Make your own ghost pepper hot sauce at home with this recipe, which includes plenty of chopped ghost peppers, tomatoes, vinegar and salt. Big flavor, big spice! With a pleasant blast of heat. Drizzle it over everything!
Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce Recipe
Ghost pepper hot sauce coming at you, baby! You GOTTA have some ghost pepper sauce in the fridge for times when you need that extra bit of heat.
Our ghost pepper plants weren't quite as productive as our 7-pot plants this year, but we still got plenty of pods for whipping up some hot sauce.
Hot sauces are one of my favorite foods to make. I've become a bit fanatical about it, really. I've come to need a big variety on hand for all the different types of meals I make. You can tell by the growing collection of Hot Sauce Recipes on the web site.
I've been moving into making flavors and combinations of all different sorts, but we're keeping it super simple with this sauce. Sometimes simple is best.
With only 7 ingredients, you can make this sauce in about a half an hour, not including chopping time. Most of the time is spent watching the ingredients simmer to cook down a bit and let the flavors meld.
How to Make Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce - The Recipe Method
In a nutshell, your cooking steps include: Chopping, Cooking, Simmering, Processing, Bottling. Done! Easy!
The unfortunate part of this recipe is that it is best to wait a few days or even longer to let the flavors mingle and mellow slightly in the bottle. Of course you can eat it right away, but I like the flavor that much more after waiting.
So have a little patience, will ya?
The flavor is spicy for sure, but somewhat fruity from the ghosts and savory with the tomatoes. This is one of my very favorites.
Safety Advice
When working with hotter peppers, including superhots, it is important to wear gloves when handling the peppers both in raw and dried forms. The oils can get on your skin and cause burning sensations. See above.
Need help? How to Stop the Chili Pepper Burn On Your Skin.
Also, the fumes from the chili peppers and/or the fine powders may get into the air if you are not working in a well ventilated room, so you may want to wear a mask and goggles. Superhot chili peppers, truly, are called superhots for a reason.
Here are some answers based on the many comments I get on other sauces. Here goes:
How long will this hot sauce keep?
It should keep a few months easily in the fridge, or even longer. It's all about the acidity. To be technical, target level ph for shelf stable foods is below 4.6 ph, but should probably be lower for home cooks, around 4.0 or so, to account for errors.
I have not measured the ph of this sauce, but I won't have it around very long anyway. If you're concerned, add more vinegar to lower the ph.
The best ph meters that I recommend are from Thermoworks. Get yourself a ph meter from Thermoworks today. I am a happy affiliate.
Where'd you get that hot sauce bottle?
I find them locally sometimes, but I also order through Amazon. Here is a link to some bottles I like (affiliate link, my friends!): Swing Top Glass Bottles, 8.5 Ounce - Set of 4
. If you like the smaller bottles that most hot sauce makers use, here's another link: Hot Sauce Bottles, 5 Oz - 24 Pack
.
Can I process this hot sauce for longer storage?
Absolutely. Just be sure to use proper canning/jarring safety procedures.
What should I do with hot sauce?
Aside from drizzling it over anything you please, here's a post I did about How to Cook with Hot Sauce. As if you need even MORE reasons to eat hot sauce. I hope you find it helpful!
Can You Die from Eating Ghost Peppers?
It is possible to overdose on capsaicin, the chemical that makes chili peppers hot. However, the only way you can die from eating ghost peppers is if you eat them in sufficient quantity.
A study performed in 1980 calculated that it would take consuming 3 pounds of superhot pepper powder, like ghost pepper powder, to kill a person weighing 150 pounds.
It is highly unlikely anyone could consume that amount, as their body would react before reaching such a limit.
Ghost Pepper Flavor
Ghost peppers offer a an intense sweet pepper flavor that is quite fruity. The heat is more of a blooming heat, taking 30 seconds or longer to kick in.
As they measure over 1 Million SHU, you can imagine that is quite hot. The burning generally rises in intensity over the next 10-15 minutes, then subsides after 30-40 minutes.
Check out These Related Recipes:
- Homemade Ghost Pepper Chili Hot Sauce
- Sweet Habanero Chili Sauce
- Pineapple-Jalapeno Hot Sauce
- Ti-Malice - Haitian Creole Hot Sauce
- Caribbean Style Mango-Habanero Hot Sauce
- Pineapple-Mango Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce
- Homemade Caribbean-Style Sweet Chili Sauce
- Roasted Ghost Pepper Sauce
- Fresh Jalapeno Hot Sauce
- Sweet Pepper Chili Sauce
- Hawaiian Chili Pepper Water
- Fresh Ghost Pepper Salsa
- Ghost Pepper Salsa
- Ghost Pepper Jelly
Check out more Hot Sauce Recipes or learn more about How to Make Hot Sauce.
Got any questions? Ask away! I'm happy to help. If you enjoy this recipe, I hope you'll leave a comment with some STARS. Also, please share it on social media. Don't forget to tag us at #ChiliPepperMadness. I'll be sure to share! Thanks! -- Mike H.
Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce - Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 bhut jolokia peppers ghost peppers, chopped
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped (I used Black Krims from the garden)
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan and add peppers and onions. Stir.
- Add tomatoes and stir. Cook about 10 minutes.
- Add vinegar, salt and water. Simmer 20 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
- Transfer contents to a food processor and process until smooth.
- Transfer to a container. Seal and refrigerate until ready to use.
Video
Notes
Nutrition Information
Derek S Miller says
I made it and yes a nice kick. For me it needed a little more salt, and a little more acid. I added some salt at the end. I may add a little more vinegar to give it that balance, that FOR ME a hot sauce needs, salt, heat, acid.
Thanks for your website, it is the most comprehensive site since pepper fool shut down.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Derek. Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, always best to adjust to personal taste. Thanks!!
Ann Recotta says
Hi there! I'd like to try this, but instead of tomatoes, I want to use blackberries and peaches. Would this work - I'm thinking about acidity and balance. Or maybe blackberries and citrus? Thanks for your help!
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Ann! Yes, that WILL certainly work. I can't vouch for the flavors, as I haven't tried it, but I definitely think it's worth trying it. It could be delicious! Let me know how it turns out!
Jeremy says
I had one of my plants that didn’t make it but had several green peppers on it, if I use them in this recipe how will it affect the taste? I’m sure the heat will be less but flavor still ok?
Mike Hultquist says
Jeremy, you can use green pods for hot sauce. The flavor will be less ripe, more vegetable, but a good verde. Enjoy!
Adam says
Hi Mike, I have a bunch of white ghost peppers, just want to confirm they would be good for this recipe as well? Could I ferment the peppers and onions in this recipe and add the remaining ingredients post ferment? Would there be any adjustments to the recipe needed?
Thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Adam. Yes, you can use them in this recipe, no problem. Curious how it will look! Yes, you can ferment them with the onions. No adjustments really. Let me know how it goes!
Cynthia says
Hello can I use dried pepper for this recipe? I grew a bunch this year but I dried them for keeping
Mike Hultquist says
You sure can, Cynthia. I have a post on that here: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/how-to-make-hot-sauce-from-dried-peppers/
Mark says
have made this sauce several times with very good results. I have just done a batch adding a couple of cloves of garlic to the frying stage and some honey to the simmer stage. its the dogs bollocks mate
Mike H. says
Haha, thanks, mate - enjoy!
Sharon says
Hello how long would you water bath this? 4 oz, 8 oz or 16
Mike Hultquist says
Sharon, 10 minutes is typically enough, though high elevations may need up to 20 minutes.
Arista says
Hi, do you leave the seeds in?
Mike H. says
Arista, you can do that if you'd like, but I usually just leave them in.
Craig says
Hi , do you remove the seeds from the ghost chilli when you chop them ?
Mike Hultquist says
You can if you'd like, Craig. I usually just leave them in.
Wm Wells says
Can I follow this recipe using Carolina Reapers in place of Ghosts? I cook with most hot peppers except jalapeños which I prefer raw. But depending on the dish (and who else might want a bite) cayenne, ghost and reapers are my favorites.
