This authentic Louisiana hot sauce recipe is sure to ignite your taste buds. This sauce is not for the faint of heart; it is made with a blend of fiery jalapeño peppers and powerful, delicious ingredients.
But if you like your meals with a little more spice, then this recipe is for you. To that end, let’s get the necessary items together, put on our aprons, and begin cooking!
Homemade hot sauce is surprisingly simple to make, and the resulting condiment is a flavorful and scorching way to spice up any meal. So crank up the stove because we’re about to indulge in some spicy Louisiana cuisine.
This Popeyes’ spicy chicken sandwich sauce is made with Louisiana hot sauce as a key ingredient. So if you’re a fan of a bit of heat, this sandwich is definitely for you!
What is Louisiana Hot Sauce?
Made of vinegar, red pepper, and salt, Louisiana Hot Sauce is a sort of hot sauce that is frequently used in Cajun cuisine. It is a thin, hot sauce that is frequently used to flavor and spice up Cajun delicacies like gumbo and jambalaya.
Additionally, it is frequently used as a marinade or seasoning for vegetables, fish, and meats. A versatile condiment that can be utilized in various dishes, Louisiana Hot Sauce has a tangy, spicy flavor with a balance of heat and vinegar.
Since the 1800s, this hot sauce has been made with tasty fermented chilies and aged in oak barrels to give it more flavor, and in 1928 Bruce Foods first marketed it. It’s the perfect way to give your dishes a Cajun flavor without burning your mouth.
Louisiana Hot Sauce is the best “everyday” hot sauce for people who like a little kick but don’t want to overpower their taste buds. It has only a few simple ingredients and just the right amount of heat.
Ingredients
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1 lb red chili peppers, chopped (jalapeño, cayenne, Fresno, or a mix)
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1 ½ cups white wine vinegar (or adjust to taste for less acidity)
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2 tsp salt
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1 tsp sugar (optional, to balance acidity)
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2 garlic cloves (optional, for extra flavor)
Instructions
1. Simmer the peppers
In a large pot, combine the chopped chili peppers, vinegar, salt, and optional garlic and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 8–10 minutes, until the peppers are softened.
2. Blend the sauce
Carefully transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor. Leave a small vent open for steam to escape. Blend until smooth. For a thinner, more refined texture, strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve.
3. Cool and store
Let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to a sterilized glass jar or bottle. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Shake before using to redistribute flavors.
Tips & Variations
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For a thicker sauce: Skip straining and leave it rustic.
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For longer storage: Properly ferment the peppers before blending or water-bath can the jars (not covered in this recipe).
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Customize the flavor: Swap white wine vinegar for apple cider vinegar, or add smoked paprika for a smoky kick.
Serving Ideas
Use this chili sauce on:
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Grilled meats or seafood
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Eggs and breakfast dishes
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Burgers, tacos, and sandwiches
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Stir-fries and rice bowls
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Yield: About 2 ½ cups
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Are Louisiana Hot Sauce and Tabasco the same?
Louisiana hot sauce is a sauce made originally from cayenne peppers and vinegar. It is thin and bright red in color. It is frequently used in cooking as a condiment or seasoning.
Tabasco sauce is a hot sauce made from tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. It has a thicker consistency and a darker red color than Louisiana hot sauce. It is also used as a condiment or seasoning, and its peculiar flavor is well known.
While both spicy sauces contain peppers and vinegar, they are prepared from different types of peppers and have distinct flavor profiles.
Why you’ll love this recipe
Do you want to make your own hot sauce that tastes great and doesn’t have any of the questionable preservatives and additives that you can find in store-bought sauces? You’re at the right place!
This recipe is very easy to make and has just the right amount of spice, tangy vinegar, and sweetness. And what’s best? It’s very adaptable, so you can use it as a dipping sauce, a drizzling sauce, or in any other way you like.
For this recipe, I chose red jalapeno peppers, but if you’re feeling adventurous, you can use Cayenne peppers, red serrano peppers, or substitute any other kind of pepper you like.
This sauce is naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, soy-free, and nut-free, and includes no added sugar, so almost everyone may eat it. To improve your hot sauce, why not give it a try?
Which vinegar to use for this recipe?
With so many choices, you’re sure to find the perfect match. I use white vinegar in this recipe; it’s the most suitable vinegar for these kinds of recipes.
Or, if you want something a little bit milder, try white wine vinegar or rice vinegar, which adds a touch of sweetness to the mix. Red wine vinegar, which is made from fermented red wine, has a taste that is a little bit fruity.
Try apple cider vinegar for a fruity sweetness. Malt vinegar, which is made from barley ale, gives food a strong, unique taste. You could also try balsamic vinegar, coconut vinegar, or raisin vinegar for even more choices. There are a lot of things you can do. Choose what you like and start experimenting!
