So what is pepper sauce? Perhaps you're more familiar with the term "hot sauce." While they're in the same vein, they're not the same!
Pepper sauce is what we call "hot sauce" in the West Indies. Here's a general Brittanica definition of The West Indies: "crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles (3,200 km) long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north."...in other words, it's where my family is from! Specifically, Trinidad & Tobago (a sister island Caribbean country).
What makes pepper sauce different than hot sauce? In Trinidad & Tobago when we make pepper sauce we don't use just the juice of a hot pepper, chili peppers alone, or capsaicin with some vinegar like you might be familiar with in American hot sauces. We use a mix of fruits, peppers, and vegetables to make our pepper sauces. And we use the entire fruit, the entire vegetable, and the entire pepper...yes, that includes the seeds! We blend it all up into a nice texture with the appropriate amount of vinegar needed to preserve the mixture.
The result is an incredible tasty flavor first that accompanies different enjoyable levels of heat. You get a rich flavor and a great saucy texture perfect for not just topping like you traditionally do with "hot sauces" but also cooking, stewing, grilling, spiced drinks, etc! The uses are endless!
Trinidadian pepper sauce is great for any food you can think of, and I do mean that! If you love grilling, add it into your injectables or rubs! If you love to cook, sauté away! If you like chicken or beef or veggies or fish or tofu or you're in the mood to order a pizza or for a virgin margarita, add some Trini pepper sauce to it and watch your meals light up with flavor!
My favorite way to use the sauce? I love cooking with it! Throw some oil in a pan, throw down some pepper sauce and sauté your heart out. And of course when I don't have time to cook, just throw it on top and chow down!
I hope you enjoyed learning about Trini pepper sauce! I can't wait to see how you use it in your kitchen!
For more recipes and meal ideas, check out some of our other blog articles here or visit our instagram @wawmsauce