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Southwestern-inspired, made with fresh jalapeños, sweet and subtly spicy, this fermented jalapeno hot sauce is one your whole family will love! This sauce can be used in a wide variety of dishes and is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free. Super easy to make with a 10 minute preparation time, the main ingredient you need (as with any fermented food recipe) is time!
The subtle and fresh-tasting heat of this sauce paired with the natural sweetness of honey makes it a perfect blend for adults and kids alike. It always goes fast at my house, and is my 3 year old’s favorite sauce! If your family loves this fermented honey jalapeno sauce as much as mine, it’s super easy to double this recipe by using the same amount of water and salt, but doubling all of the other ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Super quick and easy to make.
Requires only a handful of ingredients.
Gut-healthy and probiotic rich from the fermentation process.
Fun to watch ferment!
Keeps up to a year in the refrigerator, although it’s sure to be devoured before then!
Naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
Jalapenos: are a mild chili pepper, and the heat they do have work wonderfully in this recipe paired with the honey. You can substitute a different chili pepper, keeping in mind it will bring a different level of heat.
Garlic: makes everything amazing, and this sauce is no exception! Garlic will arm you with some health benefits too, as it’s anti-inflammatory and immune-supportive.
Honey: can be a good source of antioxidants, as well as antibacterial and antifungal properties. Either raw or pasteurized honey can be used, and you can substitute vegan honey if needed.
Apple cider vinegar: is known for improving digestion, lowering blood sugar, and improving heart health. It also adds a delicious and unique flavor to this sauce! White vinegar, white wine, rice vinegar, or other vinegars can be used as a substitute.
Cumin seeds: are a spice that will add a depth of flavor to this sauce, pairing amazingly with the subtle heat. I wouldn’t recommend omitting, however you could substitute ground cumin at the same ratio if you don’t have access to the whole seeds.
Hi, Shannen! So happy to hear. 🙂 Yes, you most definitely can add a fruity twist. I have a few fruity hot sauces in my book, but mango and papaya go well with most chiles. I hope this helps! 🙂
This sounds soooo yummy! I’ve got the ferment going and have a question. Can I heat this after the ferment is over to make it shelf stable for mailing at the holidays? (I have a huge hot sauce loving family Scattered all over the country-the USPS loves me at Christmas!)
Thanks!
Hi, Sandi! Thank you. 🙂 Yes, you most definitely can simmer any of the fermented hot sauces on my site for about 10-15 minutes or so to stop the fermentation process. I find this is enough time to prevent any pressure building in the bottles. I hope this helps!
I grow jalapenos so I am always on the lookout for a good recipe and this sauce is so easy to make and so good on lots of food. I used the sauce for salad dressing today. So much great flavor!!!
Hot damn!! This is delicious with some decent fire to it. I used fermented honey (from a dried chili pepper, garlic and raw honey ferment) and it’s absolutely fabulous. Great dimension and the sweetness is just right. About the make again with my last bunch of garden serranos. Thank you!
Love it! I’ll be putting this on everything, well almost everything.
So happy to hear it. Thanks for sharing!
Excellent! Will try adding 1 habinaro next time for more heat.
So happy to hear! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Made and loved by all. Question can fruit be added for a twist. Doing jalapeno gift basket for Christmas and wanted to do a few different sauces
Hi, Shannen! So happy to hear. 🙂 Yes, you most definitely can add a fruity twist. I have a few fruity hot sauces in my book, but mango and papaya go well with most chiles. I hope this helps! 🙂
This sounds soooo yummy! I’ve got the ferment going and have a question. Can I heat this after the ferment is over to make it shelf stable for mailing at the holidays? (I have a huge hot sauce loving family Scattered all over the country-the USPS loves me at Christmas!)
Thanks!
Hi, Sandi! Thank you. 🙂 Yes, you most definitely can simmer any of the fermented hot sauces on my site for about 10-15 minutes or so to stop the fermentation process. I find this is enough time to prevent any pressure building in the bottles. I hope this helps!
Wow! This hot sauce is so good, I want it on everything! so much incredible flavor – I’m going to bottle it and give some away as gifts!
This tasted so amazing! Thanks a lot for sharing this super easy to make recipe! Fam really loves it! Will surely have this again! Highly recommended!
I love jalapenos and this sauce was delicious – will be making this again!
I grow jalapenos so I am always on the lookout for a good recipe and this sauce is so easy to make and so good on lots of food. I used the sauce for salad dressing today. So much great flavor!!!
I absolutely love that this is fermented! I’m a fermenting addict so this was right up my alley and it works on everything!!
Hot damn!! This is delicious with some decent fire to it. I used fermented honey (from a dried chili pepper, garlic and raw honey ferment) and it’s absolutely fabulous. Great dimension and the sweetness is just right. About the make again with my last bunch of garden serranos. Thank you!
I’m so very happy to hear that! Thank you so much for taking the time to share. 🙂
So so interesting – Would def need to give this a try just by looking at the photos!
We love spicy and I truly liked that this was so easy to make and really delicious!
Thank you!!
The sauce sounds very delicious. Since we eat a lot of fried snacks, I am sure, it’ll add another dimension to them. Thank you.
I have some jalapenos that needed to be used up and this recipe was just perfect for that. Great serving ideas too.
Thank you so much!!
This recipe has the perfect combination of sweet and heat. So satisfying! We enjoyed ours with Baja fish tacos.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing!