Old Sour is a sauce and salad dressing used in the Bahamas and Key West, Florida.[1][2] Old Sour sauce originated in the Bahamas, and is most often prepared using key lime juice, salt, and bird peppers. [1][2] Historically, in both Key West and the Caribbean, it was also prepared using sour oranges.[3] The sauce may have been developed to preserve both lime and orange juice for use out of season or off-shore.[4]

Old Sour is most popularly made from an aged (fermented) mixture of key lime juice, bird peppers, and salt.[5][6] Old Sour has a salty and acidic flavor.[5] It is notably prepared using a glass or non-metal bowl so as to prevent the citrus flavor from taking on a "metallic" taste.[7] Hot sauce is sometimes used to add additional flavor.[8][9]

In traditional Key West cooking, Old Sour is used for a variety of dishes including seafood, fried foods, and key lime pie.[4][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Gassenheimer, L. (2010). The Flavors of the Florida Keys. Grove/Atlantic, Incorporated. p. 121. ISBN 978-0-8021-9623-1. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Zanger, M. (2001). The American Ethnic Cookbook for Students. Cookbooks for Students. Oryx Press. p. 33. ISBN 978-1-57356-345-1. Retrieved June 7, 2017.
  3. ^ "Old Sour". Taste Atlas. Atlas Media Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b "cooking.com by Hoffman Media". www.cooking.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Old Sour recipe".
  6. ^ Fussell, Betty. "Old Sour Recipe". NYT Cooking. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  7. ^ Brown, Stephen. "Key Lime Fun: Old Sour". Naples Illustrated. Palm Beach Illustrated. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  8. ^ "FAMOUS KEY WEST RECIPES !!!". key-west.com. Retrieved 7 June 2017.
  9. ^ Young, Joyce LaFray, The Key Lime Cookbook, The Ketch & Yawl Press, 2007, p 32
  10. ^ Sloan, David. "David Sloan's Key Lime Pie Hole on the Ultimate Keys Condiment, "Old Sour"". Key Lime Festival. The Key Lime Festival. Retrieved 1 September 2024.