Valentina Hot Sauce Recipe

Valentina sauce originated in Mexico, where it plays a huge part in their culinary culture.

Although it is widely known across Mexico as salsa Valentina, its worldwide fame comes from the brand name Valentina Sauce.

Valentina Hot Sauce is one of the most consumed and famous products in Mexico.

So, no wonder you can find this spicy delight in every restaurant and street food stand.

But today, we’re going to teach you how to add a part of Mexico to any of your favorite dishes and snacks: tacos, chicken wings, potatoes, and even fruits.

Let’s make an exquisite Valentina Hot Sauce together.

How to Make Valentina Hot Sauce

Once you try it with any dish, Valentina Hot Sauce won’t ever leave your mind.

And if you think the store-bought version must have something special added to it to make you crave it so much, think again.

While this Mexican sauce offers you quite complex flavors, it is outrageously simple to make at home with only 5 ingredients you can find in every corner of the world.

There are no fancy-hard-to-find components or anything else.

So, here is what the Valentina Hot Sauce really goes down to:

Ingredients:

(1 serving)

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup white vinegar
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 2 tbsp hot paprika
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar (optional)

Instructions:

The Valentina Hot Sauce you’ll find in any store comprises Mexican chilies from the Jalisco state that are pretty similar to guajillo chili.

However, we went for the simple, cheaper, and easier-to-find ingredients that won’t make your hot sauce any less authentic.

Same as the ingredients, there are no fancy cooking steps.

But there are a few secrets that will help you getting a more balanced and flavorful Valentina Hot Sauce.

The main trick is to add a bit of sugar to balance the spices and the vinegar.

Also, don’t rush to drizzle it over your favorite Mexican snacks. Let it sit.

We’ll cover the rest along the way.

Step 1:

Add all of the ingredients to a pot and bring to boil at medium heat.

Let it simmer for about 1 minute.

Step 2:

Take the pot off the stove and let it cool for about 4-5 minutes, but not completely.

Step 3:

Pour the mixture into a blender and blend for about 1-2 minutes at high speed until well combined.

Step 4:

Pour the Valentina Hot Sauce into a sterilized bottle and cover it with an airtight lid. An authentic Mexican hot sauce is ready. Wasn’t it too easy?

Pro tip: let the sauce rest for a few hours or, even better, leave it overnight.

The sauce will have a better texture and consistency the next day. Thank us later.

Ingredient Substitution

Since the salsa Valentina is probably found in every Mexican home, you’ll find plenty of different variations of the sauce around the country.

Some like it spicier while others prefer a mild chili flavor.

The recipes vary, and so should yours.

You can tweak it a little to fit your palate without changing the Valentina sauce completely.

Here are the best substitutes to consider for the Valentina Hot Sauce that won’t even be noticed.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Not only does apple cider vinegar provides plenty of health benefits, but it also has a unique acidity flavor with hints of fruitiness.

While the fruity notes might not seem like the best match, apple cider vinegar is still a fantastic substitute for the white vinegar, especially in this hot sauce.

A bit of sweetness in a hot chili sauce would be your special trick.

For better results use the 1:1 substitution ratio.

So, for the Valentina Hot Sauce, it’s 1 cup of apple cider vinegar for 1 cup of white vinegar.

Cayenne pepper

Since chili powder is the main character in this recipe you can’t shift too far from it.

That being said, cayenne pepper, as the main ingredient of the chili powder, is a great substitute to consider.

However, there is a setback: cayenne pepper flavors will mute all the other spices in the powder.

So, if you decide to use dried and ground cayenne peppers, use ⅛ tablespoon of cayenne pepper for 1 tablespoon of chili powder.

Otherwise, your mouth will be set ablaze!

What to Serve with Valentina Hot Sauce

The opportunities for the Valentina Hot Sauce are endless, since it goes exceptionally well with everything you pair it with.

You can enjoy this sauce every time you crave some fish, potatoes, meat, or tacos with a little bit of spiciness.

Here is what comes to mind when you want to try Valentina Hot Sauce.

Papadia

If you’re looking for a way to make your pizza night more interesting, try the Papadia with the Valentina Hot Sauce.

Whatever you like: drizzle it over the baked Papadia, add it to the filling, or season your chicken in it before grilling.

No matter what you go for, Valentina Hot Sauce will make it so much better.

All the spices and flavors will combine into a heavenly delicious mixture.

Mac and Cheese

Didn’t expect that one, did you? Mac and cheese is the last thing you would think to pair with the hot chili sauce. But hear us out.

We don’t recommend cooking the sauce with the macaroni, but rather adding it in the end.

Besides, consider adding some sauce when mixing the cheesenext time.

The chili and paprika flavors are the easiest way to spruce up some basic mac and cheese.

Chicken bites

There is probably no one that doesn’t love nuggets, either cauliflower-based or the more traditional chicken.

But have you tried chicken bites?

That crunchy, crispy coating with the tender and juicy meat is to die for.

That’s why pairing it with the Valentina Hot Sauce will ultimately boost all the flavors.

If you’re looking for some vegan alternatives, veggies and tofu bites will work just as perfectly with the hot sauce.

How to Store Valentina Hot Sauce

The main controversy about the hot sauce is that some believe it should be refrigerated, while others argue it to be shelf-stable.

The most interesting thing?

Neither one is right or wrong.

Check out these tips to properly store your Valentina Hot Sauce.

Store Valentina Hot Sauce in a Fridge

Opened bottles of this Hot Sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 years.

If the bottle has been sealed it could last even longer.

But please note that when left without any heat, your Hot Sauce flavors will change over time and lose their potency.

So, once you take the hot sauce out of the fridge, give it a nice shaking to restore some of the flavors.

Store Valentina Hot Sauce on a Shelf

When stored at room temperature, your hot sauce should maintain peak freshness for up to 6 months.

In many cases they may even become hotter the longer they sit on the shelf, but in this case the flavors might change too.