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    Home » Condiment Recipes

    Hot Chili Pepper Vinegar

    LAST UPDATED: November 7, 2018 PUBLISHED: November 7, 2018 By Pam Greer 34 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Hot Pepper Vinegar - the easiest hot pepper sauce ever!  Simply steep some hot chili peppers in your choice of vinegar.  Drizzle on beans or soups - it's amazing on greens!

    Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on sidebar.

    Click here to pin this Hot Pepper Vinegar now!

    Bottle filled with clear liquid, red peppers and tag reading steeping. Text reads Hot Pepper Vinegar.

    Vinegar Pepper Sauce

    When I went googling to figure out what to call this amazing hot vinegar, I found a couple of options.  Some people call it Vinegar Pepper Sauce, some call it Hot Pepper Vinegar, and some call it Peppa Sauce.

    Whatever you call it, you need to be making some now!

    Bottle of vinegar with red chile peppers and a tag reading Steeping.

    Making Hot Pepper Vinegar

    I found the instructions in Well Preserved: Small Batch Preserving for the New Cookby Mary Anne Dragan.  It's so easy, it barely needs a recipe.

    To make vinegar pepper sauce:  Take a handful of chili peppers (at least 3 or 4, but  more if you have them) and using a small paring knife, cut a small slit in each pepper, wearing gloves if you wish.

    In a nonreactive pot, heat the vinegar to a simmer, remove from heat and add the peppers.  When it's cooled at bit, pour into a dry sterilized jar and store in a cool dark place.  I store mine in flip top bottles.

    Now, most instructions say to steep for 2 days to 2 weeks.   I, actually, never remove the peppers.  I just let them stay in the vinegar until I use that bottle up!

    Tip - do what I do.  Make two bottles to start with.  Start using one in about 2 weeks, leaving the other steeping.  When you use up your first bottle, start using your second bottle.  Grab another handful of peppers and start a new bottle, and place the steeping tag on it.  So, I always have two bottles in my pantry:  one that I am currently using and one that has the "Steeping" tag on it.

    Bottle filled with clear liquid, red peppers and a steeping tag on the bottle

     

    Hot Chili Pepper Vinegar

    Once you start using hot pepper vinegar, you'll wonder how you managed without it!  It is amazing drizzled over a bowl of beans and don't even get me started on how good it is with greens.  You haven't had collards until you've had them drizzled with some peppa sauce!

    We even spoon it into vegetable soups, use it in vinaigrettes and marinades.  One of my most useful condiments!

    Bought a bunch of vinegar?  Make these too:

    Blueberry Vinegar

    This Blueberry Vinegar is amazing in vinaigrettes!

    Mango Vinegar

    This Mango Vinegar is one of my most popular recipes!

    Bottle of Garlic Blossom Vinegar

    You can make this Garlic Blossom Vinegar with chives or garlic blossoms!

    Hot Chili Pepper Vinegar
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    5 from 6 votes

    Hot Pepper Vinegar

    This Hot Pepper Vinegar will become your favorite condiment!  You'll use it on so many dishes - from beans to soups to greens! 
    Course Condiment
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes
    Steeping Time 2 days
    Total Time 2 days 15 minutes
    Servings 32
    Calories 7kcal

    Ingredients

    • 4 hot chili peppers more if you'd like!
    • 4 cups vinegar use white, cider, or rice vinegar

    Instructions

    • Using a small knife, make 3 or 4 slits in each pepper. In a nonreactive pot, heat the vinegar over a medium low heat just to a simmer.
    • Remove the pan for the heat, add the peppers, and let it cool slightly.
    • Place the peppers in a clean, dry, sterilized jar, and pour in the vinegar. Cover it loosely and allow it to cool to room temperature. 
    • Put a lid on the jar and store in the pantry.  Vinegar should be ready to use in about a week.  I leave the peppers in and it just keeps getting a little hotter.  You can remove the peppers when it's as hot as you would like. 

    Notes

    I recommend starting two bottles.  One will be steeping, while you are using the other one.  Once one bottle is finished, start using the one that was steeping and start a new bottle steeping.  So, you'll always have one to use and one steeping.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 7kcal | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 18mg | Vitamin A: 55IU | Vitamin C: 8.1mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.1mg

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    Update Notes: This was originally published in 2009 and has been updated for 2018.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jere Cassidy says

      November 07, 2018 at 8:15 pm

      5 stars
      Brilliant idea to flavor vinegar and the bottle looks so pretty with the peppers.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 08, 2018 at 1:13 pm

        And, it so easy and tastes so good!

        Reply
    2. Claudia Lamascolo says

      November 07, 2018 at 4:39 pm

      this is such a fun recipe and I love hot chili so I am sure this is flavorful and delicious

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 6:10 pm

        Yes, you would love it!

        Reply
    3. Lauren Vavala | Delicious Little Bites says

      November 07, 2018 at 4:33 pm

      5 stars
      I can see my fiance and I using this vinegar all the time! I never would have thought to do this myself - thank you for such a great idea!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 6:11 pm

        We are totally addicted to it!