Mike H. says
Yes, you can do that and will still achieve a very spicy and flavorful sauce. Just keep in mind that Carolina Reapers are even hotter than Ghosts, so it's going to be fiery!
Donna Lane says
☺️ Hi
My French Creole Native American family (especially my brother) loves
Hot and extra spicy
My brother makes a Hot sauce with a combination of 3 types of peppers
Cayenne, habanero, jalapeno
But I wanna make a milder version of it. My great-nieces and great nephew can't eat it because it's way too hot for them
Do you have any suggestions for this?
Mike Hultquist says
Donna, you can use the exact same recipe, but just swap in milder peppers, or use a mixture of them. Works great.
Peter Nekos says
Great shot man
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks! Great stuff!
Scott Sternig says
I made a variation of this sauce, and it turned out great. I added some mandarin oranges and cut a little water and little vinegar from the recipe. turned out top notch.
Mike Hultquist says
Great! Glad you enjoyed it, Scott!
Jessica says
Can’t wait to try it! I have a bunch of Chocolate Ghost peppers so can I use them and will the flavor still be the same? Thanks! Jessica
Mike Hultquist says
Chocolate ghosts will work great here, Jessica! Enjoy! Let me know how it turns out.
Cody Senseney says
Thanks for the recipe! I wasn't sure what to do with all my ghost peppers. I had two plants that produced I would estimate 200 peppers between the two of them. This takes care of a few of them. LOL. It is simmering as I type this. Can't wait to try it. How long will this keep in the freezer?
Mike Hultquist says
Glad to help, Cody! This will last 6 months or longer in the freezer. It freezes great!
Lori Cooper says
Just made this (we had one ghost pepper plant and got over 200 peppers). In looking for recipes, I came across this and tried. LOVE it. How long will the sauce stay? I am assuming like other hot sauces that it will last a while, but this does not have any preservatives.
Mike H. says
I am glad, Lori - enjoy! It should keep a few months easily in the fridge, or even longer. It's all about the acidity.
Pete says
Mike, grew Ghost peppers for the first time and living in Canada was surprised by the number of peppers my two plants produced. Over the weekend I made the sauce from your recipe substituting Apple cider vinegar for the red wine vinegar as well as using chick stock. In addition for one batch i added some paprika. Really pleased with the end results. Thanks
Mike Hultquist says
Great! Thanks for sharing this, Pete! Very happy you enjoyed it!
Vincent England says
I made this just now, and it was good. But as always a dry heat, I liked the adding tomatoes, but I am attempting to arrive at something that is both hot but flavourful. I have made Habernero Jam which was very popular. Tomorrow I am going to add palm sugar and see how that turns out.
Vincent in Belleville
Mike H. says
Go for it! Let me know how it goes, Vincent.
Jim J. says
Just made this, followed exactly using 10 of my guys. Absolutely delicious, and no pain! Take a bow Mike, excellent recipe!!
Mike Hultquist says
Boom! I love it! Glad you like it, Jim. =)
Keith says
Have you ever tried using a chicken or beef stock, instead of water?
Mike Hultquist says
Not with hot sauce, but it can certainly work. Let me know how you like it if you give it a go.
Michael says
I tried your recipe for the first time today and I have to say wow!!! The flavor is incredible! I used apple cider vinegar instead of red wine and it adds a bit of fruity flavor that blends really well with the tomatoes. Thank you for the recipe!
I will add for anyone considering making this - do it outside for sure! The fumes had all of us coughing and having a difficult time breathing.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Michael! And yes, the fumes can get you! Definitely open windows at a minimum.
Elizabeth says
usually don my finest of pandemic garb whilst working with peppers of this caliber--gloves, mask, sunglasses!
Mike Hultquist says
Smart idea, Elizabeth! =)
Sam P says
I assume you chop the peppers including the seeds, and then the seeds are in the finished product. Do you not recommend straining the final sauce through a fine sieve to clear out seeds and bigger skin parts?
Mike Hultquist says
Sam, I usually leave them in, but you can remove them if you'd like. You can also strain if desired for a thinner sauce. I like to save the strained pulp to dehydrate for using as seasoning.
Tim says
I am trying to make some ghost pepper sauces. I have only been able to find the powder where I live. Do you have a basic conversion for using powder instead of dried/fresh chili's when making your sauces?
Mike Hultquist says
Tim, I have a couple pages you can reference. Here you go...
Chili Pepper Measurement Conversions: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/frequently-asked-questions/conversions/
How to Make Hot Sauce from Powders: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/how-to-make-hot-sauce-from-chili-powders/
Steve says
just made it. Take care dicing and cooking, coughed, sneezed, and my eyes and sinuses burned . Mine is more of a paste. Backs of my hands are still hot, 5 hours later. Made buffalo wings with Frank's with a side of the ghost paste. It is very good and the pint will probably last awhile. A little goes a long way. Will make another batch next year.
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Steve. Yes, definitely HOT! You can add in a bit of extra liquid to thin it out to your preference so it's more saucy.
Michele Player says
Just made this, as my husband grew ghost peppers as a lark this year. Very flavourful sauce, really spicy, looking forward to trying it on eggs soon. Might have to be something we make every year. Cooked a bit faster outside on the bbq side burner and made a little less, obviously to do with the heat of the pan, but still turned out great.
Mike H. says
Thank you for the feedback, Michele. I am glad that you are enjoying it!
Donal Conway says
Made the GP hot sauce yesterday with tomatoes from the garden and green ghosts a friend dropped off.......interesting flavor and MAN its got some heat. Gonna make tomato soup and add a teaspoon at a time and see how it goes. Thanks Mike, you never let us down with your recipes.
Doc
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks so much, Doc! Yes, a little goes a long way for sure. Take care.
Neal Haga says
can I make ghost pepper hot sauce with dehydrated ghost pepper powder?
Mike Hultquist says
Neal, I have a post on how to make hot sauce from chili powders here that you can review: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/recipes/how-to-make-hot-sauce-from-chili-powders/
Nancy says
What a wonderful recipe. I took some habanero, ghost, scorpion, jalapeno peppers, and tomatoes from last year's harvest from the freezer. I didn't want to touch these peppers in the chopping process or get choked in the cooking process so roasting all on the bbq. Cooled peppers slightly put into the blender with onions and remaining ingredients blended til smooth. Poured into a saucepan and brought to a boil turned down to a simmer for 20 minutes and then cooled. This sauce was so hot my tongue went numb for about 10 minutes. But it had a wonderful flavor.
Thank you Mike,
Sincerely,
Nancy
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Nancy! Thanks for sharing!
N Cholette says
Anyone have a sauce recipe using Cumari do Para peppers? A recipe that can be water bath canned.
Thanks!
Mike Hultquist says
You can sub those peppers in for this recipe, and it can be water bath canned. Just be sure to get your pH to 3.5 or lower. Many of my hot sauce recipes can be done with those peppers.
Marisa says
How would I get the ph down to can?
Mike Hultquist says
Marisa, you can always add a bit of citrus or vinegar.
Brandon says
Would apple cider vinegar work in place of the red wine vinegar?
Mike Hultquist says
Absolutely, Brandon. Gives it a nice tangy touch! Enjoy!
Pete Denahy says
I just used this recipe but with six Carolina Reapers- Kapow! What a great result - I've been looking for a hot sauce that tastes like the one I just made - thanks for the recipe, Mike!
Mike Hultquist says
Yes BOOM! That's some serious heat right there, Pete! I love it. Thanks for sharing this!
jim says
we have a ton of ghosts;we will try your recipe;
Mike Hultquist says
I hope you enjoy it, Jim! Nice and spicy.
Bicycle Bob in Kalamazoo says
Had a nice harvest of these little devils, so I thought I'd give this recipe a go. Can't wait to share with my macho hot pepper friends!
Tom says
I have an load of ghost peppers turning colors now and have been looking for a recipe for them. I'm really looking forward to making this one. Just curious if you seed the peppers or just remove the stems before chopping. Thanks in advance!
