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

What kind of vinegar is best for 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.

How do you 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.

How long does chillies in vinegar last? ›

The process is easy: Slice or dice the chilli peppers, add salt, sugar, and vinegar (or other spices as desired), and let them sit for at least 24 hours before eating. Pickled chillies can last up to six months in an airtight container stored in the refrigerator.

Is white vinegar and chilli vinegar same? ›

If you are a fan of Chinese cuisine, then this bottle of chilli vinegar is a must in your collection. It gives a spicy flavour to the tarty white vinegar that makes it ideal to add to soup, noodles and more.

Why do people put vinegar in chili? ›

Acids enhance the salty, umami-rich flavors already present in chili, and round out the sweetness, adding intricacy to the dish. Apple cider vinegar is versatile with a light, fruity flavor, but red wine and balsamic vinegar are both good choices for heavier chilis that need something bolder.

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.

Where can I use chilli vinegar? ›

Give an extra zing to your food with Recipe Chilli Vinegar. Ideal to marinade non-veg delicacies, you can also enjoy this with salads, marinades or pair with other sauces. How to use: A spoonful whilst cooking your chinese dishes like Haka noodles, Fried rice, Szechwan Fried Rice, etc.

Is chilli vinegar good for health? ›

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. When submerged in vinegar, It kills many types of harmful bacteria in the gut, it also lowers blood sugar levels and fights Diabetes.

What does chilli vinegar taste like? ›

Chili vinegar sauce is a Thai condiment made from hot chili peppers and vinegar. This sauce is thin, red and has a heat that is fairly intense, balanced gently by the sour taste of 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.

What is the best vinegar for cooking? ›

Apple cider or white wine vinegar are both fine. The rule is to use a vinegar that is compatible with the flavors in the dish, so a light sauce probably wouldn't he best with a red wine vinegar, but you can use what you like. You might also substitute lemon or lime juice, depending on what you're making.

Should you add balsamic vinegar to chili? ›

Balsamic is uniquely qualified from a flavor perspective. When adding vinegar to your chili, a little goes a long way, so start slow and small and add as needed to taste. 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.

What does balsamic vinegar do to chili? ›

And with all the fat and richness of chili, vinegar can cut through and punch up, adding depth while simultaneously illuminating the layers you work so hard to develop in your chili. Balsamic is uniquely qualified from a flavor perspective.

Does vinegar help with chilli? ›

Acidity: Vinegar is acidic, and this acidity helps cut through the heat of the chili peppers. It balances the spiciness and prevents it from becoming overwhelming. The acidity of vinegar can help tame the intense heat and make the hot sauce more palatable.

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