Spicy condiments have become one of the most popular trends in recent years. From Tabasco to jalapeño, fans of the spicy have their pick of hot sauces. But not many know about the lesser-known but equally spiced sauce known as Sriracha. Sriracha is a chili sauce with a vinegar base and a pleasantly spicy red-chili flavor.
This popular hot sauce has been trending for quite some time now, and for a good reason. It’s spicy, it’s tangy, and it’s got an almost smoky flavor to it. It’s nearly as good as ketchup but with more flavor. In this article, we will look at what sriracha is made of, what it tastes like, and see what it best goes with.
What Is Sriracha?
Sriracha is a hot sauce with a tangy flavor and a kick that comes from chili peppers. It’s made by fermenting garlic, sugar, vinegar, and salt together until they form a thick paste. This paste is then blended with chilies and distilled vinegar to make the final product.
Sriracha is a type of chili sauce that has been produced by Huy Fong Foods, Inc., a Los Angeles-based Asian-food company, since 1980. The sauce is made from red jalapeño peppers and distilled vinegar.
It was first made in California and then began to be marketed as a hot sauce for use on eggs, but it quickly became popular on its own. Huy Fong Foods did not trademark its name until 2007, when the company was facing potential trademark issues with other hot sauces.
What is Sriracha made of? Sriracha is basically a hot sauce with a spicy red chili paste made of dried red jalapeño-hybrid chile peppers, garlic, and salt. Sriracha sauce also contains vinegar, sugar, and salt to balance the flavor.
The most popular ingredient in Sriracha is the chilies themselves. There are two types of chili peppers used in Sriracha: red jalapeño peppers and Thai bird’s eye peppers (also known as red Thai chilis). The red jalapeño pepper has a fruity flavor similar to other hot sauces like Tabasco or Crystal, but it also has a super-hot taste that will burn your mouth if you eat too much. The Thai bird’s eye pepper is milder than the jalapeño and will not burn your tongue as much if you eat too much.
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Sriracha Flavor Profile – What Does Sriracha Taste Like?
Sriracha has a tangy flavor that is similar to ketchup, yet it is spicier than ketchup since it contains red jalapeño peppers and distilled vinegar. When you eat sriracha, you will get a combination of sweet and spicy flavors that can make your mouth tingle and taste spicy.
What does sriracha taste like? Sriracha tastes like a mixture of vinegar, garlic, and chili peppers with a smoky and garlicky flavor to it. Some describe sriracha as having a similar flavor as ketchup or Worcestershire sauce with a kick of heat. Sriracha has a very distinct tangy taste with sweet and garlicky notes.
What is Sriracha mayo like? Sriracha mayo is much milder and sweeter than the original sriracha. It has creamy, spicy, and sweet notes with hints of garlic and butter.
Most brands of Sriracha have an additional spice in them as well. For example, Huy Fong Sriracha Chili Sauce contains garlic powder for extra flavor. Sriracha also has a unique smoky flavor to it as well. This is because Huy Fong Sriracha Chili Sauce is smoked before being bottled and shipped out to stores.
Is Sriracha sweet or spicy? Sriracha is a type of hot sauce that has a sweet and spicy flavor. It’s made from red chili peppers and sugar, which gives it a distinctively sweet and hot flavor. However, the sugar content is not high enough to make it too sweet, so the spiciness of the chili peppers gives sriracha enough kick to it.
How spicy is Sriracha? Sriracha is a hot sauce, but it’s not as spicy as other hot sauces such as Tabasco or Frank’s. Sriracha is made of red jalapeño peppers and garlic. The combination of these two makes the sauce spicy and tangy. Sriracha varies from 1,000 to 2,500 SHU (Scoville Heat Unit scale).
The Bottom Like – Does Sriracha Sauce Taste Good?
Yes, it does! Sriracha is not too spicy in comparison to some other hot sauces out there. Sriracha contains chili peppers blended with garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt to form a tangy mixture that is red-colored and spicy. It’s mild in flavor, with just a hint of heat. The vinegar and garlic flavors add a savory taste to the sauce, making it taste good on burgers and sandwiches.
Sriracha vs. Ketchup – Is Sriracha Spicy Ketchup?
When you first try sriracha, you may think that the sauce tastes like ketchup. However, sriracha has some differences from ketchup that set it apart from the rest. Sriracha is not as spicy as Tabasco or Frank’s Hot Sauce, but it does have a tangy flavor and almost an acidic aftertaste to it. This acidity gives the sauce a slightly smoky flavor making it taste almost meaty at times.
Sriracha vs. Tabasco – Does Sriracha Taste Like Tabasco?
Sriracha tastes similar to tabasco. Tabasco is made from distilled vinegar, red pepper, and salt, while sriracha also has sugar, garlic, and xanthan gum, which make sriracha creamier and milder than tabasco. Tabasco is much spicier than sriracha (5,000 to 7,000 Scoville Heat Units on the Scoville Scale vs. 1,000 to 2,500).
Tabasco is most notable for its signature red color, which comes from its use of chili peppers. The sauce also has a distinct spicy flavor with hints of sweetness and saltiness. In contrast to this, Sriracha’s flavor is milder than Tabasco’s but still packs a punch. It can be used as a condiment or dipping sauce for just about anything from tacos to grilled chicken and even stir-fries.
Sriracha is also versatile in how it can be used. It also comes in different flavors, such as original and mayo, for those who want something savory or sweet with their spicy food. Sriracha sauce can also be used as a marinade for grilled meats and vegetables, which is why it’s gaining popularity as a home-cooked product.
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How to Use Sriracha?