Mike Hultquist says
Tom, you can remove the innards if you'd like. I usually just leave them in. You can also strain the sauce after to remove the seeds.
Trisha says
aHow long does this hotsauce last in fridge? Can it be canned in hotwater bath?.
Mike Hultquist says
You can can this, Trisha. It will last many months in the refrigerator, however.
David says
I grew some peach ghost peppers this summer for the 1st time, so I decided to try this recipe. I used a pint jar of roasted tomatoes that we had previously canned. I added 2 cloves of garlic and substituted aged Sherry vinegar for the red wine vinegar. Came out absolutely awesome!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, David!
Scales says
I was lucky enough to take cooking classes from James Beard years ago when I was living in San Francisco. He said to always make a new recipe EXACTLY as it is written the first time you prepare it. Changes can be made in future preparations. You didn't actually make this recipe as written. You made several changes. You made something different, so your comments don't actually apply to this particular recipe.
Bighornbob says
Pompous ass.
Jeff says
I just got a lot of compliments after making this recipe. Since I couldn't cook this in the house with the kids home, I made it on the Traeger. Loved how it turned out!
Mike Hultquist says
Great to hear, Jeff! Thanks!!
James W says
It is October 2022 and I halved the recipe and came out with a 5oz woozy bottle of this sauce and it is very tasty! I will be sharing with all of my friends as well.
Mike H. says
Thank you James - enjoy!
Neal says
Hey! Love this recipe and about to try it. I harvested lots and lots of ghosts from my garden But just wondering on the sauté of the peppers onions and tomatoes, what’s the heat level on the stove/skillet? Thanks? I just want to get it right
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Neal. You can saute at medium heat. Enjoy!
Brandie says
okay , question so did this like make the kitchen insane to be in lol , like what am I looking at? lol
Because this recipe looks perfect and I have a pile of peppers and just got my bottles today . Just wanted to
Mike H. says
Give it a try and let me know how it goes, Brandie! 😉
Andrew says
Can I substitute (6) naga viper peppers, since they are roughly the same heat level?
Mike Hultquist says
You surely can, Andrew! Enjoy!
Jay says
Excellent recipe. Have lots of bags of frozen habaneros from last years garden so used 20 habs as well, just used a full cup of water just to thin it out a little and 3 TBSP of red wine vinegar to adjust for the extra peppers. Added 2 cloves of garlic as well. Delicious and it brings the heat for sure.
Mike Hultquist says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Jay!
Reggie Jones says
Just made this for the first time, everything I used was out of my garden. On top of the ghost peppers I added Trinidad scorpion peppers, definitely has some heat to it!
Mike Hultquist says
Thanks, Reggie. Yes, definitely some heat with these peppers! Nice!
Staci says
I haven’t attempted this recipe yet. I found it through a youtube video.
may I ask why the mixture wasn’t strained? I haven’t encountered many sauces with lumps
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Staci, you can strain it if you'd like to. Many people don't like to strain, as it can waste some of the solid material. Extra processing can take care of the lumps. Add in a touch of extra liquid to help. Or, go ahead and strain for an even smoother sauce. You can always save the leftover solids to dehydrate and use as a powder, or use it in other dishes, like soups, etc. It freezes nicely, too. Many ways to do it. Let me know if this helps.
Robert says
My second time making this one, this time I smoked the peppers before cooking only because I had the smoker going for another recipe. Cherry wood added a light flavor to this one. Now back to the garden to clear to the rest of the peppers left, we are getting close to frost temperatures at night now. Thanks again, Mike.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice. Thanks, Robert. I love the addition of smoked peppers with hot sauce. Great flavor touch.
Brenda says
Hey Mike, where can I purchase ghost peppers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Brenda, check out my Chili Pepper Plants and Seeds Resources Page to help get started: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/resources/
Paul says
Used as a base sauce 50/50 ghost/habs triple batch. Yielded two reused Frank’s Red Hot bottles. About shelf-life: I’ve regularly been using a few dabs with each bite of burrito or similar food so I don’t go through it very fast but taste it regularly. My 2nd bottle is 1/2 full after two years, still tastes the same as the day it was made. Great!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Paul. Glad you enjoyed it!
Daniel Stecko says
Hi Mike, just tried your recipe, excellent!
Made a double batch using 16 Ghosts! I added garlic and a red bell pepper to get a little more flesh.
Great that it’s such a quick prep, instead of a fermented mash style.
Cheers,
Daniel
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it, Daniel!
Daniel Stecko says
Hi again Mike. I have a few chocolate brown Reapers coming along that I want to make a sauce with. Is there some tomato like vegetable I can use to thicken things up without changing the colour of the sauce too much? Want to keep it the same as the peppers as much as possible. Thanks!
Mike Hultquist says
Hi, Daniel. You can use tomato, though it won't be an exact color match. Close, though. You can try darker red heirloom carrots if you can find them, which are great in hot sauce. You can add dried chilies, like ancho, guajillo, New Mexican varieties, California chilies, though that can affect your flavor.
Daniel says
Thanks Mike, good tips!
Matt Arnold says
Third time making this one and it's becoming my go to ghost pepper sauce. Changed it up this time with the peppers and veggies in the smoker for 3 hrs instead of cooking it. Left out the water as well to keep it thicker. It is so freaking good.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding! I love to hear it, Matt! Nice.
Matt says
My 3rd time using this as a base recipe. This year I used ghost peppers frozen from last year's garden(some green, some red) I made a double batch with 12 peppers, added 6 cloves of garlic, and 7 or 8 small/medium tomatoes from the garden. I find the liquid from the extra tomatoes gives it a smoother consistency after it's pureed, and it pours from the bottle a little better, and I like the flavor profile the garlic adds. Friends and co-workers ask every year when I'm gonna have more. Thanks for the recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Very nice! Glad you like it, Matt!
Jeremy says
How many oz of peppers would you say that is? This year my ghost peppers seem smaller and more plump.
Love your recipes
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Jeremy, I would say 2-3 ounces, though you can get away with more or less. To your taste preference. Let me know how it goes!
David Hall says
Thank you for this recipe, how long will the sauce last in the fridge?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
David, most hot sauces will last several months or longer in the fridge because of the acidity.
John says
Used 6 ghost peppers,3 Elefanterussel chili peppers,grown from seeds brought back from Ireland. 1 beefsteak tomato ,1 small onion. Salt.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice. Sounds nice and spicy!
Sadie says
The flavor of the sauce is nice, but it has a really strong tomato presence. If you're looking to make a more peppery hot sauce, I'd replace the tomatoes with a milder pepper instead. The sauce as is tastes more like a tomato salsa than a hot sauce. The red wine vinegar adds a great flavor though, and in the future I will tweak it to have more pepper, less tomato, and add garlic!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for your input, Sadie. You can obviously adjust to your own flavor preferences.
Joachim Hirsch says
Delicious sauce! I used canned tomatoes a clove of garlic and one tablespon of brown sugar. Thanks for the inspiration
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Joachim! I'm glad you enjoyed it! Nice touch.
Chris says
So in my last review of this sauce I said it didnt have much flavour. Well I just finished the bottle and I was wrong. Over a couple of weeks I found that the flavors blended nicely while still keeping the heat.
I hope the same to be true with my Reaper sauce.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for reporting back in, Chris. True that many sauces continue to develop flavor as they age and mellow. Glad you are enjoying it.
Ross says
First of all what a great recipe to follow. I've added garlic, as well as used different spices. A lot of fun. This last time I decided to smoke the ingredients on my grill before mixing everything on the stove. I used twice as many peppers, but did not double the amount of water. It is thick. I was wondering whether I could add the extra water now. Any advice would be most appreciated. Thank you. I am certainly having fun experimenting.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Ross! Thanks! Absolutely, you can easily add in more liquid at this point and thin it out to your preferred consistency. Let me know how the experimenting goes! Enjoy.
