Chilli vinegar

Chilli vinegar is a variety of malt vinegar infused with chopped or whole chilli peppers,^[1][2] which is a delicacy of the United Kingdom's capital city, London.^[3] Chilli vinegar is commonly used on foods associated with London's Cockney culture, such as pie and mash and jellied eels.^[3][4][5] Many recipes in Eliza Acton's 1845 book Modern Cookery for Private Families contain chilli vinegar as an ingredient.^[2]

Chilli vinegar is also used as a table condiment in traditional London pie and mash shops, where it is typically offered alongside parsley liquor and mashed potatoes. The infusion process varies, but commonly involves steeping fresh or dried chillies in malt vinegar to impart heat and flavor over time. Variations of chilli infused vinegar can also be found in other culinary traditions, although the London version is particularly associated with working class food culture in the East End.^[6]