When you try these Preserved Chillies in Oil, you will discover their versatility. In fact, such is their ability to add flavour to many dishes, you may in future decide to keep a jar of these on hand at all times. They are also super simple to prepare!
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Why we love this recipe:
I have been making this recipe for many years. It originally came from the Italian owner of our favourite pizza restaurant. He had a personal jar of homemade preserved chillies which he brought to our table whenever we dined there. He was delighted that we enjoyed them as his family has been making this condiment for generations and shared with me the method to make them.
There was, of course, no actual recipe, just an outline of what they did, so I interpreted and adapted this and was delighted with the result.
This is a great condiment. I always have a jar on hand as they are perfect for people who like a little warmth with their meals. They are a good accompaniment to meats of all kind, poultry, pizza or pasta.
Ingredients in this recipe:
Long red chillies (cayenne chillies):
I use red cayenne chillies, they are the long, slender variety which generally have a deep warmth without an overt hit. However, the heat will depend on the variety that you choose.
The heat of the Preserved Chillies in Oil does seem to vary according to the seasons, but even when they are very mild, they add a beautiful flavour. If you prefer very hot chillies you may like to add a couple of fiery, smaller chillies to your mixture.
Cooking salt:
For the vinegar brine, I use coarse kitchen salt, not fine table salt. This may also be known as kosher salt.
White vinegar:
Distilled white vinegar is often recommended for pickles and preserves. However, you can also use white wine vinegar. They each will have an acidity content of around 5% and when combined with the salt assist in the preservation of the chillies. For this recipe, we do not recommend apple cider vinegar as it has a lower acidity level.
Do not use vinegar which is specifically sold for cleaning purposes; it has a much higher acidity content and is not intended for culinary purposes.
Extra virgin olive oil:
I prefer to use extra virgin olive oil for the extra flavour it provides. In addition, it is at the heart of the much-praised Mediterranean Diet being an excellent source of healthy fat and health-benefiting antioxidants.
Step by step instructions:
- To begin, I carefully wash and thoroughly dry the chillies. Then, I remove the stalks and finely slice them, seeds included.
2. and 3. In a non-reactive glass or ceramic bowl, I prepare a vinegar and salt brine, then add the chillies together with their seeds. Ensure that they are covered with the brine, adding more if necessary. Acidic ingredients, such as vinegar, may react with bowls such as aluminium, copper or iron causing the ingredients to discolour and possibly take on a metallic taste.
4. Stir the chillies then cover them with cling wrap and set them aside in their vinegar and salt bath for a minimum of 24 hours. This process removes some of their moisture and assists with the preservation.
5. After that time, drain the chillies and discard the vinegar.
6. Pack the chillies into a sterilised jar and completely cover with olive oil.
Tips for success and FAQs:
Whilst long, red, cayenne chillies are generally of mild-moderate heat, this is not always the case. For this reason, I recommend that you wear food-safe, disposable gloves when handling the chillies. Avoid touching your face or eyes as the active ingredient, capsaicin, can irritate the skin and cause burning. After cutting the chillies, discard your used gloves and carefully wash your cutting board and knife.
It is important to select firm, brightly coloured, fresh chillies. They should have shiny skins without blemishes. Do not select any with wrinkled skin or soft spots.
No, it is important to soak the chillies for at least 24 hours. On occasion, for convenience I have left them in the brine for 48 hours without ill effect. The acidic vinegar and the salt are the preserving agents in this recipe.
For freshness and to maintain good texture and a vivid colour, I prefer to make the batch size as specified and to make a fresh batch as required.
We do not recommend adding any other herbs, spices, garlic etc. to the chillies. Please see the Safety Precautions section below.
Safety precautions:
To prevent bacteria and the growth of botulism in vegetables, herbs or spices which are packed in oil, the CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation) in Australia has provided advice for commercially produced vegetables in oil. They must not have a pH greater than 4.6. This “can be achieved only by adding acid to the vegetable material”.
For this reason, we soak the sliced chillies in vinegar and salt for a minimum of 24 hours prior to bottling in oil to increase their acidity.
The jar in which the chillies are stored must be sterilised and I have given instructions in the recipe notes.
I store the chillies in a cool, dark location and have kept them for 2-3 months although generally I prefer to make small batches that are consumed within a few weeks. If you prefer, you can keep them in the refrigerator, but the oil will solidify and become cloudy. It does not look attractive but as the oil reaches room temperature it will again become liquid.
