A simple home grown chilli sauce

Now at last count  I had 13 open chilli sauces in cupboards, fridges and at work. But surely making your own sauce has to be better than anything you can buy.

Challenge accepted.

My aim was to use as much as possible from the garden. So what did I have on hand?

Chillies- Check

Lettuce- I don't think so

Basil- good for bruschetta but I'll give it a miss in the chilli

Garlic- Check

Onion- Check

Purple beans- nope

Lime Juice- well lemon juice from the inlaws tree will be a good substitute

Fairy tale egg plant- maybe next time

Carrots- sounds like a key ingredient to me

I started off with a bt of research on the Net to see what was out there. Very confusing and great variables in opinions on how long a product will last unopened or in the fridge. Something basic sounded like a pretty good idea. I am sure that I'll get a bit more adventurous next time

Here's the recipe I used and some pictures to go along. I did not have any habaneros so used birds eye chillies

RECIPE

Fresh, frozen, or pickled habaneros can all be used. Adjust the heat by adding fewer habaneros, not by increasing the carrots as this can alter the flavour. this is a good base recipe that you can modify to suit yourself. don't want garlic, no problem, want to add crushed black peppercorns, go for it, think it could do with some honey, just do it.

1½ cups chopped carrots

1 onion, chopped

1½ cups white vinegar

1/4 cup lime juice - you can just use lime or lemon juice if you don't want to use any vinegar just use a total of 1+3/4 cups (or 2 cups)

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons salt

10 to 12 habanero chillies, stems removed, chopped (you can remove the seeds if you really want to but leave the placental membrane!)

• Combine all the ingredients, except for the habaneros, in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
• Boil for 10 minutes or until the carrots are soft.
• Place all the ingredients in a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
• Strain if you want a smoother sauce.
• Pour into sterilised jars.

The end result. Inedible by babies and pregnant wives but absolutely superb.