        Reply
    4. Tayler Ross says

      November 07, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      You are a genius! This sounds amazing! (The blueberry one does too!)

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 6:11 pm

        It is so good! You'll always want to have a bottle ready to go!

        Reply
    5. Alina | Cooking Journey Blog says

      November 07, 2018 at 4:31 pm

      5 stars
      Great tip about using tags! This is interesting, because I've never infused vinegars, I just mix it in the sauces with chili powder...

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 6:11 pm

        You should give it a try. It's so easy!

        Reply
    6. Kelly Anthony says

      November 07, 2018 at 4:07 pm

      5 stars
      How fun and tasty is this! Love your tips on how to always have a bottle ready to go. I'm sure this hot chili pepper vinegar will be a huge hit at our house.

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 4:23 pm

        Oh it will be! We are almost addicted to it at our house!

        Reply
    7. georgie says

      November 07, 2018 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      wow! I never knew you could actually made infused vinegars like this!!! I'd love to try it and the bottle looks gorgeous - perfect present for Christmas!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        November 07, 2018 at 3:58 pm

        I know! It makes a great gift, though be sure and make a couple of bottles for yourself!

        Reply
    8. Anonymous says

      October 21, 2009 at 10:03 am

      These pepper chillis look like the variety Pinoccio's Nose that I grew this year. Bought the seeds from Thompson & Morgan. Easy to grow, and produced loads of chillis. So far I've cooked with them, frozen them, dried them and bottled chilli oil and I'm still giving them away! I haven't found them too hot.

      Reply
    9. Lori Lynn says

      October 09, 2009 at 8:30 pm

      My brother brought me some hot red chiles from his farmers market, and I made roasted chile oil. Don't know the name of them either, they are much wider than yours. I might do what you did and ask the folks out there.
      LL

      Reply
    10. girlichef says

      October 08, 2009 at 12:01 pm

      Yes, they look like cayenne...and they're gorgeous!

      Reply
    11. Debinhawaii says

      October 08, 2009 at 3:56 am

      So pretty--love chili oil. . I saved some lemonade bottle to put something in but haven't done anything yet.

      Reply
    12. Bonnie says

      October 07, 2009 at 11:44 am

      I am so doing this! It's easy enough even for me.

      Reply
    13. Shari@Whisk: a food blog says

      October 06, 2009 at 4:57 pm

      I love this idea! In addition to tasting great, it looks lovely on the shelf!

      Reply
    14. chapot says

      October 06, 2009 at 12:50 pm

      Je me suis amusée à faire mon huile pimentée ce week end, avec des piments, un petit délice

      Reply
    15. Joanne says

      October 06, 2009 at 10:26 am

      Peppers that pretty deserve to be appreciated and used in a unique way. What a good idea!

      I think you are preserving space in your brain for the important, food-related stuff. Hair washing is just not a priority.

      Reply
    16. Kim says

      October 06, 2009 at 3:09 am

      That is a great idea to make a chili vinegar. Maybe a chili oil would be great too!! I do the same thing in the shower about my hair.

      Reply
    17. Chris says

      October 05, 2009 at 10:45 pm

      Not sure what kind of peppers they are, but I'm guessing by size and time of the year, that those will have a kick.

      Mmmmmm I can imagine them on fried eggs right now for some reason.

      Reply
    18. lakeviewer says

      October 05, 2009 at 10:14 pm

      Or, you can make chili oil.

      Reply
    19. j. says

      October 06, 2009 at 12:28 am

      those look just like the long cayenne peppers we've been growing in our garden this year. Nice and spiceh!

      Reply
    20. JennDZ - The Leftover Queen says

      October 05, 2009 at 10:39 pm

      WOW, those peppers are beautiful! As to what kind of peppers? I think Marjie said it best !

      Reply
    21. Natashya KitchenPuppies says

      October 05, 2009 at 5:28 pm

      Yep, I would say red cayenne.
      Great idea to put them in vinegar.
      You could infuse some oil for some spicy popcorn!

      Reply
    22. Pam says

      October 05, 2009 at 5:23 pm

      Great idea. My husband and I would both really love this vinegar.

      Reply
    23. Marjie says

      October 05, 2009 at 4:01 pm

      Well, of course, they're curly peppers. One bite and your stick straight hair will curl.

      Reply
    24. Grace says

      October 05, 2009 at 3:07 pm

      infusing vinegar with the magnificent heat of hot peppers is a brilliant idea, pam! it's quite picturesque, too. 🙂

      Reply
    25. Kat says

      October 05, 2009 at 2:28 pm

      I love my greens covered in pepper vinegar! That is a very nice photo of the red peppers.

      Reply
    26. buffalodick says

      October 05, 2009 at 2:22 pm

      Looks like Cayenne. By the shape and size they are hot! The longer you soak them, the hotter that vinegar will be!

      Reply
    27. shabby girl says

      October 05, 2009 at 2:12 pm

      Hubby LOVE to cry when he eats...I'll pass it on! 🙂

      Reply

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