Makes 1 cup
Level: Easy; Prep time: 5 minutes; Cook time: 5 minutes; Total time: 10 minutes
Red chile simple syrup is the easiest way to spice up your drinks with sweet heat, and you can dial the spice to your desired level with different chiles. Consider guajillo or pasilla peppers for a mild fruit flavor, morita or cascabel peppers for a smoky flavor, or ancho or New Mexico chile nativo for an earthy flavor—each syrup complements drinks differently.
Use this to make killer chile-lime soda, spice up an old-fashioned, or bump up your hot chocolate or latte. You can even drizzle it on roasted veggies like sweet potatoes or brussels sprouts. The vanilla bean is optional and adds another layer of flavor to your syrup.
Red Chile Simple Syrup
Servings: 1 cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 4 –5 whole red chiles of your choice
- 1 vanilla bean (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, gently simmer sugar and water until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Remove stems and seeds from chile pods. Toast chiles in a pan over medium heat until they are fragrant, about 5 minutes. Cut vanilla bean into pieces that are about 2–3 inches in length. In a blender, combine chiles, simple syrup, and vanilla bean. Strain through a cheesecloth. Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
