Skip to content

Robert St. John

Restaurateur, author, enthusiastic traveler, & world-class eater.

Pepper Jelly Dipping Sauce

This recipe has multiple uses. It works as a sweet and spicy dipping sauce for shrimp toast and crabmeat puffs, but it also works well as a condiment to be served alongside egg rolls and spring rolls. For a unique and unusual treat, toss a few tablespoons of this sauce with fried popcorn shrimp, fried crawfish tails, or fried calamari.

Ingredients

1 /4 cup red chili pepper flakes

1 cup water

1 large red bell pepper, seeds removed

1 Tbsp minced garlic

1 /2 cup rice vinegar

1 cup white wine vinegar

3 /4 cup corn syrup

1 cup sugar

2 Tbsp water

2 Tbsp cornstarch

Instructions

Bring one cup of water to a boil in a small sauce pot. Stir in chili flakes and simmer five minutes. Strain flakes, set aside, and discard water.

Place red bell pepper and garlic in a small stainless steel sauce pot with vinegars and simmer 5-6 minutes. Allow mixture to cool slightly, then puree in a blender. Return pureed mixture to the stainless steel pot and add sugar and corn syrup Bring the mixture back to a simmer.

Dissolve corn starch in the water and blend into the red pepper mixture. Once it returns to a simmer, remove from heat. Stir in the red pepper flakes and chill.

May be made one week in advance.

Yield: 3 cups

Recent Recipes

Pie Dough

This crust has been the base for countless savory pies over the years. The key is keeping the butter ice-cold and giving the dough enough time to rest in the refrigerator. For a little twist, add 1 tablespoon of freshly cracked black pepper or 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chives to the flour mixture.

Read more

Denver Omelet Quiche

I love quiche. To me, it’s great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In the morning, it’s perfect with fresh fruit. At lunch or dinner, it pairs well with a light salad. Never use the pre-shredded cheese in plastic bags from the dairy case. It's dusted with cellulose, which messes with the texture and flavor. Always grate cheese from a block. It’s an extra step but it will save money and taste so much better.

Read more

Italian Cheesecake

If you are a fan of American-style cream cheese cheesecake, this might not be your dessert. Though if you like something lighter and less sweet, this is the dessert for you.

Read more