Monday, June 24, 2013

Fiery Jalapeno Sauce


School is out, our neighborhood berry stand is open, the ice cream truck is making its rounds and the sun is shining. We’ve been enjoying graduation, Father’s Day, wedding anniversary and birthday festivities during this past week – so much to celebrate! Sam’s high school graduation ceremony was truly wonderful. I was filled with pride (and a few tears) as the music began and the students filed into the stadium. What an incredible Class of 2013! And now, on to more summer ...

With warmer weather here, we are grilling and eating more salads. A marvelous condiment that appears often on our table and barbecue is this jalapeno sauce. Our family loves heat and spice, so when our friend Alison first made this fiery sauce for us we quickly devoured it.


I’m always a fan of chiles and vinegar together (homemade sriracha is another staple of ours). Alison uses balsamic vinegar in this sauce, and I think it is a brilliant addition. Fresh jalapenos, garlic, olive oil, shallots and balsamic vinegar are blended to create a quick sauce that packs a wollop of flavor.

This jalapeno sauce is an easy way to liven up a dish. I’ve been stirring it in to salad dressings and jazzing up grains with it. Definitely a favorite around here! With grilling season upon us, it makes a terrific marinade, too. Over Father’s Day weekend, we slathered boneless chicken thighs with this green hot sauce and barbecued. It was simply fantastic!


Happy summer to you!

Fiery Jalapeno Sauce
Makes 2 cups
Inspired by Alison Philbin of Mt. Gardner Inn

1 pound fresh jalapenos, roughly chopped and including the seeds (be careful when handling the chiles  - wear gloves or wash your hands well after chopping)
1 large clove of garlic
1 medium shallot, roughly chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor and blend until a smooth sauce is formed. Store in a covered jar in the fridge. It will keep for at least a month.

24 comments:

  1. I love this green sauce - what a great alternative to sriracha (not that I need an alternative to sriracha!)

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    1. Thank you, Lynda! I agree, I have a lot of love for sriracha - this green sauce is a worthy alternative, though! I hope you enjoy it. And I hope all your graduation festivities were fun!

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  2. Oooh, yum! We haven't been using our oven much, either...with our new back patio we are cooking and eating outside most weekends. It's lovely! I love the idea of grilling chicken thighs with this sauce! It sounds super spicy and delicious. I'll have to try that soon.

    I love the first photo of this post. Hi, chickens!! And what a wonderful last couple of weeks you've had! A great start to summer, for sure.

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    1. It sounds like your summer is off to a great start, too, Brianne! I'm happy to hear you're enjoying your new place. I'm hoping our downpour here passes quickly so I can get outside and grill more. The chickens are very curious and come running when you step outside...I had to toss them some cracked corn so they wouldn't grab the jalapeno and run with it!

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  3. This sounds like such a great idea! I hope I'll have a big enough harvest to make a couple of batches from my own jalapenos. :)

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    1. Thanks, Eileen! Fresh jalapenos from your garden? Sounds wonderful!

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  4. Yum Hannah...I've sure come a long way from those days when if it was hot, I would pick it out and pitch it; now I love what some heat can do for a dish. I just made a sauce that is a combination of hot peppers and honey; I could seriously eat it with a spoon. Now seems I'll need two. :)

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad you're enjoying some heat and spice now, Barb! You're right, it does wonders for a dish. Hot peppers and honey sound amazing together - I'd grab a spoon, too!

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  5. This sounds so good! I still have your Sriracha printed out to try but haven't been able to find organic red jalapenos anywhere. Maybe I'll make this one first!

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    1. Thanks, Alyssa! I don't think I've seen organic red jalapenos either - I'll keep an eye out, though. Maybe at the farmer's market later in the summer? I hope you enjoy this jalapeno one. :)

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  6. Jalapeno I can find, still haven't found fresno's for the sriracha now I will be making both. Looks great.

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    1. Thank you, Suzanne! Too bad you aren't seeing the red fresnos, I thought for sure they'd be more available. Hopefully soon! I hope you enjoy this jalapeno sauce. :)

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  7. Beautiful jalapeños! And great times with all those celebrations! I struggle to get them here :( Like you I love a little heat & I think I could become quite addicted to this sauce.

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    1. Thank you, Mairi! It's been a wonderful time of festivity and I'm happy to be enjoying summer now. Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

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  8. What a great sauce! I love fiery anything, so this jalapeno delight is right up my alley. Easy to make too - always a good thing! Really nice - thanks so much.

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    1. My pleasure, John! This is very much a quick, easy sauce to prepare - perfect for keeping a stash on hand. I hope you have a marvelous summer weekend!

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  9. This is exactly something I would make for my husband, he would eat it by the Tablespoon. I would lightly touch the tip of my tongue to it and wouldn't taste anything else the rest of the night. I bet it smells fabulous!

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    1. This sauce does smell spicy and delicious, Brooke! I hope you enjoy a terrific weekend - stay cool and enjoy our sunshine!

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  10. hot peppers always seem to be on my grill, and I end up with leftovers; grilled peppers will change the flavor a bit, but perfect to turn them into a sauce, great idea

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    1. Oh, I love the idea of grilling the peppers first, Orly! I'm going to do that next time. The charred, smoky flavor would be wonderful! I hope summer is off to a great start for you. :)

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  11. I like the idea of putting this sauce in bbq marinade etc. Very convenient sauce and it lasts for a month! I remember the time that I burnt my finger with chopping jalapenos with bear hands. I think I am allergic to it. I thought my hands will chop off. :D Since then I use glove to chop them. :) It's a horrible but funny memory with jalapeno...

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    1. Oh Nami, I'm sorry you burned your finger so badly...jalapenos can be brutal to work with. You're smart to wear gloves when chopping! I hope you enjoy this sauce. It's a great one for grilling! Happy summer to you!

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  12. just mouthwatering....looks delicious!

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    1. Thank you so much, Kalyan! I'm happy you stopped by.

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