Store-bought hot sauces often contain added sugar, over-processed ingredients, and other more nefarious additives, including chemical preservatives & colorants. Homemade hot sauces, on the other hand, can be a great way to boost health while adding flavor & heat to your food.
As of late, I’ve become quite the hot pepper enthusiast. I make a small batch of fresh hot sauce nearly every day. Typically, these are “five minute hot sauces,” which are incredibly quick & easy to make. This method involves tossing a fresh pepper (or two) and a few other whole food ingredients in a blender and whirring it all up. Super simple.
This Papaya Hot Sauce is one of my favorites. It’s creamy, naturally sweet, and pairs well with a variety of dishes. It is also rich in nutrients and health boosting properties.
Ají (Capsicum pubescens), also known as rocoto, is a perennial Andean pepper that produces prolifically in our gardens. You can substitute a hot pepper of your choosing if you don’t have access to ajís.
Ajís (and other spicy peppers) have incredible health benefits. They boost digestion and circulation. They promote heart health. They have been shown to possess “anti-cancer” properties. A 2020 study even found that consuming spicy peppers regularly improves overall life expectancy. To read more about the many benefits of hot peppers, check out my post all about ají.
Papaya (Carica papaya) is rich in vitamin C. It is also a good source of vitamin A, folate, and potassium. It contains lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, which reduces inflammation, boosts skin health, and may help to prevent cancer & heart disease. An enzyme in papaya called papain helps improve digestibility of protein, making this hot sauce the perfect accompaniment to meat dishes.
To make this hot sauce, you will need:
- 1 cup of ripe papaya
- 1-2 ají peppers
- 2 cloves of garlic
- the juice of 2 limes
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
Note: using a under or over ripe papaya will compromise the delicious flavor of this condiment. Use a perfectly ripe papaya for the best tasting hot sauce
This recipe makes about 300ml of sauce.
Directions:
Add ingredients to a blender and blend til smooth. That’s it!
For best results, store sauce in the refrigerator and consume it within a few days.
Enjoy this spicy sauce with your favorite foods. I like it with well, everything, but it pairs nicely with eggs, burgers, tacos, + soups. It can also be added to salad dressings or homemade mayonnaise for a deliciously spicy kick.
References
Spritzler, Franziska. “8 Evidence-Based Health Benefits of Papaya.” Healthline. December 4, 2018.
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