Chile de Árbol Hot Sauce

Smoky and spicy, this quick and easy five-ingredient chile de árbol hot sauce packs a mighty punch. The use of Mexican chiles makes it an ideal addition to dishes like tacos, burritos, and enchiladas. Naturally gluten-free and vegan.

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My chile de árbol obsession is in full swing, so I’m back with another recipe featuring this amazingly delicious and spicy little pepper.

Let me introduce you to my new favorite hot sauce. As far as flavor goes it’s:

• Smokey
• Earthy
• Spicy
• Vinegary
• Garlicky

And if that doesn’t pique your interest, let me tell you a little more. It only has five ingredients, is super easy to make (most of which is hands-off), and takes less than 30 minutes. That’s right! In less than 30 minutes you can have an amazingly flavorful homemade hot sauce.

No more paying $5.00 for a bottle of hot sauce, when you can make one from home that is just as good and a fraction of the price. For real, this sauce only costs about a dollar to make.

The flavor profile makes it an ideal condiment for Mexican dishes. It’s great on tacos, burritos, nachos, enchiladas, etc. OR if you’re like me, simply on chips. Yes, I eat hot sauce like it’s salsa. Yum!!!

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Ingredients (+ notes & substitutions)

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• Chile de Árbol: Chile de árobl are a small Mexican chile pepper that falls between a Serrano pepper and a cayenne pepper on the Scoville scale. Your local grocery store mary carry them if they have a decent Mexican section. If not they can be found at Mexican markets and are available for purchase online. Check out my product recommendations below for a link to my favorite chile de árbol on Amazon. Additionally, the chiles will need to be destemmed and deseeded. The stems can easily be pulled off. The simplest way to deseed them is to cut them open with kitchen shears and then scoop/scrape out the seeds.
• Water: This recipe requires you to reconstitute the dried chiles, meaning you restore them. To do this, you will simply soak the chiles in hot water until they have softened.
• White vinegar: Apple cider vinegar would be a suitable alternative.
• Garlic
• Salt

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How to make chile de árbol hot sauce ( + tips)

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Begin by heating a medium skillet to medium heat. Gently toast the chiles for 30 seconds to a minute on each side. ** Warning the fumes from the peppers might send you into a coughing fit, especially if you over toast them. I highly recommend you open up some windows prior to toasting the chiles.

Next, you will need to reconstitute (restore) the chiles. Add two cups of water to the skillet, turn off the heat, and allow them to sit for 20-30 minutes.

Transfer the chiles to a blender. Add 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid, the vinegar, garlic, and salt, and pulse until smooth. At this point, if you wish, you can strain the hot sauce using a fine sieve, otherwise, serve it as is or refrigerate for later.

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How to store

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Refrigerate in a hot sauce bottle or glass jar for up to three weeks.

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Recommended Products

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More recipes featuring chile de árbol:

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• Chile De Árbol Salsa: This rich and spicy five-ingredient chile de árbol salsa is so easy to make and takes only 20 minutes. Great for dipping chips or to top your favorite tacos. Naturally vegan and gluten-free.
• Chile De Árbol Chicken Wings: A Mexican twist on a classic, these smoky and spicy chile de árbol chicken wings are perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside.
• Beef Birria (Mexican Stew): Beef birria is a slow-cooked, savory Mexican stew made with beef, a blend of chile peppers, onion, garlic, and a variety of spices. This dish is warm and inviting with a depth of flavor that goes unmatched. Naturally gluten-free.
• Beef Birria Tacos w/ Consomé: These birria tacos are EVERYTHING!! They start with two corn tortillas dipped in consomé, then stuffed with cheese, and fried (Quesadilla!!). Next comes succulent, flavorful beef topped with onions, cilantro, and fresh lime juice. Served with a side of consomé for dipping.

If you make this chile de árbol hot sauce I’d love your feedback. Please leave a comment and/or a rating below as I greatly value your opinion. Or snap a pic and tag me on Instagram @taoofspiceblog. Love, light, and happy cooking ya’ll ♥