Brazilian Red Pepper Sauce (Molho de Pimenta)

This basic spicy pepper sauce goes with just about anything, and it will keep for a couple of weeks in the refrigerator stored in a glass jar.

Serves: 10Hands-on: 10 minutesTotal: 20 minutesDifficulty: Easy

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Serves: 10

Ingredients

  • 1⁄2 cup vinegar
  • 1⁄2 cup good-quality olive oil
  • 1 hot red chili pepper (2 inches)
  • 3 medium red bell peppers
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. sugar
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 bay leaf

Directions

  • Place the vinegar and olive oil in a blender.
  • Remove the stems and seeds from the peppers and add them to the blender, along with the salt, sugar, garlic, and onion.
  • Process mixture until smooth. Transfer mixture to a saucepan and add the bay leaf. Simmer sauce over low heat for 5 to 8 minutes, until it thickens slightly.
  • Remove from heat and let cool. Remove the bay leaf. Place the sauce in a glass jar and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.