Middle Eastern Hot Sauce
I was thrilled to find this Middle Eastern hot sauce recipe from Plates of Love because the original developer referenced my favorite local restaurant, Pita Inn! This spicy, flavorful sauce is exactly what I was looking for to elevate my air-fried falafel and other Mediterranean-inspired dishes.
Recipe Steps
I was first introduced to Middle Eastern food in 1993 when I worked in Chicago. My coworkers invited me to try falafel, shawarma, and hummus for the first time. I was skeptical, but it quickly became one of my favorite meals. After leaving that job, I was on a mission to find somewhere closer to home where I could satisfy my falafel cravings. That’s when I discovered Pita Inn. Though it’s a 35-40 minute drive, it’s worth every mile.
Since I can’t get there as often as I’d like, I started searching for recipes to recreate those delicious flavors at home. I found a great air fryer falafel recipe, but I was still missing the signature hot sauce they serve at Pita Inn—until I came across this incredible recipe from Plates of Love. It’s so similar to my salsa recipe but without lime juice, and it swaps a jalapeño for a serrano pepper while adding a red bell pepper for extra flavor.
Pro Tip: Serrano peppers are much hotter than jalapeños on the Scoville scale (which measures chili pepper heat). Jalapeños range from 2,500 to 8,000 Scoville units, while serranos clock in at 10,000 to 23,000. Remove the seeds and white membrane from the serrano for a milder heat before using it.
This Middle Eastern hot sauce comes together quickly in a food processor. Be sure to pulse as you blend to avoid over-processing. Bonus: it freezes beautifully! I like to make extra falafel, tahini sauce, and this hot sauce so I always have the makings of a quick, flavorful meal ready to go.
Get the full recipe for this delicious sauce from Plates of Love.
Victoria Cook
Victoria is a passionate home cook who became the host and chef of over 100 episodes of a private cooking show tailored for wellness practitioners and their patients. With a love for ethnic cuisines, she enjoys using a variety of spices and fresh ingredients to create flavorful, healthy meals for her husband and son. Always up for a culinary challenge, Victoria finds joy in experimenting with new recipes—and if she can whip them up in an electric pressure cooker, she’s even happier.