How Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce is Made

How do you make ghost pepper sauce? This is a question that we get from customers all the time and that’s why we’re finally giving you an answer with this blog post.

No, we’re not giving you our exact recipe for  our award-winning ghost pepper hot sauces. Of course, we wouldn’t want to reveal all the magic that goes into making Ghost Scream. But these basic steps should give you enough information to try out your own ghost pepper hot sauce recipe at home.

Ready to get started on your own do-it-yourself specialty hot sauce journey? Let’s go!

Step One: Gather Ingredients

To create your own  gourmet hot sauce, you’ll want to start by gathering all the right ingredients. While there are tons of blends and recipes out there, ghost pepper sauce starts with -- you guessed it! -- ghost peppers.

In most cases, you’ll want around twelve to fifteen fresh ghost peppers to make a single batch of hot sauce. The type of ghost pepper is up to you. While some people prefer the classic red, others like the yellow or even the chocolate pepper variety.

Also, if you plan on using a blend of peppers, you’ll want to gather those at the same time, too. Some people use Carolina Reapers, jalapenos, serranos, bell peppers, or whatever else suits your taste buds. For every additional pepper you use, subtract the number of ghost peppers you need.

You’ll also need vinegar. With our Ghost Scream Hot Sauce, we typically use red wine vinegar, but that’s just a personal preference. Both white wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar work well.

Additional other supplies include water, salt, spices, fresh garlic, fresh onion, and a bit of xanthan gum, which you can usually find on the specialty baking aisle of your local grocery store. If you’re looking for a sweeter sauce, consider adding fresh fruit like mangos or strawberries and honey.

Step Two: Get to Chopping

This next part is one of the most difficult of the whole ghost pepper sauce process. When chopping the peppers, make sure to wear gloves and do not touch your skin. Cut the ghost peppers and other chilis in half, carefully removing any stems and seeds. For a milder flavor, you can opt to remove the membrane from the peppers.

Dice up the onion as fine as you can. Then do the same with the fresh garlic. Any other product you’re using in the process should also be cut accordingly.

Step Three: Stove Time

Once everything is adequately prepped, you’ll want to move over to the stove. In a large stockpot, combine a ratio of 1/3 water with 2/3 apple cider vinegar. The exact measurements will depend on how much ghost pepper sauce you’re making but remember that it does cook down and evaporate a bit with the heat. Then toss in all your remaining ingredients and spices, except for the xanthan gum.

Heat until boiling and then allow the mixture to simmer for about fifteen minutes. Let the mixture cool slightly before moving on to the next step in the process.

Step Four: Blending the Ghost Pepper Sauce

Once the mixture has cooled a bit, you’ll want to pour all of it into the blender. While the blender is running, add 1/4 teaspoon of xanthan gum per cup of hot sauce in the container. This is especially important, as if you try to add it when the liquid isn’t moving, it will clump. Why do we do this? Xanthan gum is a common thickener, so this process will give you a less watery sauce.

After you’ve adequately blended the hot sauce and have a consistency you like, then you can taste it out on a chip or cracker. If there’s something that seems a bit off, don’t be afraid to add more salt or other spices.

Step Five: Pour Into Jars

If you’re making ghost pepper sauce as a gift, then you might consider purchasing sauce jars from your local craft store or online. If you’re just using it at home, then really any old sealable container will do. Even mason jars work great.

Make sure your jars are adequately cleaned and disinfected prior to use. For brand new sauce jars, this means blanching them in hot water, just like you would when canning vegetables or preserves.

Pour the blended sauce in the jars. Seal the lid tightly and place in the refrigerator. Since we aren’t adding any preservatives to this basic recipe, it is important to know that the hot sauce will keep for up to two to three weeks when stored in a cold environment.

Why Make Your Own Ghost Pepper Hot Sauce?

While we want you to try our various hot sauce varieties, like our Reaper Green Hot Sauce, our Ghost Scream team understands that sometimes pepper aficionados want to try out a recipe on their own. Or maybe you’re just super committed to your diet and looking to create the perfect keto hot sauce. That’s why we’re more than happy posting these instructions online for people just like you to try out.

Of course, the process can be somewhat intimidating if you don’t know how to cook or are simply not interested in making your own blend of ghost pepper gourmet hot sauce. And that’s totally okay! We’re here to provide convenient and ready-to-go bottles of your favorites, including our Original and Ghost Truffle Hot Sauces.

Check Out Our Hot Sauce Store Today!

If you still haven’t tried our ghost pepper hot sauce, then now is a great time. Our online hot sauce store features all our customer favorites, plus a few surprising additions. We also have a variety of gift boxes for you to share with your favorite spicy food friend.