Leo says
Hi there! Great recipe! Well rounded flavor. Question on the tomatoes. I’m noticing that after a week the bottles are building pressure and bubbling. Normally this is from tomatoes starting to ferment.. any idea what’s going on here? Thank you!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Leo. How are you storing the sauce? It's possible you're getting some fermentation activity. You can simmer it down longer to stop fermentation if that is the case. Also, refrigeration would keep that to a minimum.
Nins says
Hi! Am new to making hot sauces 🙂 I love your site! It's super helpful and has lots of interesting stuff 🙂
I duno if I missed it, but what do you have to do to make a bottle of this recipe safe to be placed in room temperature and not in the ref? Just ensure a ph level 4.6 and below? Is this even possible even after opening it? If possible, what's the minimum number of safe days? 🙂 I've been reading about this and have come across cautions about botulinum. So I just wana be sure 🙂
Oh! ..and if you put the bottle in the ref, how long will it last (after opening) if I just sterilized the bottle and didn't do any canning? 🙂
Sorry for the many questions Thanks in advance ☺️
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Nins. Welcome. You can process the bottles in a water bath for longer shelf keeping. The sauces will remain shelf stable for years that way, until they are opened. Then I refrigerate, though some people still don't refrigerate. Kind of a personal choice with hot sauces of high acidity/low pH. In the fridge, hot sauces can last a year or longer, though mine never last that long. Just keep an eye on them as they age, especially ones with fruit. See this page for reference on canning/jarring as a start: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/canning-or-jarring-chili-peppers/
Chris Narduzzi says
If you're looking for heat, this has got it. Not much in terms of actual flavour however. It's a nice addition if you're looking to punch something up in weight class for heat.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Chris. There are ways to play with the recipe with other ingredients to adjust to flavors you love, but definitely got heat here!
Raphael says
I wish i had read the tipp about cooking outside before..
Wow my apartements air is burning right now :*-P
Anyway what a great tasting sauce!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Raphael. Yeah, the fumes can really get you!
Sarah says
Hi! Recipe looks great. Planning to make it tomorrow, but I’m a little worried about using my food processor or vitamix. Will there be the lingering heat left on the blades and/or in the container? Is that a usual issue? Do you have to clean it in a special way to ensure that it won’t make everything else spicy when I use the blender or food processor for something non-ghost pepper related?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sarah, I've never had an issue. The only time I've heard of people having such issues is from grinding up dried pods in coffee grinders for making powders, particularly with superhots. You really shouldn't have a problem. Just wash out the Vitamix well. Enjoy.
Paul says
I’ve just made this with Armageddons and added some Passats to make it a ketchup. Lovely! Brutal though but lovey! People didn’t lie about the fumes!! Hahahahaha ouch
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Paul. Yeah, the fumes are no joke!
Tj says
Just finished mine. I used six ghost peppers that were still green. Used white distilled vinegar (only thing I had on hand) and added some cumin and it tastes great just enough heat. Thanks for the recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Wonderful! Thanks, TJ!
Tim Streets says
I'm in the middle of making this now. Simmering the pepper mixture outside is a good idea. I'm glad I read the comments before trying to cook with these peppers the first time. Hopefully it turns out good. The only difference I did was using apple cider vinegar. It looks awesome!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Tim! Enjoy!!
Jay says
I put all ingredients through my vitamin blender before cooking it outside in my instapot pressure cooker set for 12 min. and let the pressure release naturally. This way I avoided all the chopping and fumes in the house. It turned out great.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Perfect, Jay! Great idea. Glad you enjoyed it.
Rick Collins says
I’m getting ready now to start my sauce. It’s got a combo, Trinidad Scorpion, 7pot, Reapers (a lot) ,Ghost peppers, Serranos, Habaneros, Tai chili, and Tai Dragon. Going to be nasty! Just completed my labels for my 5 ounce bottles. If someone sees a mushroom cloud in Kansas that might be me . Going to cook this on pellet grill with Fruitwood pellets.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice! Sounds awesome, Rick. Yep, I'll be looking for a mushroom cloud for sure!
Lauren Hughson says
Hi. Going to be trying this recipe out as we just picked a bunch of ghost peppers. Just a quick question though... do you dry the peppers out first before cutting them or do you use them fresh in this recipe?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Lauren, I used fresh ghost peppers for this recipe, though you can use dried. If using dried, you'll need to rehydrate them first. I hope you enjoy it.
Jan says
My son tells me this recipe makes a flavorful sauce with just the right amount of heat (for him - I am scared to try it!). Many thanks for including the YouTube video with the recipe b/c I don’t think I would have known how far to blend the ingredients down or how orange the finished sauce would be without that visual. We have a bumper crop of ghost peppers this year - so plan to make more. Thanks again!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Jan! Super happy he is enjoying it! Yeah, pretty hot. You might try just a tiny dab. Beware! I love this stuff.
Daniel Usher says
Haven't made this yet. Just grew my first batch of ghost peppers. How do you prevent from burning your eyes/throat when the ghost peppers and onions are sauteing with the tomatoes?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Daniel, the fumes can really get you. Try to cook in a well ventilated room, with windows open if necessary. Use an oven fan. Even my powerful fan doesn't always do the job. I've been there so many times!!!
Chad Elliott says
I haven't tried this recipe out yet, but I did get a ghost scorpion plant at the flower market, and the peppers on it look gnarly. I'll make something this week as soon as I pick a few more chilis and let you all know.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Chad! I hope you enjoy it.
Chase says
What is the best temperature to use on the stove while heating up all of the ingredients? Maybe I missed that part in the directions?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Chase, I usually just heat to medium (150 degrees F or so), but you can simmer on medium-low heat (about 200 degrees F).
Adil says
Could I ask what bottle you were using, want to use it for my sauce thank you.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Adil, Here is a link to some bottles I like (affiliate link, my friends!): Swing Top Glass Bottles, 8.5 Ounce – Set of 4: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01068MRJ2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01068MRJ2&linkCode=as2&tag=chilpeppmad08-20&linkId=c1846f1ca85ba58f24b92eb26572ed42
Linda mayhood says
I made the hot sauce in the 5 oz bottles and after processing in the hot water bath and setting on the cabinet the lids came loose on 3 of the 4 bottles. Can still use the hot sauce if I put it in the fridge or is it not safe for consumption?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Linda, I'm sure it's fine, but you may want to keep it in the refrigerator.
Kirby says
I plan to make a boatload of hot sauce and cannot keep it all in the fridge, is there a link or website that tells me how to use water bath canning so that I can store it in the pantry with my other canned goods. I have not seen any information about water bath canning. My fridge is not big enough to store all that I will be making and I cannot eat it fast enough before it spoils!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Kirby, check out this page as a start: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/preserving-chili-peppers/canning-or-jarring-chili-peppers/
gregory anderson says
I am so glad I found your chilipeppermadness site. I'm not properly a Chile-head, rather I'm a chile-freak. hahaha
Thank you for your joyful adventure and sharing it with us.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Oh yeah! Love it. Thanks, Gregory. Welcome! See you around the crazy spicy food world.
Dustin says
Bout time Google sent me somewhere worth goin....thanks. I needed this in my life, won't let me subscribe but, you have my email, I'm growing all the hottest peppers I can, I want to try a salsa or pepper sauce with Cherokee purple tomatoes and ghosts...
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Dustin. Glad you like what you've found. I hope you find some recipes you like. Happy to help you use up those hot ones. Email me anytime.
Mike Rohm says
This is my go to recipe for ghost pepper sauce. All my hot sauce loving friends return their empty jars for a refill. Fortunately, my production plant is keeping up with demand.
Thanks for your great recipes.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Mike! I love it.
Oleksandr says
So little vinegar?
What is the shelf life of this sauce?