When removing chillies from the jar it is important to always use clean utensils.
We have had two batches of our chillies tested by a Government food testing laboratory. The first batch was two days old and registered a pH of 3.21 and the second batch was three months old and registered a pH of 3.28.
I suggest that if you are intending to make the chillies and would like to check their pH you could invest in a pH testing kit.
When it comes to serving:
This recipe for Preserved Chillies in Oil will enable you to enjoy their spiciness – it is an easily prepared condiment which is a great addition to many dishes.
I place a bowl of these Preserved Chillies in Oil on the table for many meals. They are delicious served with pizza, pasta, salads, meat, poultry or vegetables.
I serve them with my Greek Chicken and Salsa and Mediterranean Beef Stew, to name a few!
In fact, I have even been known to add them to my breakfast toast with tomato or mashed avocado.
More delicious recipes for you to try:
We love to use long red chillies in our cooking. You’ll find some more recipes featuring them here:
- Sweet Chilli Sauce
- Red Chilli Paste
- Roasted Mediterranean Olives
- Baked Feta with Olives and Rosemary
- Mushroom San Choy Bow
Homemade preserves, such as our Preserved Chillies in Oil, make a fantastic edible gift – here are some more of our favourite ideas:
- Homemade Pickled Jalapenos
- Bread and Butter Cucumber Pickles
- Japanese Pickled Ginger (Gari)
- Spicy Cucumber Pickles
- Pickled Daikon
- Beetroot Pickled Turnips
- Dill Pickled Cucumbers
Enjoy these delicious Preserved Chillies in Oil. I would love to know what you think in the comments below!
Alex xx
This post was originally published in September 2018. It has been updated with new photos and more information. The recipe remains the same.
Preserved Chillies in Oil
Recipe Measurements:
For accuracy, when weights are provided, we recommend weighing your ingredients. This will produce the best results.
Ingredients
- 200 gm (7 ounces) long red (cayenne) chillies See Notes 1 and 2
- 1 ½ tablespoon (30 g) coarse cooking salt See Notes 3 and 4
- 1 ½ cups (375 ml) white vinegar (5% acidity) See Note 5
- 1 cup (250 ml) extra virgin olive oil See Note 6
Instructions
To Sterilise the Jars:
- Choose glass jars with an airtight, metal lid and ensure they have been washed in the dishwasher or by hand in hot soapy water then rinsed well. Check that the metal lids do not have rubber inserts – if they do, allow them to air dry instead of placing in the oven.Preheat the oven to 130 Degrees C (270 F). Place the jars and lids on a baking tray. Heat in the oven for at least 20 minutes, then remove and allow to cool before filling.
To Prepare the Chillies:
- To begin, carefully wash and thoroughly dry the chillies. Then, remove the stalks and finely slice the chillies, seeds included. Do not use any which have blemishes or bruises.
- I recommend that you wear food-safe, disposable gloves when handling the chillies. Avoid touching your face or eyes as the active ingredient, capsaicin, can irritate the skin and cause burning. After cutting the chillies, discard your used gloves and carefully wash your cutting board and knife.
- In a non-reactive glass or ceramic bowl, (see Note 7), prepare a vinegar and salt brine. Combine the two ingredients and stir them well. Add the chillies along with their seeds. Ensure that they are covered with the brine, adding more if necessary, using a ratio of 1 tablespoon of salt for each cup of vinegar.
- Stir the chillies then cover them with cling wrap and set them aside in their vinegar and salt bath for a minimum of 24 hours. Stir once or twice during this time. This process removes some of their moisture, increases acidity and assists with the preservation. (See Note 8)
- After that time, drain the chillies well in a fine sieve, discard the vinegar, pack the chillies into the sterilised jar (see Note 9) and completely cover with olive oil. There will be some air pockets; wait until the oil has settled, you may need to add a little extra.
- Store the chillies in a cool, dark place. The chillies will last for about 3 months, but are best consumed within the first 2 as they soften in texture the longer they sit in the oil.Alternatively, you may prefer to store them in the refrigerator. The olive oil will solidify and become cloudy but will become liquid again when the chillies return to room temperature. For this reason, some readers have used another oil but we prefer the taste of olive oil. Always use clean utensils when removing the chillies from the oil.
Video
Notes
- This is the weight of the chillies after the stems have been removed. This is a flexible recipe and can be made to a smaller quantity. Just use the ratio of 20 gm of salt to 1 cup of vinegar for the brine.
