If you are looking for a sauce that brings bold heat, rich sweetness, and deep flavor, try this Spicy Onion Sauce. It might just become your new obsession.
Spicy Onion Sauce Recipe
I believe a good sauce can transform any meal, and my onion sauce with tomatoes and bell peppers does exactly that. It's flavorful, rich, and versatile!
Spicy Onion Sauce is made from onions, fresh tomatoes, peppers, ginger, and a variety of spices. It’s the kind of sauce that transforms even the simplest dish.
I make this when I want to upgrade plain rice, yam, grilled meats, or even breakfast eggs. It’s simple but full of soul. Just the way I love to cook my food!
What Is Onion Sauce?
Onion Sauce is a tasty sauce made with onions, peppers, and simple spices. It’s a little sweet, spicy, and full of flavor.
It’s bold, deeply flavorful, and made with just a few everyday ingredients. You can enjoy it with white rice, boiled yam, grilled chicken, airfryer baked potatoes, rice and beans, dipping sauce for your fried yam or puff puff. It’s fast, budget-friendly, and easy to store.
Unlike most sauces, which blend everything into a smooth paste, this spicy onion sauce is a little different. It’s made with thinly sliced onions for texture. Every spoonful gives you a bit of crunch and richness, making it feel like more than just a sauce but a delicious meal.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Wholesome Ingredients: Packed with fresh vegetables and natural flavors.
- Great for Meal Prep: It can be made ahead and stored, with flavors often improving over time.
- Sweet + Spicy Balance: The caramelized onions and chili balance each other perfectly
- Versatile: Use it with rice, yams, meats, or even on toast
- Make-Ahead Friendly: The flavors deepen as it sits
- Customizable: Adjust heat, texture, and seasoning to suit your mood
Ingredients For Making Onion Sauce
- Olive oil: helps caramelize your onions while giving your spicy onion sauce a rich flavor base.
- Sweet onion (such as Vidalia): they provide the bulk of the sauce's sweetness. Slicing them uniformly ensures even cooking.
- Red bell pepper: A mix of red and yellow bell peppers for a vibrant color
- Garlic: gives your onion sauce a deep flavor.
- Ginger: Grated or finely minced. Adds a sharp zest.
- Habanero: or similar hot pepper. Adjust quantity to your desired heat level.
- Tomatoes: reduce the spiciness in your sauce and unify other ingredients.
- Rosemary/thyme: infuses your sauce with an earthy aroma.
- Paprika: adds a smoky layer to your onion sauce.
- Curry powder: adds warmth to the sauce.
- Bouillon: Deepens the flavour of the sauce and adds an umami flavour.
- Salt: balances all the other flavours in your sauce.
- Water (Optional): Adjusts the consistency of your spicy onion sauce.
How to Make Spicy Onion Sauce
- Cook the onion in oil: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook down, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics: Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in the habanero, garlic, and ginger. Cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the spices: Stir in diced tomatoes, rosemary/thyme, paprika, curry powder, bouillon, salt, and pepper. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until mixture thickens, 15 to 20 minutes. If the mixture is too dry, add water and stir.
Important Notes:
- Slice your onions thinly and evenly: This ensures they cook evenly, giving your sauce its signature texture.
- Cook on medium heat to bring out the onions' natural sweetness and rich flavor.
- Use sweet onions to have a milder taste, which balances out the heat from the peppers.
- Don't overcrowd your pan. This helps the onions fry, not steam. Use a wide pan or cook in two rounds if you're making a large batch.
- Balance the heat. If you don’t like too much pepper, start with fewer habaneros and adjust as needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.
Variations & Tips
- Make it smokier with smoked paprika or roasted tomatoes
- Add garlic or fresh herbs for a twist
- Add flaked fish or shrimp for a protein boost
Watch The Video On How To Make It:
Frequently Asked Questions
What other onions can I use?
You can use red onions to add a deeper, slightly sharper flavor, and white onions for a milder flavor. However, if you want a natural hint of sweetness to balance the heat, consider using sweet onions like Vidalia.
Can I adjust the level of spiciness?
Yes, you can use fewer habaneros or substitute them for milder peppers like long red chillies or Scotch bonnets. Additionally, you can deseed the peppers to reduce heat.
Should I blend the ingredients or leave them chunky?
You don’t have to blend the ingredients. The signature texture of your onion sauce is achieved by using thinly sliced onions and diced or chopped ingredients. However, if you prefer a smoother sauce, you can blend the peppers and tomatoes before cooking.
Why did my sauce turn too dry?
Your spicy onion sauce turned out too dry because it lost its moisture during cooking. To fix this, you can add a splash of broth, water, or oil to loosen it during cooking.
Can I make this sauce without tomatoes?
Although tomatoes add moisture and body, you can leave them out or reduce the quantity if you prefer a more onion-forward sauce.
How to Store
You can store your onion sauce in the refrigerator for up to 1 week in a clean, airtight container. Be sure to add a layer of oil on top of your sauce to preserve its freshness. You can also freeze it well for up to 2 months. Just thaw and reheat when needed.
How to Serve Spicy Onion Sauce
Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it:
- Spoon over boiled or fried yams
- Pair with white rice, pasta, or fried plantains
- Serve as a dip for akara, grilled meat, or chicken
- Use as a spicy burger spread or wrap filling
- Top your eggs, couscous, or fonio for a bold breakfast or brunch
Delicious Sauce Recipes You Should Try
Spice up your dishes with these other amazing sauce recipes:
- Tangy Honey Mustard
- All-purpose barbecue sauce
- Flavourful taco sauce
- Creamy chicken coconut sauce
- Homemade cranberry sauce
- Mouthwatering chimichurri sauce
- Easy peri peri sauce
Spicy Onion Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil or to taste
- 5 sweet onion such as Vidalia, thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper seeded and thinly sliced
- 1 green bell pepper thinly sliced
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1- inch grated ginger
- 2 to 4 habanero
- 4 large tomatoes diced
- 2 teaspoon rosemary/thyme
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons curry powder
- 2 teaspoon bouillon
- salt and pepper to taste
- Water or as needed (Optional)
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook down, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes.
- Add the bell peppers and cook for another 2 minutes. Stir in the habanero, garlic and ginger. Cook until garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, rosemary/thyme, paprika, curry powder, bouillon, salt, and pepper. Cover the skillet and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until mixture thickens, 15 to 20 minutes. If the mixture is too dry, add water and stir.
Notes
- Slice your onions thinly and evenly: This ensures they cook evenly, giving your sauce its signature texture.
- Cook on medium heat to bring out the onions' natural sweetness and rich flavor.
- Use sweet onions to have a milder taste, which balances out the heat from the peppers.
- Don't overcrowd your pan. This helps the onions fry, not steam. Use a wide pan or cook in two rounds if you're making a large batch.
- Balance the heat. If you don’t like too much pepper, start with fewer habaneros and adjust as needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.
- Use quality oil. A good olive or vegetable oil affects the taste and the sauce’s shelf life.
Nutrition
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