It’s very difficult for us to get extra hot chilli, so in the autumn during the harvest we must prepare the sauces to the maximum, until next year
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Oleksander. I have not measured the ph of this sauce, but this hot sauce should keep a few months easily in the fridge, or even longer. It’s all about the acidity. To be technical, target level ph for shelf stable foods is below 4.6 ph, but should probably be lower for home cooks, around 3.5 or so, to account for errors. If you’re concerned, add more vinegar to lower the ph. You can very easily add in more vinegar. Good luck!
Malcolm says
Just the thing I have been thinking of doing.
One question.....is it safe to store it in a wooden building? Or is there a serious risk of a fire?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Malcolm. Haha, you might not want to store this near any wood! LOL.
Doug says
I've used this as a base recipe for hot sauces since finding this site and it never disappoints. Have swapped the ghost peppers with everything from jalapeno for less heat to scorpion peppers and reapers for some crazy heat. Hottest was with dehydrated scorpion peppers. Wow.
Yesterday made this with a handful of jalapenos and serrano peppers. Typically throw in some chopped garlic and a cup of water to lessen the thickness. Simmer for 45 minutes. Secret ingredient is perri-perri seasoning. 1 Tablespoon when you add the water. Give it a try!
Thank you for your website. Each recipe is unique and full of flavor and heat. You're a go to when it comes to sauces!!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I love it, Doug! Super happy you like it. Thanks for commenting!
Pete says
Never buying r
Ready-made hot sauces again after I've now tried this recipe. Many thanks.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Pete! Glad you enjoyed it!
Billy Gibbons says
Outstanding Sauce.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Billy! I love this one, too. Glad you enjoyed it.
Ron says
I just made a batch with green tomatoes that were leftove from this season. I added a some shredded carrots and split the vinegar between red wine and apple cider.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sounds wonderful, Ron!
Yuval says
Amazing recipe. Just made it for the 2nd time, I used dried peppers because I didn't have fresh ones so I just put them in hot water for 30 mins to get them closer to fresh peppers, and used 6 ghost peppers with the addition of 2 carolina reapers, a small clove of garlic, a bit of paprika (I'd use smoked paprika but didn't have any), and a tiny touch of dried oregano and dried basil.
It turned out just amazing once again, and all of my spice hating friends ended up eating lots of it and suffering while enjoying the great taste. Would recommend to anyone who loves hot foods, Thanks for the great recipe, I will surely make lots of it in the future.
yuval says
Forgot to mention, for the water in the recipe I used the water I put the peppers in to add extra heat.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent, Yuval! I appreciate it! Glad you're loving it!
Terry says
Made it out of Carolina reaper oops had to add more without reaper but coming along
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I guess you're ready for some real heat!!
Andrea says
I made this with peppers from the garden, it's REALLY hot, but flavorful. I tested the PH with my Thermoworks PH meter and it measured 2.7. I think I'll can some to keep in the pantry.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent, Andrea! This is definitely a HOT one. Glad you are enjoying it!!
Wendy Decker says
This is an amazing recipe. I made this sauce this morning with ghost peppers from our garden. While I love all things spicy my husband is not a huge fan of super spicy. I ended up only using 3 ghost peppers and it was the perfect level of spice so my husband could enjoy it as well. I ended up caramelizing the onion and the ghost pepper, added garlic as someone suggested in another review. I also used 15 to 20 drops of liquid smoke per pint of sauce which gave it a nice smoky flavor. Will definitely make this recipe again! Thank you for sharing it.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Wendy! Excellent updates, and I love the addition of the liquid smoke. Nice.
Nathan D says
I have 5 plants that I was wondering wtf to do with so thank you !
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice!!!
Rich says
Going to make 10 bottles today because my ghost peppers have done real well. Can I put these in a hot water bath so they can be stored and have a longer shelf life. Thanks
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Rich. Yes, you can water bath this hot sauce in jars for longer keeping. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Samantha says
Do you peel the tomatoes or just chop them with the skin on?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Samantha, I don't peel them, but you can for this recipe. If you want to, slice and "x" into the bottom of the tomatoes then blanch them until the skins loosen, then peel them off and proceed with the recipe. Alternatively, you can strain the hot sauce at the end for a smoother sauce. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Connie says
Thanks for the great recipe! My high school son and I had a great time making this together. Definitely heed the warnings: use gloves and open the windows!
We used 9 ghost peppers and cayenne-infused olive oil, but otherwise followed the recipe. Brought some to a football tailgate - it was a huge hit. Thanks again!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Connie! I love to hear this! Much appreciated.
David says
Made this today using cherokee purple heirloom tomatoes. The only thing I changed was a clove of garlic. Made a double batch because ghost pepper plants are really doing well. Counted thirty more green peppers on one plant alone. Sauce came out amazing. Hint of sweetness from the tomatoes followed by intense heat of the ghost pepper. Love it. If you don’t like really hot sauce, I would suggest using 4 or less ghost peppers. My peppers were pretty large so may just be that, but I have no complaints. Like mine hot.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent, David! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Matt says
Mike,
Thanks for the amazing recipes and suggestions. Just made this with a couple alterations:
1. Added two carrots (simmered with onions and peppers for ten minutes)
2. Added another half cup of water and two more tbsp of vinegar to make consistency more in line with what I like.
3. I used apple cider vinegar instead of red wine, just a personal preference.
4. Fire roasted the tomatoes on the grill.
Flavor is amazing, my mouth was on fire for a half hour after I had it, but in a good way. My next batch, I will likely decrease the tomatoes, again, just a personal preference. The color is beautiful on this one. I did it all outside on the bbq as to not destroy the sinuses of my family.
Tomorrow I harvest the scorpions. Onward!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sounds awesome, Matt! I love it. I'm sure the scorpion hot sauce will ROCK!!
Dan says
Great Recipe! I did add a few more peppers. 16 Ghost, 6 Habanero, 6 Red Jalapeño. I smoked them all plus 8 Cloves of garlic for 1hr at 125 degrees. I then added a jar of stewed tomatoes and a few other small ingredients. Needless to say it smells amazing and as I put a drop on my tongue, I lost all sense of living. Once I regained consciousness, I realized this sauce is delicious and I’m sure it’ll get richer the longer it sits. Good Luck and be careful.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Dan! Enjoy!!!
Tommy & LeeAnn says
Hi Michael this is my second year making your hot sauce.
I made multiple batches last year cause of the abundance Ghost and Reaper plants.
Our plants grow in the ground and they last well into October.
I wound up making a green sauce as I could not bear to watch the green peppers freeze to death!
Cooking out side is best if possible otherwise you must open up the windows in your house, but I love the smell so warnings go out before I cook.
Gloves are necessary for first timers but I'm crazy and don't.
No to all if you do wear gloves, do not take them off until after you’re finished thoroughly washing your equipment.
And don't forget to be well ventilated Even when you’re washing up everything. It’s potent sauce And I use it every day on my salad!
Thanks again.
Tommy & LeeAnn says
Forgot to say I'm adding roasted carrots this year in one batch to compare.
Also my hot sauce refrigerated well for a year!!
Thanks again!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Tommy and LeeAnn! Great tips! I appreciate it.
steve says
Tastes good, numbs the gums for a few minutes. I used green ghost peppers so the color is lighter.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Steve! I think it would be great with green ghosts! Enjoy.
Tyler says
This recipe is awesome! Always wanted to use my ghost peppers in a hot sauce and this recipe is delicious! Did put 2 garlic cloves in it but I’m sure it’s just as good without. Thank you!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Tyler! Super happy you enjoyed it!
Bilbo says
Will pureeing the peppers into the sauce release more of the hot flavor??
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Bilbo, yes, the flavor and heat will permeate more fully with a puree. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Joe R says
Great article. I will make a batch of Ghost hot sauce today. I usually make large batches of hot sauce at a time, then freeze them in plastic containers for future use. Is freezing not recommended for preserving hot sauce for long periods?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Joe. Let me know how it turns out for you. Yep, this hot sauce freezes without issue. It will last in the fridge quite a while. Just check the acidity. pH of 3.5 or lower is ideal. You can also water bath it for longer shelf keeping. But freezing is no problem. Enjoy!