- I find that cayenne chillies generally have a mild heat. When I want to increase the heat I add a few of the small, red, very hot chillies.
- Use coarse kitchen salt, or Kosher salt. Do not use table salt; it is finer and the chillies will become too salty.
- The Australian tablespoon is 20 ml or 4 teaspoons. In many other countries the tablespoon is 15 ml or 3 teaspoons. You may have to adjust the measurements accordingly.
- You can use distilled white vinegar or white wine vinegar. They each will have an acidity content of around 5%. For this recipe, we do not recommend apple cider vinegar as it has a lower acidity level. Do not use vinegar which is specifically sold for cleaning purposes; it has a much higher acidity content and is not intended for culinary purposes.
- Always ensure there is sufficient oil to cover the chillies. For 200 gm chillies, and the container in which I stored them, I used 1 cup of oil. Depending on the container, you may need to use a little more.
- Acidic ingredients, such as vinegar, may react with bowls made from aluminium, copper or iron, causing the ingredients to discolour and possibly take on a metallic taste.
- On occasion, for the sake of convenience, I have left the chillies in their brine for more than 24 hours without ill effect.
- To prevent the growth of bacteria, it is essential that the jar be properly sterilised and always use clean utensils when removing chillies from the jar.
- Please note, the nutritional information is based on the entire jar (including the oil). The nutritional information is an estimate only.
Nutrition Estimate:
Nutritional Disclaimer:
The nutritional information is an estimate only, and is derived from online calculators. For accurate results, we recommend calculating the nutritional information based on the ingredients and brands you use.
Lisa
Just made batch TEN 🙂
These are the best!!!!!
Alexandra
Batch ten!! That is fantastic! So glad you are enjoying the chillies, Lisa 🙂
Jackie Lang
How long are they good for?
Alexandra
Three months, but I prefer to consume within two, as the texture of the chillies does start to soften after this time.
Ness
Hi. How long will this recipe last for once made please? Thinking of making it for Christmas presents but will it still be ok then and not mouldy!???
Alexandra
Hi Ness!
The chillies will last for about three months – but I would probably hold off making them for a little while. The flavour will intensify over time, so it would be better to make them a little closer to gifting time, and that way, it will give people the flexibility of a more mild or more intense flavour, depending on when they eat them and how hot the chillies you use are.
Kind regards, Alex
Barb Evans
Hi Alex!
Thank you for this delicious recipe. I’ve made it twice now and neither time has it lasted for long at all – we add the chillies to everything!
I’m going to make some jars to give as Christmas gifts.
I appreciate your delicious recipes and look forward to trying more. Pleased to have found your blog.
Best,
Barb
Alexandra
Hi Barb!
Thank you so much for your kind message. How lovely you’re enjoying the chillies so much, and that is a great idea for Christmas!
Love to hear what recipes you will be trying next!
Kind regards, Alex
Patricia
Sorry to say but the peppers had such a strong vinegar taste that they were inedible.
I followed your recipe exactly.
Alexandra
Hi Patricia,
I am sorry to hear that. We have made these chillies for many years and have never found this.
The vinegar is what keeps them shelf-stable, and the chillies do take on a slight taste, but they certainly should not be inedible.
I wonder if perhaps they could have been drained for longer, and did you consume immediately when you put them in the oil or let them sit? The latter is fine, but the longer they sit in the oil, the more mellow the vinegar taste will be, and perhaps that would be more to your liking.
Either way, I am sorry that the chillies were not to your taste.
Kind regards, Alex
Simon
Hi Alexandra
Just made these but on re-reading your recipe I realise you were using 5% white vinegar whereas I’ve used 10%. May be that’s why some folk find the chillies too vinegary? Could make the recipe a little clearer so that others don’t make the same mistake. Still hoping they’ll be yummy nonetheless!
Alexandra
Hi Simon!
Thanks for bringing it to our attention that it was in the post and not the recipe – we appreciate it! We are about to update this recipe in full, and will be sure to clarify this.
Kind regards, Alex
Libby
Great!
Alexandra
Thanks, Libby!
Emma Parsons
Hi have some homegrown chillis . I have them soaking now . Do I leave them on the kitchen side or in the fridge? Thank you
Alexandra
Hi Emma!
Just in a cool place in the kitchen will be fine – no need to put in the fridge.
Enjoy your chillies!
Glynis
Hello Alexandra
I’m looking forward to trying your recipe;) can I use some garlic & spices?
