If you love spicy and sweet foods, this fermented jalapeño hot honey recipe is for you. The hot honey sauce is common in cuisines worldwide, and for a good reason. It is delicious.
Hot honey has been around some time, with the most recent wave of popularity coming from Brazil! The spicy jalapeño hot honey can be prepared in many ways, from light applications to extremely spicy and sticky ones or co*cktails!
Why you will love this spicy condiment!
You'll love this spicy condiment! Get ready to modify any recipe with a spicy-sweet kick. This honey is fermented slices of fresh jalapeño, resulting in one of my favorite condiments, an excellent combination of sweetness and heat.
What is Hot Honey?
Hot honey is a delicious sweet and spicy syrup that has been around since the 1960s. It was popularized in New York City by Italian-American pizzerias who used its topping for pizza. The heat from the chiles perfectly complements the sweetness of the honey.
This is a spicy version of the traditional Italian condiment that combines honey with peppers and is a hot trend in the US. This recipe uses jalapeño peppers, but you can also use any other type of chili pepper or dried chili flakes.
The Pepper Scale: How Spicy Are Jalapeños?
Jalapeños are about 4-6 inches long and 2 inches in diameter. They are typically green but sometimes darken or turn a bright red as they ripen. Freshly picked jalapeños are often quite hot, but the heat mellows significantly as they ripen (though it never completely goes away).
Ingredients
You only need two ingredients to make this recipe: honey and sliced jalapeño peppers. Other recipes will feature crushed red pepper flakes and ground red pepper powder—in this version, and I used jalapeño peppers.
Jalapeño Peppers
Making the best jalapeño honey starts with the freshest jalapeños, which are in season from May to November. When you find one that looks good, hold it in your hand and give it a gentle squeeze.
It should feel firm without being hard, and you don't want it to feel too squishy. The pepper should be bright green and have no obvious blemishes or discolorations. If you can smell the pepper before buying it, all the better!
For extra heat, use ½ cup of jalapeños instead of ⅓ cup. If you want your hot honey to be spicy without any sweetness, replace the love with 1 cup of white vinegar and add two tablespoons of sugar.
Raw Honey
I tend to use raw honey over processed honey since they retain more nutrients, but please use whatever you have on hand! For those who are plant-based, Agave nectar is a good option for plant-based diners.
For best results, use mild-flavored honey, such as clover or orange blossom honey. If you prefer to use darker honey, such as buckwheat honey, keep in mind that it will add more flavor to the final product than a lighter variety.
How to make hot honey at home
While wearing gloves, slice the chile peppers half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Next, cut the chiles into long strips and transfer them to a glass container with a lid—a mason jar works perfectly.
Pour honey into the container with the peppers and stir to combine. Seal with a lid, then let infuse in a cool dark place for two weeks before using.
After one day, start tasting the honey every day until it reaches your desired heat level. Shake jar each day to redistribute ingredients.
Strain the jalapeño from the honey before serving or storing it if you'd like a less spicy version after it's done infusing.
Store refrigerated for up to 6 months.
Storage
Expert tips and ways to use hot honey
Use this homemade hot honey recipe to dip cornbread or biscuit bites. First, drizzle it over pizza as you would regular honey. Then, mix a little into a co*cktail or mocktail for an unexpected kick of heat and sweetness.
The hot honey sauce is excellent on chicken wings, biscuits, cornbread, and more. Drizzle it on pizza or use it as a dipping sauce for fried chicken, chicken tenders, or French fries.
how to make hot honey sauce
Combine the hot honey with two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon of sriracha sauce, and a clove of chopped garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat. Whisk this together until smooth, and then remove from heat and let cool.
As the mixture cools, the spiciness will mellow out a little bit and develop an incredible flavor complexity. After about ten minutes, transfer your jalapeño hot honey sauce to a squeeze bottle or jar for use in homemade sushi rolls or cooked meats. You can also drizzle it over fried chicken or pork chops for a spicy-sweet dish!
Are you interested in more honey recipes?
Honey is one of my favorite sweeteners, and this hot honey is only the tip of the iceberg! Check out my other honey recipes, and let me know if there are different ways you like to use it!
FAQ
What is hot honey made of? Does hot honey need refrigeration?
Hot honey needs no refrigeration.
Can Hot Honey go bad?
Hot honey can go bad if left in a hot area or stored with other foods.
Is hot honey good for you?
It's hard to know if hot honey is good for you without knowing the effects of raw, unprocessed honey. Raw, unprocessed (unpasteurized) honey is likely to have the same effects as hot, processed honey.
What does hot honey taste like?
Hot honey has a sweet taste with a kick of heat from the chili peppers. While many people associate chili peppers with savory or spicy foods, this sauce is perfect for adding an unexpected element to desserts.
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