Luke says
Just made a double batch of this sauce, and added a 500g can of apple puree! Tastes beautiful, one of the best I have made. Thanks
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding, Luke! I love the apple puree addition. Nice!
Todd says
I made mine with 2 Reaper's, 2 Ghost's, and 2 Scorpion's! And low acid yellow tomatoes. Very intense flavor and heat!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sounds PERFECT, Todd! Talk about HEAT! You are a true chilihead, my friend. Enjoy.
Janice Elliott says
Can this recipe for your hot sauce be made now to be given away for Christmas gifts?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Janice, the sauce will keep quite a while, but if you want to ensure it will last through Christmas, it would be good to run them through a water bath in proper jars.
F f2f frank says
Do you leave seeds in the recipe or do you remove the seeds.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Frank, I normally just leave them in, but you can remove them if you'd like. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Primo says
I grow serranos to make giardeneria. I grew some ghost peppers as well last year and would add only one or 2 into the mix that fills about 4 large Ball jars for canning, so basically a ton of serranos, carrot, celery, pimiento olives, cauliflower, seasoning, canola oil, all brined, diced, a run through some vinegar, bottle and seal. It created a lot of extra heat. I'm growing again this year and still have some of the canned jars from last year, opened a jar today, the oil alone could strip paint, very hot, which is kind of normal, it does gain a little heat over time. Might try a mild giardeneria or even just olive mix and add a few of the Ghosts. My brother cooked them like a jalapeño popper, ate them, but he's challenged on many levels. I think I will also make a giardeneria with Balsamic and some ghosts. In years past the balsamic was horrible for Italian beef, etc, but awesome on pork chops and the heat of the serranos was greatly, greatly reduced. Worth a shot, they are already growing on my rooftop.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for sharing, Primo! I love it.
Mitch Brink says
I made this in response to a challenge from someone who said nothing is too hot for them.
I appreciate the flavor of this recipe...right before it flames my tongue into the abyss.
So freakin' hot. But then again, I did add a Reaper. 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Haha, I love it! Yes, the Reaper will DEFINITELY bring the heat, brother. Into the abyss!
Mitch Brink says
So...2 days after making this almost all the heat was gone. It's no hotter than Tobasco sauce. I have no idea why.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's so strange, Mitch. Most likely the peppers weren't very hot to start with. I've had some peppers mellow from cooking them down, but mostly it's intensified.
Anthony G says
Great recipe! I tweaked it a little by adding 2 more ghost peppers, carrots, garlic, and a kiwi. Turned out amazing! Will be making more of this for sure.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's great, Anthony! Nice tweaks!
Barry says
Hi Mike, I just want to say how much I love this site. I've tried several recipes and all are great. Just a quick story about this recipe. While I had everything in the pan the fumes got in the air and I inhaled more than I should have. I went into a sneezing and coughing frenzy on and off for 20 minutes. My 15 year old walked in and he started. Shortly after that my 12 year old walked in and turned around and walked back out he didn't want to come in. It was pretty funny. It did turn out great. I keep a bottle at home and one to share with the guys at work. Thanks for all these great recipes.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks a lot, Barry. I really appreciate it. Yes, the fumes can sometimes get you when working with peppers, especially the superhots. It's best to work in a well ventilated room if you can do so, but even then they can get you! I've been there. Have a good one!!
Mitch B says
I do all of my hot sauce making and blending outside on the patio.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Smart move. The fumes can sometimes get you inside.
Shane says
I just made this, but doubled the recipie to 12 ghost peppers, alogn with doubling the other ingrediants, it is so good! My ghost pepper plant has about 50 of them on it, had no idea what to do with them without making something uneatable, this sauce tastes so good, I took it to work and my coworkers loved it and took some for themselves! I am gonna be making another batch of this soon, thanks! I guess one question would be, what kind of onions do you use? I used white onions, but could you use different ones?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Shane! Super happy that you love it! It's one of my favorites for sure. You can use either white or yellow onions, to your preference, really, though shallots are good. Red would be OK, but those tend to have more bite to them. Enjoy!
JC says
Subbed 3 serrano for 3 ghost peppers (I only had 3 :c), subbed apple cider vinegar for red wine vinegar, and added maybe a tsp of raspberry balsamic vinegar. Has a nice slow but gradually increasing burn, and a whisper of tart fruitiness from the balsamic and ACV. Going to try following the exact recipe after I get more peppers, but the modified version is pretty good too ^_^
Thanks for the recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Excellent, JC! I love it!
Anna says
Outstanding sauce! This was my first attempt at hot sauce and after altering just a bit (I was afraid of the heat) I ended up with something fantastic! I made a quintuple recipe adding to it 2 red bell peppers, 50 baby carrots and using apple cider and red wine vinegar plus three table spoons of lime juice. I needed higher acidity as I am planning to can this and give as Christmas gifts. Anyway, the smell while cooking was mouthwatering and the final result... addictive. I kept a small amount out of the canned supply because it smelled so good! We put this-hot from the batch- on fajitas... amazing! Fruity and extremely flavorful followed by heat at the end. Will be making a batch with Carolina Reapers tomorrow. Thank you for a great recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Anna! Super happy you enjoyed it!!
Anna says
Fantastic hot sauce! Checks all the boxes for flavor followed by heat! I adjusted a bit only because I was afraid of it... I made a quintuple recipe, added two red peppers, 50 baby carrots, and used apple cider and red wine vinegar plus a little lime juice because I want to can it for storage. It smelled outstanding during the cook and tasted great on grilled cheese sandwiches (we kept a tiny bit aside for immediate use- curiosity killed the cat). Tomorrow I take on the Carolina Reaper- using a combination of this recipe and your super hot recipe. Thank you! As a first time hot sauce maker, I now know I can create something delicious with all our beautiful peppers!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Anna!!
Ashley says
Hi Mike,
My husband is pepperhead like you so this year I decided I was going to grow some hot peppers for him. Unfortunately the ghosts and Carolina's never came in 🙁 the plants are big and beautiful and tons of flowers, but no fruits. The habaneros however came in really good so I was going to use them for a sauce instead. I was just wondering how many you would reccomend using? For my husband, the hotter the better. I've never made a hot sauce before so I thought I'd ask your opinion first. Thanks a bunch! 🙂
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sorry to hear, Ashley. Bummer. You can make this exact sauce with habaneros. You can easily double or even triple the habaneros in the recipe. It calls for 6 peppers, but the more the merrier! It will be thicker, so you can thin it out a bit with more vinegar and/or water if you'd like. Or check out my Hot Sauce Recipes page. I have a number of Habanero Hot Sauce Recipes you can try. Let me know how it comes out for you!
I dried my ghost peppers for the winter, can I still use them? says
Making this for my brother in law ex marine.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great! Yes, you can use dried ghost peppers for this recipe. Just rehydrate them first. Here is a link - How to Rehydrate Chili Peppers. I make hot sauces with dried peppers all the time. Let me know how he likes it!
Mitch says
Ashley, try ordering a blossom booster such as Jack's classic Blossom Booster 10-30-20. My ghost plants weren't producing (1 per plant) this summer until I used this. I did two applications and ended up with over 35 peppers for 3 mid-sized plants by fall this year. They're still pumping out peppers in mid-november now, under a blue/red LED grow light! Hope this help. Mike, I'll give your recipe a go for bottling these up for personal use and x-mas presents! Thanks so much!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Mitch!!
Gaz says
Try some blood and bone fertilizer. Just a little but not near the stem. It helped my plant alot. Mines in a pot. I've had it 2 years and this will be my first harvest ( about 12 chillis so far).
paul says
oh, lawdy......a friend just gave me a bushel of ghosts.......and i hadn't a clue what to do with them...and here we go...................lol
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Haha, good luck! Enjoy!
JDUB says
I'm reading this recipe and can't wait to try it. I have two fully loaded Thai Chili pepper plants that I'll use, and a few tomatoes left over from my garden. I'm also going to make one adding peaches, like another recipe on this page. AWESOME STUFF!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, JDUB! Let me know how they turn out for you!
