All the Ways To Use Cayenne Peppers
This year, my cayenne pepper plants have outdone themselves. I planted a handful in the spring and didn’t think much more about them — but the hot, dry stretch we had in July and August must have been their sweet spot. By late summer, the bushes were loaded with bright red peppers.
Once they started piling up on the counter, I went hunting for ways to use them and keep that flavor for winter. Here’s what I’ve tried so far.
Fermented Hot Sauce
One of the first things I made was fermented hot sauce. It’s as easy as dropping the peppers into a salt-water brine, letting them sit in a fermentation jar for a few days, then blending until smooth. I ran mine through the food mill to get the seeds out and poured the sauce into some little jars I had leftover from syrup.
Next time, I may spring for the skinny hot sauce bottles so I can share a few at Christmas. Just be careful when you’re chopping peppers — keep your hands away from your eyes. Lesson learned!
Traditional Hot Sauce
I also cooked up a batch of regular hot sauce and canned it so there’ll be plenty on the pantry shelf. It’s a simple mix of peppers, vinegar, garlic and onions, simmered and sealed in jars. Opening one in the middle of winter will be a nice reminder of a sunny summer afternoon.
Fair warning: hot sauce made from freshly picked cayennes packs some heat. Start with small tastes until you know how strong it is.
Cayenne Powder
Another easy project is homemade cayenne powder. I dried a batch of peppers, ran them through the coffee grinder, and ended up with a rich, brick-red spice. It’s amazing how much brighter it looks compared to store-bought — and the flavor is bold, too. I’m already thinking about adding it to taco seasoning and chili this fall.
A Salve from the Garden
Here’s something I never expected: a warming salve made with cayenne. I wasn’t sure about it at first (I pictured it burning my hands), but it turned out to be gently warming and surprisingly soothing on tired feet at night.
Here’s the recipe I used.
Looking Ahead
The plants are still producing, so I’ll probably make another batch of powder and maybe one more round of salve. Between the sauces, seasoning, and a jar or two of salve, I think I’ve covered just about every way to use a cayenne pepper.
That’s one of the things I love about gardening: you plant a few seeds, watch them thrive, and then get to experiment with the harvest. Some ideas work better than others, but it’s all part of the fun.
Your Turn
Have you ever grown cayenne peppers or another hot variety? How do you like to use them — sauces, spice blends, maybe even something unexpected? I’d love to hear your tips.
Growing peppers has been a bright spot in this year’s garden. They don’t take up much space, but they deliver so much flavor (and a little warmth for sore feet). If you’re planning next year’s garden, a couple of cayenne plants might be worth a try — just be ready to get creative once they start producing!
