Gluten Free Sauces & Condiments

Insanely Good Guava Peppersauce (hot-sauce).

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While I don’t have immediate access to many of the fruits I grew up eating as a young fella on the islands, with many local groceries servicing the vibrant immigrant population in Ontario, there are times when I luck out. This time I came across ripe guavas (mind you they were not the best quality) at my favorite Asian market. Usually I’d make guava jam or guava cheese, but the amount of fruit required for those two recipes.. let’s just say my budget didn’t allow for it. So a fruity peppersauce came to mind.

You’ll Need…

10-15 hot peppers
2 cloves garlic (smashed)
6-8 guavas (ripe, seeded)
2 cups white vinegar
1 tablespoon molasses
2 tablespoon honey
3/4 cup raisins
1/2 lime (juice)
2 slices ginger
1 teaspoon salt

* add brown sugar for a more sweet undertone

IMPORTANT! PLEASE wear gloves when handling these hot peppers and wash your hands immediately after with soap and water. If doing this recipe gluten free, please go through the entire list of ingredients to ensure they meet with your specific gluten free dietary needs.

For more heat add more hot peppers and for a more fruity/guava flavor, I’d recommend using more ripe guavas in the mix.

I kept the seeds of the peppers (I used a combination of extremely hot peppers) as I wanted the raw heat. Discard the seeds if you’d like it a bit more tame. Wash, remove the stems and rough-chop the peppers. Then cut the tips off the guavas, cut into 1/4’s and remove/discard the seeds (if there are any blemishes on the skin of the guava, cut off and discard). Add both to a saucepan, along with the vinegar, raisins, salt, ginger slices and molasses. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a very gentle simmer. Simmer for about 30 minutes with the pan covered (slightly ajar). I’d recommend turning the fan on over your stove or open the windows in your kitchen.

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Turn off the stove and allow it to cool. Then remove the ginger slices and discard… place in a blender and puree until relatively smooth (you can personalize it by leaving it a texture you like).

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Return back to the saucepan, add the honey and lime juice, stir well and bring back to a simmer. Cook for 5-7 mins on a low heat.

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Store in a clean glass container with a lid (if you use plastic the scent/taste will remain permanently) and store in the fridge. Yes it can stay outside the fridge for about a week or two, however in the fridge it will last a couple months easily.

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This Guava hot sauce is excellent on grilled meats and vegetables, on your morning eggs and just about anywhere you’d normally add a spicy condiment. If you’re wondering how this would taste.. fiery, with a sort of bbq sauce undertone and overall fruitiness from the guava and sugar elements.

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Gluten Free Sauces & Condiments

Screaming Fruity Peppersauce (Hot Sauce)

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Every summer I try to plant many of the herbs, vegetables and peppers I use in the recipes I share, in the little garden I have at the back of our home. Nothing gives me pleasure than knowing what went into growing my food and there’s always a sense of accomplishment as well for me. Every year I try to plant a variety of HOT peppers, ranging from the insane stuff to mild and flavorful. This homemade pepper-sauce is not about the mild – unfortunately. We’re going for raw heat with the peppers I’ll be using, However with the addition of the frozen berries things will balance off naturally.

You’ll Need…

10-12 HOT peppers (your choice)
2 cups apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-2 cups frozen berries
1 lime
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoon chopped parsley
1-2 tablespoon brown sugar

* Berries included – strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and cherries AND I used an assortment of fiery peppers. IMPORTANT! Wear gloves when handling hot peppers and be SURE to wash your hands with soap and water IMMEDIATELY after.

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Wash, drain/dry and trim off the stems off the peppers, then chop roughly. Smash the garlic and give the parsley a rough chop, before adding all the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Be sure to open your kitchen windows or have the exhaust fan above your stove on, to vent the fumes of the peppers cooking.

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You can use any frozen berries you have access to and if all you have is white vinegar, don’t worry – it will be fine.

