What You’ll Need (Ingredients)
- 1 cup dill pickles, chopped
- 1/2 cup pickle juice
- 2-3 jalapeño peppers, seeded for less heat
- 1 habanero pepper (optional – only use if you want it very spicy)
- 2 cloves garlic
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Blender or food processor
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- Clean jar or bottle for storage
- Measuring cups
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Get Everything Ready (5 minutes)
What to do: Prepare all your ingredients before you start cooking.
- Take your dill pickles and cut them into small pieces (about the size of a pea)
- Cut open the jalapeño peppers and remove all the seeds (this makes them less spicy)
- Peel the garlic cloves and chop them into tiny pieces
- Measure out your pickle juice
Helpful tip: Wash your hands well after handling the peppers to avoid getting spice in your eyes.
Step 2: Blend Everything Together (3 minutes)
What to do: Put all ingredients in your blender.
- Add the chopped pickles to your blender
- Pour in the pickle juice
- Add the seeded jalapeños
- Add the habanero pepper only if you want extra heat
- Add the chopped garlic
- Put the lid on tightly and blend for about 1 minute until everything looks smooth
Helpful tip: If your blender is having trouble, stop and stir with a spoon, then blend again.
Step 3: Cook the Hot Sauce (15 minutes)
What to do: Cook the mixture to bring all the flavors together.
- Pour everything from the blender into your saucepan
- Turn your stove to medium heat
- Wait for the mixture to start bubbling gently (this is called simmering)
- Once it’s bubbling, turn the heat down a little bit
- Let it cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes with your wooden spoon
- The sauce is ready when it looks slightly thicker
Safety note: Be careful of splattering. The mixture may bubble and pop while cooking.
Step 4: Cool and Store (10 minutes)
What to do: Let your hot sauce cool down and put it away safely.
- Turn off the stove and move the pan away from the heat
- Let the hot sauce sit for about 10 minutes to cool down
- Carefully pour the cooled sauce into a clean jar or bottle
- Put a lid on tight
- Store in your refrigerator
Important: This hot sauce will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How to Use Your Hot Sauce
This tangy, spicy sauce tastes great on:
- Hamburgers and hot dogs
- Sandwiches and wraps
- Tacos and burritos
- Eggs
- French fries
- Any food that needs a flavorful kick
Recipe Summary
- Preparation time: 15 minutes
- Cooking time: 15 minutes
- Total time: 30 minutes
- Makes: About 1 cup of hot sauce
- Difficulty level: Easy
Helpful Tips for Success
If the sauce seems too thick, you can add a little more pickle juice
Start with less spicy peppers if you’re not sure about the heat level
Taste a small amount before storing to check if you like the flavor
The sauce will taste even better after sitting in the refrigerator overnight
Always use clean utensils when taking sauce from the jar to keep it fresh longer
