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We love the flavor of habanero peppers, especially when they’re blended up into a tasty hot sauce. If you liked the flavor of our simple habanero hot sauce, you’ll enjoy this recipe for mango habanero hot sauce as well.

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There’s something about the way sweet fruit complements spicy peppers. Sweet and spicy is a winning combination for so many recipes. Many of our readers requested more hot sauces that utilized fresh fruits, so we started experimenting with one of our favorite summer options, mangoes!

This hot sauce is bright, tasty, and perfect for dressing up a bland meal. The flavors of mango, lime, garlic, onion, and hot peppers all come together for a mouthwatering sauce that is incredibly easy to throw together.

Why you’ll love this mango habanero hot sauce recipe

It’s the perfect way to use up a harvest of habanero peppers.
Habanero peppers are easy to find in the grocery store. So, this recipe can be made at any time of the year, not just harvest time!
It tastes amazing on tacos, burritos, fried rice, and even pizza or eggs.
It’s versatile and easy to experiment with. Try using different fruits or spices to mix up the flavor.

Mango habanero hot sauce ingredients

Habanero Peppers – Fresh habanero peppers are the star of the show. Their fruity and floral flavor makes for a delicious sauce. You can experiment with different varieties of habanero to mix up the flavor and color of this sauce.
Mango – Mango is the perfect fruity companion to the spicy habanero peppers. Be sure to pick a ripe mango for the best flavor.
Onion and Garlic – We believe that onion and garlic are key components for a tasty hot sauce. They add sweetness and depth to the flavor.
Vinegar – Vinegar adds some necessary acidity to the hot sauce, helping preserve the ingredients for longer. It also helps improve consistency and flavor.
Lime – Lime adds a burst of zingy citrus that compliments the habanero peppers in a special way.
Sugar – A tiny bit of sugar is all you need. You can leave the sugar out, but we find even a teaspoon helps to balance the flavors and make the fruity flavors pop.
Salt – Salt brings all the flavors out. You can use sea salt or table salt.

How to make mango habanero hot sauce (step by step)

Process for making mango habanero hot sauce

Step 1: Slice the mango, habanero, and onion. Remove the seeds and pith from the habaneros if desired for a milder spice.
Step 2: In a medium pot, bring about 1 cup of water to a simmer. Add the onion, mango, habaneros, and garlic and simmer until the ingredients are somewhat submerged in the water, about 1 minute. Add in the salt and sugar. Simmer gently until the onions and peppers have softened, about 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Add the simmered mixture into a blender along with the vinegar and lime juice.
Step 4: Blend until smooth and let cool.
Step 5: Season to taste by adding more salt and/or sugar if needed.
Step 6: Add into hot sauce bottles and store for up to 3 months in the refrigerator.

Tip: If you want to bring some of the fresh flavor of habaneros to your sauce, leave one of them out of the simmering pot. This will give the sauce more complexity. Uncooked habaneros have great flavor, though you may end up with some chunks in the sauce.

Recipe FAQs

How hot is this sauce? Depending on where you got your habaneros, this sauce will be anywhere from medium spicy to very hot. Homegrown habaneros tend to be much spicier than store bought peppers (in our experience)! If you want a milder sauce, reduce the number of habaneros and remove all of the inner flesh (the white portion and seeds) before cooking.

How do I thicken or thin the sauce? Simmer the finished sauce on low to medium heat to reduce it for a thicker sauce. To thin out the sauce, add more vinegar and water in equal parts and blend again.

How long does this last? This mango habanero hot sauce will last in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 months. Check the pH level of your sauce to assess how long it will last. Aim for a pH below 3.6 for the longest life.

Expert Tips

Wear eye and hand protection – The heat from habanero peppers is not to be toyed with. To avoid a stinging sensation on your hands or eyes, wear gloves.
Pick a ripe mango – Mangos that are ripe will have a much sweeter flavor, resulting in a more delicious sauce. To determine whether a mango is ripe, press into the mango with your fingers to see if it is soft. If it is hard, the mango is not ripe enough.
Use a high-powered blender – A food processor is great for salsas, but we prefer using a blender for all of our hot sauce recipes.
Simmer gently – Over-cooked ingredients can cause unwanted flavors.
For the best flavor, grow your own habanero peppers.

Variations and Substitutions

For a milder hot sauce – Remove the pith and seeds from the habaneros. If that doesn’t do the trick, you can soak them in tequila or vodka to remove even more heat. Or, try growing habanadas if you like the flavor of the habanero but not the heat!
Using other peppers – We like using habanero peppers for this recipe because of how well they compliment mangoes. But, you can experiment with different peppers. We also have a jalapeño hot sauce recipe if you’re looking for a green sauce.

More fruity habanero recipes to try

Raspberry habanero jelly – Perfect paired with cheese crackers, this sweet jam has just a little kick.
Pineapple habanero hot sauce – If you’re not a fan of mango, try our pineapple habanero sauce instead.