Marc says
Great recipe - thanks.
I used homegrown chillies,which were a little small, so upped the quantity to 18 (mistake) and doubled the other ingredients.
This recipe seems to scale really well, if (currently) a little vinegary for my taste, so I will add more of the tomato/onion base and reduce the heat enough for my wife to try it, otherwise I have a huge amount of this lava to consume by myself.
I flame roasted the tomatoes (to peel them), and used a 50/50 mix of cider/red vinegar, and the addition of an apple (peeled, cored & diced) for an extra fruity tang.
Really good results, so I will be adapting this recipe for other chilli crops on the way.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's GREAT, Mark. Thanks! I love the addition of the apple as well. Glad you enjoyed it.
Todd says
I followed your recipe. But as usual I added some things. 2 cloves of garlic, a Carolina reaper, an Italian red hot, and an Italian fryer. from my garden. plus 1/2 cup of my favorite October fest beer. Thanks Mike!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
I love the addition of the beer. Perfect!
johnnie says
getting ready for the cold that is soon to come to us here in Minnesota, This will keep me warm all winter. Planted ghost peppers for the first time this year,they produced like crazy,needed something to use them in.....WOW!!! thanks for this recipe,,,,at least 2 more batches are in the future...Worst part of the recipe is waiting a few days
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Perfect, Johnnie! Thanks! Yeah, this will warm the winter bones.
Sherry Bell says
How much sauce did this recipe actually make? I’m planning to can my sauce in small batches but need to know how many bottles you got out of this one recipe before I start multiplying it. Thanks in advance! Sherry
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sherry, this will make you about 2 cups of sauce, though can depend on the size of the tomatoes used. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Sascol says
Question....I love the heat BUT can it be tamed down juuuust a little by subbing a few of the ghost peppers with a red bell pepper or would that throw off the flavor?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Sascol, absolutely. Ghost peppers are pretty darned hot, so you can very easily substitute some of them with milder peppers. You'll still get good flavor and a heat level you prefer. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Hunter says
Just made this with 5 ghost peppers, 5 reapers, and 5 seven pot bubble gum! Amazing sauce
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Great, Hunter! Thanks!
Kyle says
Just made this yesterday, and it turned out great! The tomatoes and onion i used were a little bigger that what was listed here, so i threw a couple extra ghost peppers in to compensate. Not sure i needed to do that because man this stuff is HOTTT! Will definitely be making this again! Thank you for helping me enter the wonderful world of superhot recipes!!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Kyle! Glad you loved it! YES, You'll DEFINITELY get some heat with this hot sauce. Enjoy!
Bob says
At the end of every year I take three leftovers from the garden. Smoke them all and make hot sauce. Carrots onions all the leftover peppers whether they be green or ripe.
Every year is different and every year I'm so happy.. problem is the neighborhood waits for that batch and I'm almost always running out by June!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That’s great, Bob. I do the same with many of my unripened peppers at the end of the season. Great stuff!
Chris says
Can you make this with reapers?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Absolutely! I've done this with Reapers and it is AWESOME. Let me know how you like it. Check out this recipe, with superhots - The Hottest DA** Hot Sauce I Ever Made - Recipe.
Scott says
Wow, this sauce is seriously hot. It has a great aroma and taste for about 1 second before it starts to set your mouth on fire ????. Thanks Mike for another great recipe.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Scott! Glad you enjoyed it! Yep, definitely plenty of heat.
Anne says
Into my 20 minute simmer. The house smells fabulous and spicy! I tasted one tiny drop of the juice that dripped off the spoon and it is exactly what I was looking for. I just might grow more ghost peppers next summer. Thank you for the recipe. Now to make myself wait a few days after I bottle it!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's GREAT, Anne. Thanks! Super happy you like it! Waiting is the hardest part.
Paul says
My wife and I grow a lot of different types of peppers and are alway looking for new recipes to try. We doubled the recipe in order to use our ghost peppers both brief and fresh and WOW.! This is hot! Great flavor and excellent heat!
Thanks for sharing. We can’t wait to try more.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That's GREAT, Paul! I'm glad you loved it. Thanks!
Paul says
My sauce came out very vinegar-y. It smells and tastes just like vinegar. Does that fade with time? Did I not let it simmer long enough? I only used 2 tablespoons
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Paul, if it is too vinegary for your tastes, I would cook down some more tomato and/or peppers and process them with the finished sauce to dilute the vinegar. Then cool and bottle it back up. Let me know how that turns out for you. I don't believe the vinegar flavor will fade much otherwise.
KEITH GOULD says
I only have 2 Ghost Peppers ripe on the plant, but I have 1 Carolina Reaper and 1 Trinidad Scorpion also ready. If I use those to replace some of the Ghost peppers and also a couple of Scotch Bonnet do you think that will work with the same of everything else?
Thanks
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Keith, absolutely. Subbing in a reaper and scorpion would totally work. Just expect some extra heat! I'm actually sort of jealous. Let me know how it turns out for you!
KEITH GOULD says
Michael,
After writing I left for a 9 day trip and when I returned I had 3 Ghost peppers ripe, 3 Carolina Reaper and 4 Trinidad Scorpions, 20 Scotch Bonnet. Along with about 55 other peppers of various kinds. I made the Ghost pepper Sauce with a half recipe. The Scotch Bonnet Sauce, The hottest sauce with the reapers and scorpions, the Chili Oil and the Pique. All the peppers, Basil and Culantro instead of Cilantro was from our garden. I have to say they are great and hot. THANK YOU! Had to post on Instagram and show off the sauces from your recipes.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Keith! I love it! Super happy you enjoyed them.
Joe says
Hey Mike -
I am wanting to make this but had a quick question. I was gifted three bags of dehydrated peppers (2 bags of ghosts and 1 bag of scorpions) and was wondering if you had a good method for rehydrating them?
Thanks!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hi, Joe - Great gift!! I'm jealous! Here is a page that can help you: https://www.chilipeppermadness.com/cooking-with-chili-peppers/how-to-rehydrate-dried-chili-peppers/ -- Good luck! Let me know how it turns out.
Joseph says
Getting ready to make this sauce. Question? I’m looking to make about 8 bottles of 5.5oz and don’t wanted to be extremely hot what should I do?
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Hey, Joseph. If you're concerned about the heat, try dialing back on the ghost peppers and sub in an equivalent amount of milder peppers. You could easily make this with half ghost peppers, half red bell peppers. Let me know how it turns out for you.
Ryan says
My second time making this recipe now. I substitute IPA for water and throw in some poblanos. It's dankness to the max. My eyes are burning in the living room.
Patrick says
L
gage russel orvis says
Im making my own ghost pepper sauce can I have feedback on the prep and ingredients?
8 stemmed dried ghost peppers Ingredients & Instructions
7 diced jalapeno chile pepper
2 ½ tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 ½ cup diced onion
2 teaspoons garlic
6 anaheim chile peppers stemmed, halved
9-10 habanero peppers, stemmed, halved
2 teaspoons tabasco
1 pound tomatoes, diced (about 3 cups)
4 ½ teaspoon lime
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
2 ½ teaspoons salt
3 teaspoons sugar
2 1/2 teaspoon Cholula
3 1/2 tablespoon salt
3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Preparation
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion, chile peppers, habaneros to taste and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion is soft and beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium. Add tomatoes, vinegar, salt and sugar to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes break down, about 5 minutes.
Carefully transfer the tomato mixture to a food processor or blender. Puree until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot ingredients.) Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl; pour the pureed mixture through the sieve, pushing on the solids with a wooden spoon to extract all the liquid. (Discard solids.) Let the sauce cool to room temperature, about 1½ hours.
REPLY: I think this sounds great! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
senior fellow says
thank you very much! It was very nice taste.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Outstanding!
