
Tangy, complex lacto-fermented chili sauce
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
0 min
Total Time
168 hr 20 min
Servings
32
2 cups
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Budget
$
Tangy, complex lacto-fermented chili sauce
A deeply flavored, tangy hot sauce made by fermenting fresh chilies with salt and garlic. Fermentation develops complex, rounded heat that is more nuanced than any store-bought sauce.
20m
Prep Time
0m
Cook Time
10100m
Total Time
32
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Budget $
Cost
(Updated )
Fermented hot sauce is how many of the world's best hot sauces are made—think Tabasco and sriracha. The fermentation process transforms raw chilies into a complex, tangy, umami-rich sauce.
Roughly chop peppers and garlic. Place in a clean jar.
Dissolve salt in water to make a 3.5% brine. Pour over the peppers, ensuring they are fully submerged.
Weigh down the peppers with a weight to keep them under the brine. Cover with an airlock or loose lid.
Ferment at room temperature for 5-7 days, burping the jar daily if using a regular lid. The brine will bubble and turn cloudy.
Blend the fermented peppers with their brine and vinegar until smooth. Strain for a thinner sauce and bottle.
Serve with a fresh side salad for a balanced meal
Pair with your favorite grain or bread on the side
Garnish with fresh herbs for a beautiful presentation
Customize heat to your preference
Adds a slightly fruitier, more complex flavor
Use gloves when handling hot peppers—capsaicin burns can last for hours.
Ferment longer (up to 2-3 weeks) for more complex, tangier flavor.
Refrigerate in bottles for up to 1 year. The vinegar acts as a preservative.
Not applicable—use as a condiment at any temperature.
Per serving (0mg) · 32 servings
A light, low-calorie option · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
View all recipes →Japanese

Italian
Mexican

Italian

Mediterranean