This Caribbean style chili sauce recipe is made with a mix of spicy Caribbean chilies with peaches in syrup, brown sugar, and molasses, sweet meets heat!
Homemade Caribbean-Style Sweet Chili Sauce
As I was working on a new superhot cookbook, I experimented with a number of homemade hot sauce recipes. That is the fun part of running a food blog, especially one dedicated in large part to chili peppers in general.
I get to make all sorts of spicy recipes, particularly hot chili sauces.
So very fun for me!
When making hot sauce, it is easy to work up large batches and even different types of chili sauces at the same time because you can use a little bit here, a little bit there, save some and combine it with something else for an entirely different result.
This particular chili sauce is a Caribbean style sweet chili sauce recipe that uses a combination of Bhut Jolokia chili peppers (aka Ghost Peppers) and some Scotch Bonnets, though I also included several long red cayenne peppers because I had them on hand and wanted to use them up.
I'm tagging different types of chili peppers here because you can use a variety of them, depending on your personal preference.
You don't have to go superhot. You can go mild if want. I've made this hot sauce entirely with ghost peppers for something truly HOT.
I've made it with Scotch Bonnets, Fatalii peppers, habaneros, and even sweet peppers from the garden. Experiment on your own. The true sweetness in this one comes from the can of peaches.
As an alternative, try sweet pears. Very good to me!
Let's discuss how to make this sweet chili sauce, shall we?
Caribbean-Style Sweet Chili Sauce Ingredients
The full ingredients list with measurements is listed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Red Chilies. Use a good mix like ghost peppers, Scotch Bonnets, habaneros, or even milder peppers - or a combination of them all!
- Peaches in Heavy Syrup. Canned.
- Yellow Mustard.
- Brown Sugar.
- Molasses.
- Distilled White Vinegar.
- Spices. Cumin, ginger, salt, black pepper.
How to Make Caribbean-Style Sweet Chili Sauce - the Recipe Method
- Roast the Peppers. Set oven to broil. Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and set them onto a baking sheet. Broil them about 15-20 minutes, or until the skins char and blister. Don’t get too close to the heat source. Remove, cool, and peel.
- Peaches. Add peaches to a food processor and process until fairly smooth.
- Add the Rest. Add chili peppers, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, and ginger. Process until smooth.
- Strain or Not. At this point, you can strain through a food mill if you want a silkier style sauce. Or, simply pour directly into a bowl or jar and cover.
- Mingle the Flavors. Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to mingle.
Shout out to my good friend, Matt. He loves this chili sauce. I always love to hear that. I hope to make another batch soon!
Patty's Perspective
Yes, hanging out with our neighbors last night and we were all craving grilled cheese sandwiches. I wanted mine spicy, so Matt grabbed out this hot chili sauce from the fridge and spiced it up. Delicious!
Frequently Asked Hot Sauce Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions I get on other sauces:
Storage Information
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. If you're concerned, add more vinegar to lower the ph. Sauces made with fermented chili peppers will last even longer.
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 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. LOL. I hope you find it helpful!
Check out more Hot Sauce Recipes or learn more about How to Make Hot Sauce.
Homemade Caribbean-Style Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound red chili peppers chopped (see comments above - try ghost peppers, Scotch Bonnets, habaneros, or even milder peppers - or a combination of them all!)
- 1 8- ounce can sliced peaches in heavy syrup pears works well, too
- 1/4 cup yellow mustard
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup molasses
- 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Set oven to broil.
- Slice the peppers in half lengthwise and set them onto a baking sheet. Broil them about 15-20 minutes, or until the skins char and blister. Don’t get too close to the heat source. Remove, cool, and peel.
- Add peaches to a food processor and process until fairly smooth.
- Add chili peppers, molasses, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, salt, pepper, cumin, and ginger. Process until smooth.
- At this point, you can strain through a food mill if you want a silkier style sauce. Or, simply pour directly into a bowl or jar and cover.
- Refrigerate overnight to allow the flavors to mingle.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Jimbob says
How long does this sauce last once made? Also, does the whole blended mixture not need cooking? Thanks.
REPLY: Jimbob, this will easily last you a month or more. No need for cooking, but you CAN cook it over low heat in a pot after processing and see how the flavors develop for you. Then bottle. -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
Vicky says
OMG! Pretty apricot sized habaneros reduced to date size-after blistering. 1 hr to skin...fingers still on fire (couldn't use gloves as too fiddly) I was about to taste a teaspoon full of "sweet chilli sauce" my husband suggested a fingertip taste. Thank goodness!coughed and choked, took my breath away! I've strained pulp out. Now have a pint of what looks like vindaloo sauce. Thinking I may add peach jam or something to reduce heat. Recipe said paprika but ingredients said black pepper which I used. Was a pound of chilis correct? Any other ideas how to reduce heat? Oh and from my fingers...ice water didn't work. Chili Madness extreme, now what to do with the jalapeños my husband is growing... Phew!
RESPONSE: Crazy! You can reduce the heat by using fewer peppers or a mix of milder peppers to round out the body of the sauce. Or, dairy fights the heat as well. Yes, black pepper! -- Mike from Chili Pepper Madness
Dan says
I always use my leftover pulp to make Thai Sweet Chili Sauce (adding garlic if necessary).
Mike from Chili Pepper Madness says
Bob, you can try to process that leftover mash and see if you can squeeze a bit more out of it, though in the end, you do wind up throwing some out. I've found that a food mill actually helps to squeeze out as much as possible, leaving very little pulp.
Bob says
Awesome sauce! Quick question - I strained it for a smoother texture, but am wondering if there's something I can do with the leftover mash? smells too nice to toss.
Carol says
Will be making this week....I will make a batch with peaches and a batch with mangoes. Can't wait!
Stephaney says
I can't wait to make this! I have long cayenne and chocolate habaneros growing like crazy with this hot summer. Any experience with jarring a sauce like this? Or fresh to the fridge is the only recommendation?
Mike from Chili Pepper Madness says
Clark, I do keep mine refrigerated since it has fruit in it. Kimo, glad you like it. I think Pomegranate Molasses would be a welcome ingredient, as long as it isn't too thick. Any sweeter syrup could work.
Kimo says
I made this recipe and loved the flavor. It reminded me of when I went to the Caribbean. I wonder what the flavor would be if I used Pomegranate Molasses? Thanks for the wonderful recipe.
Clark says
Does this have to be kept refrigerated?
Chicory App says
Looks like an awesome chili sauce recipe for die-hard chili fans like me.
Love your blog & concept! Are you interested in becoming a Chicory Recipe Partner?
harvey says
I love the recipe. I decided to roast my peppers, at 375 for 30 minutes, instead of broiling. For a different Caribbean flavor I used pineapple instead of peaches. I also made the same recipe using 2 large fresh mangoes that I roasted after peeling and pitting. My next foray is going to try both the mango and pineapple together.