Todd Lee says
Really tasty, DELICIOUS! It's winter so there is no getting fresh ghost peppers or fresh tomatoes that have flavor so I had to utilize Dave's Gourmet Whole Ghost Peppers that I foundonline and a 14.5 oz. can of Hunts diced tomatoes and this still rocked. I can't wait to have some fresh produce. Now I will allow it to sit in the refrigerator for a few days to come to its full potential.
Note: I had to add some additional water and I could not resist adding a clove of garlic.
Thanks for the recipe brother!!!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Todd! Thanks! Glad you loved it.
Hully says
Just made this with 7 Ghost, 5 truss tomatoes and apple cider vinegar can't wait to taste the finished sauce.
I did make the mistake of eating some of the chilli before it went into the pan... DAMN !!! those chilli's are HOT.
Dave, Gold Coast, Australia.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Nice. Glad you enjoyed it. And yeah, maybe not the best thing to eat some of it before it went into the pan! Haha!
Chef Barret Beyer says
I need a source to either get 5oz bottles from or co packer that can bottle my sauce up and out my artwork on it for a reasonable price. Amy pointer to get me in the right direction. Also the shelf life of the suave should be a few months correct , with all the acidity and fresh garden items I used.. p.s. I am making a Trinidad scorpion moruga hot sauce and found raw coconut vinegar at the store so did a mixture of that along with red wine vinegar and it works out really well to give greatflavor in the beginning before the scorpion sticks you with his venom lol. Thanks for any help anyone can give me on my questions
REPLY: Chef Barret, try Endorphin Farms - http://wp.bottle-my-sauce.com/. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Mangry says
Just made this sauce with a few substitutions. Instead of black vinegar, I used 4 tsp of cold brew coffee concentrate, and for mustard I used a lemon tarragon dijon that I had in the fridge already. BANGIN' SAUCE. The smell of the ghost peppers roasting was intoxicating. Thanks for the recipe!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Awesome, Mangry. I'll bet it was great!
Phranq Sanchez says
If following the recipe exactly, how would this keep? I assume in fridge? "Canned" in mason jars? Cold cellar? BTW my son & made this last... he likes it, but would prefer double or triple the peppers!
REPLY: Phranq, I keep mine in a sealed bottle in the fridge. You can process it if you want to keep it longer. And YES, add more peppers! Spice that baby up! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Hanif says
Hi Mike...I love your recipes!
Could I substitute the Ghost Peppers for Thai Hot Dragon peppers instead and how many should I use?
REPLY: Hanif, absolutely. Curious how it will turn out for you. I would go by weight and use about 2-3 ounces of peppers, though you can easily include more for this recipe. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Fred Schaffer says
I made this sauce the other day and have to say, it is THE BEST. Great heat and taste.
I am going to make some more this week
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed it!
Larry says
How much Hot Sauce will this recipe yield?
REPLY: Larry, depending on the size of the tomatoes, this should yield you about 2-1/2 cups of hot sauce or so. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
C says
can i put 10 ghost peppers or is that overkill?
REPLY: C, surely you can, though be prepared for the heat! =) -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Colleen Kelley says
SIX bhut jolokia to 2/3 C salsa? And this is not tongue in a glass of ice cubes hot??? I’ve been warned @ burning myself. Found Trinidad Scorpions for first time @ Asian Mkt. & they told me use only “one 1/2 Scorpion to 2 gallons salsa,” which Was already made with 1:1 tomatoes: peppers (avg. 100k Scoville) and was simmering @ home on the stove totally mild. Defiantly, I added a whole Scorpion. Barely more heat. So how many Bhut Jolokias (or frozen Trinidad’s) should I add to the 6 remaining quarts of salsa, while I’m also trying your Ghost Pepper Salsa recipe today?
REPLY: Hard question, Colleen! If you're worried it will be too hot, don't add much, maybe 1 for the whole thing and test. Definitely do testing to find your preferred heat levels. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Stephen says
I'll try your recipe with Carolina Reapers. Can you use apple cider vinegar?
REPLY: Stephen, yes, you can use apple cider vinegar. You will have a fruitier flavor that way. Let me know how it turns out. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Seema says
Hi,
Can I use white vinegar instead of red? Also will wine tomatoes test same as farmer markets ones in the sauce. I never tried ghost peppers sauce friend of mine just gave me and I saw your sauce recipe. Looks delicious can’t wait to try.
REPLY: Seema, yes, you can use white vinegar, as well as substitute other tomatoes. You will have some flavor variation, but it won't be a massive change. Let me know how it turns out for you. Send a pic! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Joseph Reitano says
I (16YO) made this recipe (22 fl oz) for my family to complement my signature burritos. My mother generally doesn't do excessively spicy foods, but she can't stay away from it. My brother will love this when he comes to visit. Thanks for the amazing recipe!! 10/10
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks, Joseph! Let me know how your brother likes it! Curious to hear!
Mike says
The tomatos you used in the recipe are a lot larger than the normal tomatos people grow around here. I was wondering about the size and weight of yours.
REPLY: Mike, go with anywhere from 1-1.5 pounds of tomatoes, which would yield you a good amount of hot sauce. You can test and adjust to your tastes from there. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Erin says
I am planning on making this today...super pumped! Question though: do you leave the pepper seeds in?
REPLY: Erin, I do leave them in, though you can remove them if you wish. The seeds tend to float in the sauce, so many people like to remove them. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Bill says
I always put the saucepan on the grill outside to avoid the ventilation issues. I've tried other recipes in the house and always end up coughing my brains out
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Smart move, Bill. Yeah, the fumes can really get you for sure.
Bro says
My wife is allergic to onions. What's a good substitute?
Thanks
REPLY: Bro, you can omit the onions if needed. Try adding more peppers, more tomato, or add in a carrot to round out the substance. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Megan says
Will the cooking process be harsh? What I mean is, do I need protective goggles or something?
REPLY: Megan, I would be sure to have good ventilation in the room. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Gerry says
Do you use a whole small yellow onion for this recipe? Using a whole, small onion seems like a lot to me.
REPLY: Gerry, yes, I did, but you can cut back to your personal tastes. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Jeff says
Any idea on the weight o "6 bhut jolokia peppers"? The peppers which come off my plants are usually either way bigger or way smaller, so "6 peppers" doesn't help much, weight would be way easier to work with.
REPLY: Jeff, an average ghost pepper weighs between 7-9 grams, so figure accordingly. From my experience, this recipe is easily adaptable and you can vary the amount of peppers by a great deal, depending on your preferred heat level. Same goes with the tomatoes. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Adam says
How much does one batch make?
REPLY: Adam, it should make you a couple of cups, depending on the size of your tomatoes. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Jeremy Duerden says
I have a good crop of cayenne peppers but they have not gone red because of our short growing season at 53 degrees north in England. Will they work as well as red chillies whilst green or do you recommend another recipe? I have used 'Basket of Fire' chillies to great effect with this recipe
REPLY: Jeremy, you CAN use this recipe, though the flavor will be more "green", unripened flavor. I think it could still work, though. You might balance some of that out with other ingredients, like garlic and onion. Let me know how it turns out. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Bob says
At the end of every year I take three leftovers from the garden. Smoke them all and make hot sauce. Carrots onions all the leftover peppers whether they be green or ripe.
Every year is different and every year I'm so happy.. problem is the neighborhood waits for that batch and I'm almost always running out by June!
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
That’s great, Bob. I do the same with many of my unripened peppers at the end of the season. Great stuff!
Tony says
When finished, my sauce was really a paste. Whats the best way to thin it out, water, vinegar, a combo of both, or something else?
Thanks, Tony
REPLY: Tony, yes, just add in a bit of water and thin it to your desired consistency. Or, you might try a bit more vinegar. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.
Florentina says
When I was little my mother prepared the tomato sauce, never hot, but it is a great idea, especially for me that I love spicy food.
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Now you can really spice it up!
Bill says
Where can I buy these fresh - online?
REPLY: Bill, click "Resources" at the top menu and select either Plants or Seeds and see if any of those sellers can provide you with fresh pods. If you have trouble, email me and I can put in you in touch with some potential resources. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness.