Arbol Chile Hot Sauce

Made from fiery dried chile de árbol peppers, this smoky Mexican pepper sauce delivers a dash of spice while building strong flavours in your food. It adds boldness to your dish. But it doesn’t burn through the natural taste. It is perfect for spicing up your tacos, stirring into your soup, or even adding it to your morning eggs.

It’s an authentic Mexican hot sauce that is not just fiery but punchy, and its heat lingers in your food. No wonder it’s a staple sauce for every Mexican kitchen. Even though it’s simple, the attitude this árbol pepper hot sauce brings to your dishes is unmistakably Mexican. 

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s dive into the recipe. 

What is in the Arbol Chile Hot Sauce?

You’ll need just a handful of everyday ingredients to make the Arbol Chile hot sauce; each one plays a specific role in balancing the heat and texture of the sauce.

• Dried Chile de Árbol Peppers

Dried Mexican Chile de Arbol Peppers are the star ingredient of this fiery red chilli sauce. These slender, red chiles add a bold heat and a slightly nutty, smoky flavour. You’d need about 15-20 peppers. 

Tips: If you want less heat out of your chiles, it’s better to remove the seeds. Besides, the chiles should be toasted a bit in the frying pan on low heat before blending to enhance the aroma and depth of the spicy arbol sauce.  

• Garlic 

3-4 neatly peeled cloves of garlic would be enough for this recipe. Garlic brings a savoury, pungent base for balancing the sharp heat of the chiles. 

Tips: Roasting the garlic cloves first can mellow their pungent bite and add sweetness to the arbol salsa sauce. 

• Tomato/ Tomato Paste (Optional)  

1 small tomato or 1 tablespoon of tomato paste would be needed. The tomato or tomato paste is optional in some versions of this sauce recipe. 

Tomatoes add slight acidity and sweetness while mellowing the heat and provide a smoother texture for the bold chile pepper sauce. 

• Onion 

You’ll need ¼ of a medium onion; onions provide natural sweetness against the spicy flavour of the chile and add aroma. 

• Vinegar 

You can use either apple cider vinegar or white vinegar for this recipe. You’ll need about ¼ cup. Vinegar acts as a natural preservative for the sauce and also adds a tangy twist. 

• Salt 

You’ll need ½ to 1 teaspoon of salt to balance out the taste of all the ingredients. You can always add more to taste. 

• Water/ Vegetable Stock 

Add as needed to blend all the ingredients and maintain the right consistency for the hot sauce to make it pourable. 

Tips: Use just enough to blend the ingredients smoothly and not water down the taste. If you prefer a stronger depth of flavour, it’s better to use vegetable stock instead of water.

• Lime Juice (Optional)

You can add 1 tablespoon of freshly squeezed lime juice to add citrusy brightness to the arbol sauce. 

Tips: It’s better to add lime juice at the end to keep the flavour fresh and zesty. 

How to Prepare the Arbol Chile Hot Sauce? 

Making this fiery salsa and taco sauce is easier than you think; with just a few simple steps, anyone can enjoy a homemade arbol chile sauce with their daily meals. Here’s a detailed recipe for a small batch of spicy arbol chile sauce:

Step 1: Toast and Soften the Chiles

Put a dry pan on the stove on medium heat and toast the chiles for about 1-2 minutes. After this, place the toasted chiles in a bowl and cover them with hot water. Let the chiles soak for about 10-15 minutes and then drain the water. 

Tips: While toasting, turn the chiles frequently and be careful not to burn them. It’s advised to toast them until fragrant. 

Step 2: Saute the Aromatics

In a small pan, lightly sauté the onion and garlic (and tomato, if using) until they are soft and slightly caramelised. 

Step 3: Blend 

Add the soaked chiles, sautéed ingredients, vinegar, salt, and half of the water or stock to a blender. Blend until it reaches a smooth, creamy, and pourable consistency. 

Add more water or stock gradually to reach the desired texture.  

Step 4: Strain the mixture (Optional) 

For achieving a silkier texture, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve. 

Step 5: Taste and finish 

Adjust the salt and vinegar if needed. You can also add the fresh lime juice for a zesty kick in this step. 

Step 6: Store 

Pour it into a clean glass jar. The hot sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2-3 weeks. 

How Hot is Chile de árbol Compared to Other Chilis?

The Chile de Arbol pepper sauce rates around 15,000 to 30,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). This range indicates that the sauce is spicier than jalapenos but milder than habaneros. 

What Dishes Pair Well with Arbol Chile Hot Sauce?

Here are some commonly paired dishes with the arbol salsa hot sauce- 

• Tacos (especially grilled meats or fish)
• Scrambled or fried eggs
• Grilled chicken or steak
• Burritos and quesadillas
• Soups and stews (like pozole or tortilla soup)
• Roasted vegetables
• Rice and beans
• Mexican street corn
• Micheladas and Bloody Marys (for a spicy kick)

This hot sauce is paired mostly with Mexican delicacies, but you can also add it to your eggs or soup for extra spice. 

How to Make Arbol Chile Sauce Less Spicy?

The hotness of the sauce depends on how many chiles have been used and how much membrane and seeds were kept while blending the sauce. You can adjust the spice level of the sauce by increasing or decreasing the amount of peppers used, or keeping or removing the seeds from the chillis.

Conclusion 

The Mexical Arbol Chilli sauce is perfect for adding a bold kick of spice to your food. The smoky heat from the hot sauce makes simple meals unforgettable.