• Yield: Just under 2 cups
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Total: 40 mins

Ingredients (5)

  • 1 tablespoon wood chips, for smoking
  • 1 pound fresh sweet cherries, pitted (they should weigh 14 ounces after pitting, about 2 heaped cups)
  • 1 to 3 fresh habanero peppers (1 for mild, 2 for hot, 3 for incendiary)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup cider vinegar

This is my idea of a perfect summer hot sauce, a vibrant enhancer for all the fresh, lively flavors of food in the warm months. Drizzle onto grilled steaks or pork chops, or mix a little into Greek yogurt for a smoked cherry dip to serve with roasted cauliflower and carrots.

Game plan: Habaneros are particularly spicy chile peppers, so we suggest wearing a pair of latex gloves when removing the seeds.

Special equipment: You’ll need a stovetop smoker—our favorite is this compact and affordable one from Camerons.

Instructions

  1. Add the wood chips to your stovetop smoker and place over medium-high heat. Add the pitted cherries and whole habanero (or habaneros) and smoke for 12 minutes. Remove the cherries and habanero(s) and cool until they’re easy to handle, about 10 minutes.
  2. Cut open the habanero(s) and remove the seeds (if you open and seed them before smoking, the interior flesh absorbs too much smoke).
  3. Add the cherries, seeded habanero(s), salt, and vinegar to a blender. Process until very smooth (you want to get it really blended). Strain through a medium-mesh strainer 3 times. Refrigerate in a container with a tightfitting lid for up to 2 weeks.