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As soon as it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to very gentle simmer and allow it to cook for about 25-30 minutes. Remember to vent the kitchen or cook outdoors.

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Turn the stove off, then go in with an electric stick blender and puree to the consistency you like (I like it smooth). Taste for salt (adjust) and you’re free to add a bit more brown sugar if you want it a bit more sweet and the final thing is to go in with the juice of the lime. Bottle, cool and store in the fridge.

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If you don’t have a stick blender you can use a traditional standing blender or food processor. I’d recommend allowing the cooked peppers to cool down a bit to avoid burning yourself while it blends.

Not your typical “Caribbean” peppersauce, but I assure you, you’ll be come a fan of it. BTW, not sure if I mentioned this to you before or not, but when traveling to the Caribbean don’t ask for hot sauce.. do like an islander and say, pass the peppa-sauce please!

Sauces & Condiments

Orange Pineapple Pepper Sauce.

Ever ask yourself what’s our love affair with pepper sauce? What is about Caribbean people and the heat we’re always seeking? I’m sure not everyone from the Caribbean is into the hot stuff, but a good majority of us are and we’re influencing so many thousands of people across the globe with the recipes we share. To date there’s about eight pepper sauce recipes I’ve posted and that’s just a teaser into how creative I can get when it comes to making that liquid dynamite we call pepper sauce.

Here’s one I made recently which is packed with heat, but the rich undertones of oranges and pineapple gives it that unique Caribbean vibe. This orange pineapple pepper sauce is a personal fave of mine, especially when BBQ season comes around, so I do hope you give it a try.

 

You’ll Need…

1 1/2 cup orange juice
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar (golden)
1 cup pineapple chunks
1/4 teaspoon allspice
15 scotch bonnet peppers

Notes: I used store bought orange juice (get the good stuff – no pulp, but nice and thick) and the pineapple came from a can. I got the chunks, with syrup (use the syrup as well). Remember when handling scotch bonnet peppers to use caution as they are VERY hot. Use gloves and don’t include the seeds if you’re overly concerned about the extreme heat. Remember to wash your hands a couple times with soap when you’re done and don’t touch anyone or yourself before you to. If you can’t source scotch bonnet peppers (complain to your grocer) use Habanero peppers.. they are just as deadly.

Wash and give the scotch bonnet peppers a rough chop to make it easier work for your blender or food processor. (again – do wear gloves)

All we need to do now is add all the ingredients into the food processor and give it a few pulses to start. Then work it until you have a smooth consistency. Do remember to add the juice/syrup the pineapple is packed in (if you’re using canned pineapple chunks as I did).

Tip: remember to have your kitchen windows open as the peppers are very hot and with the blending, it may cause you to choke. (also, be careful when washing your food processor.. don’t stand above it as the water falls on it) Follow the same procedure when the pepper puree is cooking (see below)

When you’ve achieved a smooth consistency, add the mixture (be careful when pouring it out) to a deep saucepan and on medium heat bring it up to a boil. Then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for about 10 minutes. You can now allow it to cool before you pour it into the bottle you’re serving it from or if you’re doing the canning method.. pour it while it’s hot into the mason jar.If you want the sauce to be even smoother, you can return it back to your food processor or blender and work it for another minute. Try not to go past 30 seconds to 1 minute or risk it going frothy.

 

 

This pepper sauce can be stored in the refrigerator for about 6-8 weeks, but you may find that you’ll need to give it a shake before using and it will loose some of it’s kick while in the fridge. If you’re looking for more exciting hot sauce / pepper sauce recipes, click on “Bits and Bites” above and go through the listings. Additionally, there should be some shared below where it says “similar recipes”.

I encourage you to give this recipe a try, but be aware that it’s lethal and do be careful as you work with the scotch bonnet peppers. The last thing I need is you emailing me saying that your hands are on fire because you didn’t take me seriously and wear gloves. Or worst case.. you touched your eyes or somewhere even more sensitive!

 

 

 

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