Chilli Vinegar Recipe - Quick and Easy (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Luke and Kay · This post may contain affiliate links · 9 Comments

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How to make chilli vinegar, the perfect condiment to many dishes. Such a quick and easy recipe with no cooking involved.

Garlic cloves, red & green chillies and basil leaves, with malt vinegar. Ready to use in an instant and over time the chillies, garlic and basil will infuse their hot flavours into the tart vinegar.

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How to make chilli vinegar?

Check out the slideshow video, for how to make this chilli and garlic infused vinegar, in minutes!

Continue reading for more about the UK history and advice to make the best chilli vinegar.

Or click below for a printable recipe and ingredients list to make the chili flavored vinegar now.

Jump to Recipe

What is chilli vinegar?

Chilli vinegar is well known in the UK for being served in London with the old fashioned co*ckney pie mash and liquor. Or sprinkled over the British classic fish and chips! It adds a lovely warming spicy-sweet flavouring to food.

Made with malt vinegar which is a very popular condiment in England, almost every home across the UK will have a bottle in their cupboard.

Often found in pubs or restaurants. You can smell it along the seaside piers, served on fish and chips and on market food stalls for sprinkling on your street food.

Sterilise vinegar bottle

To sterilise a vinegar bottle, clean the bottle and lid in soapy water. Then fill a large pot with boiling water enough to cover the bottle and lid, allow to stand in the hot water for 15 minutes to sterilise.

Ingredients

Chilli vinegar uses simple ingredients, malt vinegar, chillies, garlic and basil leaves.

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Chillies- We used a mix of red and green bird eye chillies. You can use any variety you like? Keep the seeds intact as this helps makes the vinegar hotter.

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Garlic- We add 3 cloves you can add more or less to your taste.

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Basil Leaves- It is best to use fresh basil leaves. Use a chopstick to help push it into the bottle! If using dried basil add ¼ tsp.

Malt vinegar- otherwise known as brown vinegar, made from malting barley. It is milder and sweeter than white vinegar. It can vary from light to dark brown in colour.

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Give the bottle a good shake before use, to help infuse the flavours into the vinegar.

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How to use?

Chilli vinegar is traditionally served with pie mash and liquor. Or sprinkled over homemade chips or fries with salt!

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Chilli vinegar can also be used in homemade sauces, marinades, and chutneys in place of other kinds of vinegar to give a hot, acidic kick.

Great for adding with oil for salad dressings or splash into your casseroles, stews or curries for some extra depth.

Also good with meat and fish, why not try adding a splash of chilli vinegar to our oven-baked seabream recipe.

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How to store chilli vinegar?

The malt vinegar acts as a preservative to the chillies, garlic and basil, so this chilli vinegar condiment will be good for 2 weeks, stored in the fridge.

After which, I suggest straining the vinegar through a sieve to remove the chillies, garlic and basil before they taint.

You will still have the delicious chilli vinegar flavouring and it will still be ok to use for about 4 months stored in the fridge between uses.

📖 Step by Step Recipe

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Chilli Vinegar

Luke and Kay - Flawless Food

How to make chilli vinegar the perfect condiment to many dishes.

A quick and easy recipe with no cooking involved, garlic cloves, red & green chillies and basil leaves, with malt vinegar is ready to use in an instant!

Well known in the UK for being served in London with pie mash and liquor or sprinkled over fish and chips!

Chilli vinegar can also be used in homemade sauces, marinades, and chutneys, salad dressings or splash into your casseroles, stews or curries for some extra depth.

5 from 36 votes

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Course Condiment, Side Dish

Cuisine British, London, UK

Servings 50 People as a condiment

Calories 3 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 cloves Garlic peeled, kept whole
  • 2 Red Chillies chopped
  • 2 Green Chillies chopped
  • 4 Fresh Basil Leaves whole
  • 300 ml Malt Vinegar Brown vinegar

Instructions

  • Chop red & green chillies, keeping seeds intact.

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  • Cut 4 whole fresh basil leaves.

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  • Peel whole cloves of garlic.

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  • Place the chillies, garlic and basil leaves in a sterilised bottle. (see notes for how to sterilise)

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  • Use a funnel to pour out the vinegar all the way to the top.

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  • Give the bottle a little shake, it is ready to use straight away, the flavours will get stronger every day!

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  • Between uses store in the fridge.

    If not finished within 2 weeks, it is best to strain the vinegar through a sieve to remove the chillies, garlic and basil before they taint.

    You will still have the delicious chilli vinegar flavouring and it will be ok to use for about 4 months.

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Video

Notes

To sterilise a bottle, clean the bottle and lid. Fill a large pot with boiling water enough to cover the bottle and allow 15 minutes for the bottle to sterilise.

Nutrition

Calories: 3kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 7mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 19IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 1mgIron: 1mg

Keyword chili vinegar, Condiment, flavored vinegar, low fat dressing, Salad Dressing

Tried this recipe? Share an image on Facebook / Instagram / PinterestPlease mention @flawlessfooduk or tag #flawlessfooduk!