Sriracha is a popular condiment in many Asian cuisines such as Vietnamese, Thai, and Chinese. It is also a popular condiment in the American Southwest and some parts of Europe.
What do you eat Sriracha sauce with? Sriracha can be used as a dipping sauce for dumplings, egg rolls, spring rolls, or samosas. It can also be used to marinate meats such as chicken or pork prior to cooking them on the grill or in the oven. Sriracha goes well with pizza, burgers, grilled chicken, and spicy Asian dishes.
Sriracha goes well with:
- Pizza (Cheese pizza, Veggie pizza)
- Sandwiches (Burgers, Grilled cheese)
- Noodles (Rice noodles, Udon noodles, Soba noodles)
- Stir-fried dishes (Stir-fried vegetables and meat)
- Eggs (Scrambled eggs, Omelets)
- Seafood (Shrimp, Salmon, Squid)
- Meat (Beef steak, Chicken breast)
- Vegetables (Peppers, Potatoes)
The best thing about sriracha is that it has a lot of flavor, and you only need a small amount because it is very potent. Sriracha does a great job of making your food taste better, but you have to be careful because it can quickly become too spicy.
So, we have established sriracha goes well with tons of dishes, but what about snacks?
What snacks go well with Sriracha? Sriracha goes well with more than just meat and pizza. Here is a list of snacks that go good with sriracha:
- Tortilla chips
- Popcorn
- Potato chips
- Hummus
- Ice cream
- Candies nuts
- Brownies
- Corn waffles with maple syrup
As you can see, sriracha goes well with almost anything, even ice cream! If you want to add a spicy, garlicky kick to your snacks, sriracha is your best go-to.
How Much Does Sriracha Cost? Why Is Sriracha So Expensive?
Sriracha isn’t cheap. It’s made by roasting chili peppers before pureeing them into a sauce. The result is a milder version of Tabasco, which is one of the most expensive sauces to make. The price point of Sriracha is similar to other premium hot sauces, but it’s much more expensive than other hot sauces because it takes so much time and labor to produce.
How much does sriracha cost? According to Walmart, a 9oz and 17oz Huy Fong sriracha costs $1.98 and $2.98, respectively, and a 28oz bottle comes at $3.14. At the same time, a 15 oz Flying Goose Sriracha Mayo costs $5.26, a 12oz Marion’s Kitchen Coconut Sriracha – costs $3.51, and a 10oz Huy Fong Sriracha Mayo costs $3.16.
Why Is Sriracha So Popular?
Sriracha is currently the most popular hot sauce sold in America. In fact, it has become so popular that it has even been featured on television programs such as “The Simpsons” (episode “The Food Wife”) and “How I Met Your Mother.”
Sriracha is popular because it has an addictive flavor that will have you craving more, which leads to more purchases of this hot sauce! One bottle of Sriracha will last for ages because the vinegar base keeps it fresh for long periods of time. Sriracha is relatively affordable and can be found in any American supermarket.
Sriracha is not as spicy as tabasco, but it still offers that amazing chili and garlicky kick that tastes great on burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, noodles, pasta, and even in soups! Sriracha is also jam-packed with vitamins and capsaicinoids that improve your immunity and have anti-inflammatory properties. With such an amazing taste, nice price, and tons of health benefits, no wonder why sriracha is getting all the attention!
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Sriracha Health Benefits – What Is Sriracha Good For?
Sriracha is one of the healthiest condiments around. It’s a great source of vitamins A and C, and it also contains a number of minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, and magnesium. Sriracha is also an excellent source of capsaicinoids. These are the compounds that give peppers their spicy kick. They have been found to have antioxidant properties, which fight free radicals in the body and prevent them from causing damage to healthy cells.
Sriracha contains ingredients like garlic and vinegar that are good for your skin. It acts as a natural cleanser to remove dirt and bacteria from the skin, which helps to prevent acne and blemishes. Sriracha also contains a compound called xanthine, which is good for strengthening bones and preventing osteoporosis, or loss of bone density as we age. Moreover, sriracha reduces the pain of indigestion and stomach cramps caused by heartburn. It also relieves gas and bloating caused by excess gas in the digestive tract.
Conclusion
Sriracha is made from red chilies and distilled vinegar and is used as a condiment on noodles, burgers, pizza, rice, and meats. Sriracha can also be combined with snacks, including tortilla chips and popcorn. However, sriracha can also go well with sweet popcorn, pretzels, brownies, and even ice cream if you are looking for an extra spicy kick! Sriracha is delicious, affordable, and has tons of health benefits, so next time you are in the shop, grab a bottle of sriracha and enjoy its amazing hot and garlicky flavor!
Sriracha FAQ
Does Sriracha have tomatoes in it?
No, sriracha does not have tomatoes in it. Sriracha is a chili sauce with a vinegar base, garlic, and salt added to it, but no tomatoes whatsoever. Sriracha’s label indicates it contains chiles, sugar, salt, garlic, potassium sorbate, distilled vinegar, sodium bisulfite and xanthan gum.
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Does Sriracha have MSG?
According to the label, sriracha does not contain MSG, but it does contain xanthan gum.
What does honey Sriracha taste like?
Honey sriracha has pronounced sweet, caramel notes with creamy and spicy hints. Honey sriracha still has a nice hot kick, but not as strong as the original sriracha.
Is Sriracha good on pizza?
Sweet and spicy sriracha tastes amazing on pizza, especially meat and mushroom pizzas. Sriracha adds a kick of spiciness to the pizza and pleasant garlicky hints. Just be sure to use sriracha sparingly to not make pizza too spicy.