Hot Stuff: Mango-Peach-Habanero Barbecue Sauce

Hello, my name is Isabelle, and I am a condiment-a-holic.

I realised I had a problem a few weeks ago when, as we were cleaning out the fridge, my husband commented that we should probably get a separate fridge just for our condiments.

Which is a pretty reasonable suggestion, actually, because our current fridge is about 75% full of sauces and mustards and pastes and sundry other condiments.

You want to hot sauce? Take your pick between Mexican, West Indian, Tibetan and Vietnamese.

We've also got three kinds of curry paste (red, green, and vindaloo), two kinds of miso, six kinds of mustard, pickles galore, and more random Asian sauces than you can shake a stick at.

In our house, having only four kinds of barbecue sauce is considered a crisis, which is probably why I've started making my own. Just in case of an emergency. (There is such a thing as a barbecue emergency, right?)

My latest favourite is this fruity sauce made with a blend of mangoes and peaches, and spiked with fresh habanero chilies. It's equal parts sweet and tangy and spicy, and an utterly delicious change of pace from the more traditional sweet-and-sticky Kansas-style sauces, which usually rely on a pureed tomato base.

I actually used frozen fruit to make this particular batch, mostly because we're still weeks away from getting decent locally-grown peaches, but it will most certainly be making a repeat appearance later this summer once I can get my hands on some ripe Ontario peaches.

And because barbecue sauce always needs a little kick, I've thrown in some habanero peppers. They're the perfect match for the peaches in this sauce, because they've got a fruit flavour and fiery heat.

These little peppers pack a lot of punch - make sure to wear gloves when chopping the peppers and transferring them into the saucepan, and wash both your hands and all cutting surfaces thoroughly to avoid accidentally getting pepper juice anywhere it doesn't belong. You definitely do not want this stuff getting anywhere near your eyes!

My favourite use for this sauce is liberally drizzled onto grilled shrimp tacos, but it's equally good tossed with freshly-cooked chicken wings, spooned onto a pulled pork sandwich, or brushed onto chicken skewers before they go onto the grill. Just the thing to spice up your next summer gathering!

Oh, and that condiment fridge? I'm seriously considering it. Especially if it means I have room to stash a few more bottles of this sauce.

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Mango-Peach-Habanero Barbecue Sauce

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★★★

3 from 1 review

• Author: Isabelle Boucher (Crumb)
• Total Time: 45 mins
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

This beautiful sunny orange sauce is equal parts sweet, tangy and peppery hot. It's delicious on chicken and seafood - try brushing it onto shrimp or chicken before grilling, or toss with freshly cooked chicken wings for a fun change from the usual buffalo sauce.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup finely chopped onion
• 2 fresh habanero peppers, finely minced
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cups chopped mango (fresh or frozen)
• 2 cups sliced peaches (fresh or frozen)
• ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp molasses
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dry mustard powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp worcestershire sauce

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Instructions

1. In a medium-sized saucepan set over medium heat, saute the onion and habaneros in olive oil until the onions are very soft and starting to take on a little colour, about 8 to 10 minutes.
2. Stir in the remaining ingredients and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes or until the fruit is very tender. Remove from heat, and puree with an immersion blender until very smooth. Check the consistency - if it's too thick, add a little water to thin it out, and if it's too runny, return to the stovetop and simmer until it reduces down to the desired thickness.
3. Pour the sauce into a sterilized pint jar. Let cool, then screw on the lid and refrigerate until ready to use.

Notes

I feel that 2 habaneros gives this sauce a perfect balance of sweet and heat, but if you like things extra-spicy, upgrade to 3 habanero peppers... or if you'd rather take a walk on the mild side, go with just 1 habanero and remove the seeds, or swap out for a serrano chili to really take things down a notch.

• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Condiment