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We hope you enjoy you chilli, garlic and basil infused vinegar. Let us know how you use yours?

Chilli Vinegar Recipe - Quick and Easy (2024)

FAQs

How to use chilli vinegar? ›

Especially curated for Chinese dishes, just a tablespoon of chilli vinegar is enough to spruce up the food. If you are a Chinese food fan, then a bottle of chilli vinegar is a must-have in your kitchen. You can use it to make noodles, fried rice, soups and even stir-fried veggies.

What kind of vinegar do you put in chili? ›

A little bit of vinegar goes a long way, so as a rule of thumb, stick with 1 tablespoon of vinegar per pot. Our top picks are apple cider vinegar, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or sherry vinegar, though any kind of vinegar on hand will get the job done and give your chili the boost it needs.

Why do you put chilli in vinegar? ›

Green chillies in vinegar are important to boost metabolism for a healthy digestive system. It takes care of your skincare regime. Green chilli is a rich source of vitamin C and eating it helps in keeping your skin healthy and glowing.

How long do chillies in vinegar last? ›

Bring vinegar, sugar, water, salt and spices to a boil in an enameled saucepan. Ladle hot pickling liquid over chillies. Carefully tighten the lid (use a band or cloth as the jar will be hot) and allow to cool to room temperature. Transfer pickled chillies to the fridge and store in refrigerator up to 4 months.

What is the difference between chilli vinegar and normal vinegar? ›

We bring to you tangy vinegar with a twist. The chilli has been added to the product for a signature taste and brings slight pungency to the vinegar which would add oodles of taste to your food. This particular trait is the key difference between Spicy Vinegar and ordinary vinegar.

What does chilli vinegar taste like? ›

"a perfect balance of sweet spicy salty and acidic notes…blindingly delicious, this would have lots of uses in the home!”

What is the best vinegar for sauce? ›

Unlike red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar will not stain your foods, so it is a good choice for brining and pickling. It is also a staple in many classic sauces, including hollandaise and béarnaise. It is even used in Julia Child's famous vinaigrette.

When to add balsamic vinegar to chili? ›

It's also important to note that vinegar will cook off, so to get the most impact, be sure to add the splash toward the end of the process. (Think about the way a chef might squeeze lemon over a dish just before it's served.)

What makes chili taste rich? ›

Cocoa powder, bacon, cinnamon, ground coffee and tomato paste will all add a rich sweet & salty flavors that are sure to surprise and delight. Warming spice blends, like Garam Masala, Ras el Hanout or Baharat are another simple and delicious way to add layered flavors to this simple one-pot meal.

How do you store chili vinegar? ›

Once opened, place the jar in the refrigerator. The pepper vinegar will last about three months in the pantry, and six to eight months in the refrigerator. The vinegar prevents any bacteria growth, so you do not need to pressure can or use a water bath to preserve the spicy pepper vinegar.

How do you get the vinegar taste out of chili? ›

Baking Soda: if your pot is almost done cooking but there is some acidic bite to the taste, the easiest trick is adding a small amount of baking soda at the end of cooking. Baking soda will neutralize the acid rather than mask it.

Is chilli vinegar good for health? ›

Chili peppers and vinegar are two potent ingredients that have been shown to provide numerous health benefits. They are also at the heart of Alexandra's Pikliz Spicy Pepper relish. Chili peppers contain capsaicin, a compound that boosts metabolism and possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Does vinegar neutralize chilli? ›

Capsaicin is an alkaline molecule, so pairing it with something acidic like citrus juice or vinegar can help neutralize some of the heat. Dairy products are also acidic, which is another reason why they are effective at tempering spice.

Does vinegar make chillies hotter? ›

Most chillies lose their spiciness when cooked and mixed with other ingredients like dairy, acid, sugar, etc. But if that is still hot, chillies can be deseeded and soaked in water and vinegar to neutralise the capsaicin for a couple of hours before using it.

How do you use flavored vinegar? ›

5 Ways To Use Flavored Oils and Vinegars
  1. Make a flavorful vinaigrette. ...
  2. Top Ice Cream with a drizzle of vinegar. ...
  3. Add flavored oils to scrambled eggs. ...
  4. Make your dessert plates pretty garnished with vinegar. ...
  5. Roast/grill Vegetables with flavored oils.
Jul 11, 2019

Can I use chilli vinegar in cake? ›

There are a few cake recipes that call for vinegar, so you could probably use chili vinegar there, as long as it also has chocolate in it. The reason is chili, in very small amounts, enhances the chocolate flavor. Too much chili will overwhelm the cake and make it taste wrong.

How do you use sipping vinegar? ›

In addition to delicious beverages, Sipping Vinegars are equally amazing in sauces, vinaigrette, baking, so much more... One of the most popular ways to enjoy our shrubs is in sparkling water, and our favorites for that are the Pear Cardamon Rosemary and the Blueberry Thyme.

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