Ii was given a huge bag of very hot chillies. Used some yesterday to make a sauce but turned out more like a chutney! Still tasty but the family did not enjoy the sweetness from the sugar.
Thank you
Glynis
Alexandra
Hello Glynis!
Thanks for stopping by. I am pleased that you will be trying this recipe! 🙂
I have not tried this but my recommendation would be that you do not add garlic to the oil. It can cause botulism if not preserved carefully. If you would like to have the flavour of garlic with the chillies it would be best to add a little just before serving them. I hope that you enjoy the chillies.
Kind regards, Alex
Elaine
I only have 2 part lids metal then insert with rubber. Can I just sterilize the jar and use lids without sterling? Or can I use plastic white lids.
Alexandra
Hi Elaine!
Thanks for your comment. We would recommend washing the lids thoroughly and using them without touching the ingredients. You could put a layer of plastic wrap/cling film across the top to ensure that also.
Kind regards, Alex
Jane
Hi alex
Just trying your recipe for the first time. Here where i live in Italy chilli peppers are so easy to grow and we love the Spicy oil To put on pizza! I’ve just Closed the jar after putting in the oil. How long should i leave it so that the oil gets nice and hot?
Thanks jane
Alexandra
Hi Jane!
The oil will start to develop flavours quickly, 24-48 hours! As you use it, you can top up with more oil too. Make sure the oil is always covering the chillies.
The flavour is great – we hope you enjoy!
Italy is my favourite place in the world!
Dan
Alexandra,
I just purchased mason jars with rubber inserts? Is that ok or will it be a problem? Thanks so much.
Alexandra
Hi Dan! Saw your other message come through – so know you saw the answer to this 🙂
Just wanted to thank you for stopping by, and love to know what you think when you make the chillies! 🙂
Sarah
If I add extra oil would this work as a spicy olive oil for pizza bread etc?
Alexandra
Hi Sarah,
I wouldn’t add extra oil – just use the oil from the jar of preserved chillies, and top up if required to make sure the chillies are always covered.
The oil is delicious! 🙂 Thanks! Alex
Andy
Hi, a couple of questions.
You mention not to use lids with rubber inserts. Can I use regular mason jars with the 2 piece lids? Or are you referring to the older style glass jars with the rubber rings?
And can I make a few jars and use a the boiling water bath canning method to preserve longer?
Alexandra
Hi Andy,
Regular mason jars with 2 piece lids are fine – we sterilise our jars in the oven, hence not using ones with rubber inserts!
We haven’t tried canning this recipe. We make a batch and use as required, rather than making extra. The chillies do lose texture the longer they are in the oil, and I imagine boiling the jars could cause a change in texture also.
Do let us know if you try this recipe! Kind regards, Alex
Geraldine
Just tried this for the first time – they’re still soaking- fingers crossed 😜
How long will they last for?
And can I add garlic cloves in with the salt/ vinegar?
Alexandra
Hi Geraldine!
We have not tried with garlic before, but that is due to the risk of botulism – sometimes, just before serving, we add a little garlic into the portion we will eat that evening for the flavour.
The chillies will last for several months, just make sure they always have oil covering them, and we like to keep ours in the pantry where it is dark, as olive oil doesn’t like light. Enjoy!
Roger
5 star as i can see this easy recipe is a hit !
I have preserved chillis in different ways.
I have several bags of dried mixed chillies, plenty of red habeneros mixed in.
I’m using your recipe today using a bag of red birdseye chillies.
Had 5 of these on marinated steak kebabs on the bbq last night.
Hot hot hot but mmmmmm.
Your recipe will be great to sprinkle some over meals.
Thanks.
Alexandra
Hi Roger, thank you so much for the fabulous feedback. I am delighted to hear that you have enjoyed the Preserved Chillies and appreciate you taking the time to let me know. I can imagine the birdseye chillies were hot! 🙂
Charla
Chillies are so widely used in Caribbean cooking so we are loving these!
Alexandra
I’m so happy to hear that Charla 🙂
Agnes
Hi, I’ve got a batch of home grown chillies and this recipe sounds great for them! Would it be ok to use apple cider vinegar and sea salt? Thanks!
Alexandra
Hi Agnes, whilst I love to use apple cider vinegar in much of my food preparation, I prefer to use regular white vinegar with the chillies as it is more acidic than apple cider vinegar. The acidity in the vinegar and the salt assist in the preservation of the chillies. I do hope that you enjoy them! Best wishes, Alex. 🙂