face, the kids, or your pet!
- Most of the heat of fresh chili peppers comes from the inner membrane or pith. So, it's important to remove the cap to let that good flavor out!
- You can blend the mixture into a thicker texture, similar to Tabasco sauce. However, we like the versatility of hot, spice-infused vinegar.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
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