Some people like fermented hot sauce. You might be one of them, and you may keep asking yourself, how can I thicken my fermented hot sauce? Don’t worry about that because there is a way to thicken your thin sauce to the desired taste. Instead of buying it from a shop, it is essential to try the process yourself and make some savings that you can use in the future.
For some people, thickening a fermented hot sauce may be a challenge, especially beginners. Before trying the process, first, have a complete understanding of how to use the hot sauce. For example, you can use the flavoring of fermented vegetables, chia seed powder, among others. Also, ensure you know all the ingredients you can use to thicken fermented hot sauce successfully.
Luckily, the article gives a brief description of thickening the fermented hot sauce and the necessary ingredients. Also, it shows how to prevent hot sauce that is too thin. Finally, there are some frequently asked questions concerning the hot sauce. Therefore, if you wish to thicken your fermented hot sauce, consider reading the article below and have a complete understanding to get the best results that will satisfy your desires.
How to Thicken Fermented Hot Sauce
Sometimes you may make a fermented hot sauce that can turn out to be too thin and not according to your preference. In such a case, the best way is to make it thicker by using a thickening agent. Before you start making your fermented hot sauce thicker, consider some of the tips below;
1. First, consider the type of fruit that was ideal for your sauce. Some of the fruits include; mango, apple, banana, among others. The fruits are essential in the fermentation process. Therefore, if you want the fermentation not to exceed a specific range, consider using recommended fruit for an approximated period to prevent the change in flavor.
2. Check the acid present as sometimes the acid may be why the fermented hot sauce is too thin. Stop the action and control the level of acid to see if the sauce still becomes thin. If the issue persists after changing the two things, try making the fermented hot sauce thin.
To make the fermented hot sauce thicker, you must use thickening agents at recommended amounts. Ensure you use the correct agent that suits your desires and is the most available and affordable. If you do not know other thickening agents, avoid trying them and use one you are sure of.
Thickening agents to thicken your fermented hot sauce.
The following thickening agent will help you thicken your fermented hot sauce.
a) A cornstarch
The best and easy way to thicken your thin hot sauce is by cornstarch or even arrowroot. Most people use the arrowroot powder, which you obtain from a root tuber. But if you don’t have arrowroot, you may consider using cornstarch. To use the cornstarch or the arrowroot powder, follow the steps below;
1. Collect all the requirements such as the source of heat, pan, arrowroot powder, and the fermented hot sauce.
2. Turn on your source of heat and place your hot sauce.
3. Leave the pan for some time until it is hot.
4. Take a glass and pour some water. Take a spoon of arrowroot powder or cornstarch and mix it gently.
5. Mix until the powder completely disappears and add it to the simmering fermented hot sauce.
6. Leave it for a couple of minutes to simmer. If the sauce is not smooth or more than thick, repeat the process until you obtain the desired texture.
b) Add fermented vegetables.
Another method for thickening your fermented hot sauce is using fermented vegetables. Fermented vegetables can sometimes act as a thickening agent, especially if you blend them with the fermented hot sauce. To use the vegetables, follow the instructions below.
i. Obtain the type of fermented vegetables you will use, including the peppers and other additional vegetables.
ii. Place your fermented hot sauce in your blender or food processor.
iii. Add the fermented vegetables and the additional vegetables, including the peppers, gently into the blender if you use a blender.
iv. Connect the lender to the power supply source and blend the mixture until it is smooth.
v. Sieve the mixture and remove the large fibers leaving the microfibers only.
Also, you can use other thickening agents such as carrots. Some people prefer using carrots since they add sweetness and thickness to the sauce. Also, they have a nice color making the soup more appealing with a buttery flavor.
c) Xanthan Gum
The best thickening agent that works faster is the xanthan gum. To make the gum, you need to ferment sugar with bacteria until it is exact. You can find the xanthan gum either in shops or you can order online through websites such as amazon.com and ebay.com. It usually comes in powder form. To use the xanthan gum, follow the steps below;
I. Add the fermented hot sauce to your blender.
II. Add a teaspoon of the xanthan gum around 1/8 and start blending, especially the hand blender.
III. Blend it until it is smooth and it is your desired consistency. The gum is essential in keeping the fermented hot sauce in position.
d) Chia seed powder.
Chia seeds are effective and act as a thickening agent. To use the chia seed powder, follow the steps below;
1. Take three spoons of the chia seed powder to some fermented hot sauce.
2. Mix the seeds until the sauce becomes thick.
3. Proceed to blend the sauce blender, hand blender, or you may choose to strain the sauce and remove the seeds.
For my choice, I prefer using the chia seed powder rather than chia seed, and you need only a small amount and continue adding until you reach the thickness you desire. The seeds are essential because they add taste to the fermented sauce and keep testing to avoid overdoing it.
Frequently asked questions
How can I prevent my hit sauce that is not thick, that is too thin?
After making your sauce, there are some tips you can follow to prevent it from becoming too thin. The tips below give clear information on how to prevent your hot sauce from becoming too thin.
i. Ensure you use the correct blender for making your sauce.
Some people wish to use either a blender or a food processor. In most cases, the food processor leaves some substances after blending, which you need to remove by straining them. If you want a thick sauce, consider using the right blender instead of the food processor and ensure the blender is high quality and high-powered.
A blender, especially one that comes with a filter, gives the best smooth sauce that is neither thin or thick. It gives the sauce depending on your taste. But, if you want something that is not that perfect, use a device that has more texture than the food processor and blender.
ii. Use less water when making the sauce.
Too much water results in a thinner sauce when compared to using less water. Therefore, it is advisable to use less water when making your fermented sauce since it prevents it from turning too thin. When you use more water, the liquid becomes more consistent, making it lighter. Finally, choose to use less water when making each batch and regulate it to the perfect amount suitable for the sauce.
iii. Apply more fermented vegetables.
The best and easiest way of preventing your fermented hot sauce from becoming too thin is by adding more fermented vegetables. The fermented vegetables add thickness to your sauce. Despite making it thicker, it is also essential in adding more flavor and nutrients to your sauce. Therefore, ensure you use more vegetables to have the right thickness for your fermented hot sauce and ensure it is neither too thick nor too thin.
iv. Use the correct filter to remove chunks.
The process of straining fermented hot sauce is optional, depending on one’s choice. Some people prefer having a sauce that has more texture, while others prefer a smooth sauce. If you want a smoother fermented hot sauce use the cheesecloth to get rid of all-fiber, and removing all the thread will leave your fermented hot sauce thin.
Therefore, consider using a wire mesh strainer and a spoon to strain and remove the chunk but not all of it. The wire mesh filter removes only large fibers and pieces and leaves the smaller fibers to pass through, leaving the sauce thicker. But if you want a smoother and thin sauce, consider removing all threads, including the microfibers.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the article above will help you know how to thicken your fermented hot sauce successfully. Before beginning the process, first, choose the best method to apply to get the best positive outcome. For example, you may wish to use more vegetables to add flavor, but consider using some other ingredients such as xanthan gum if you want a thicker sauce. Therefore, choose the best method to avoid messing up your final product.
Finally, take some precautions when dealing with hot sauce. You can quickly burn yourself with the hot; therefore, know how to handle the sauce. Also, when making the fermented hot sauce, ensure you use clean equipment to keep the sauce clean and consumable. Moreover, ensure you choose anything that suits your taste and is less costly.
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