Chile Vinegar Dipping Sauce

PreparationSterilize jar and lid: Wash jar, lid, and screw band in hot soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw band. Put empty jar on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 5- to 6-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jar in water. Heat lid in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jar and lid submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use. Make chile vinegar: Carefully remove jar and lid with tongs, then drain jar upside down on a clean kitchen towel and dry lid. Pack chiles into jar. Bring vinegar to a boil in small saucepan, then remove from heat and pour over chiles. Cool to room temperature. Wipe off rim of jar with a dampened clean kitchen towel, then top with lid and firmly screw on screw band. Chill sealed jar 2 weeks. Make dipping sauce: Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then stir in red-pepper flakes (if using), 2 tablespoons chile vinegar, and salt to taste. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Cooks' notes:·Chile vinegar keeps, chilled, 6 months. ·Instead of making your own chile vinegar, you can use the vinegar from bottled pickled jalapeños.

PreparationSterilize jar and lid: Wash jar, lid, and screw band in hot soapy water, then rinse well. Dry screw band. Put empty jar on a rack in a boiling-water canner or a deep 5- to 6-quart pot and add enough hot water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil, covered, then boil 10 minutes. Remove canner from heat, leaving jar in water. Heat lid in water to cover by 2 inches in a small saucepan until thermometer registers 180°F (do not let boil). Remove from heat. Keep jar and lid submerged in hot water, covered, until ready to use. Make chile vinegar: Carefully remove jar and lid with tongs, then drain jar upside down on a clean kitchen towel and dry lid. Pack chiles into jar. Bring vinegar to a boil in small saucepan, then remove from heat and pour over chiles. Cool to room temperature. Wipe off rim of jar with a dampened clean kitchen towel, then top with lid and firmly screw on screw band. Chill sealed jar 2 weeks. Make dipping sauce: Bring water and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then stir in red-pepper flakes (if using), 2 tablespoons chile vinegar, and salt to taste. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Cooks' notes:·Chile vinegar keeps, chilled, 6 months. ·Instead of making your own chile vinegar, you can use the vinegar from bottled pickled jalapeños.