Sriracha is a must-have in American cooking these days. This hot chili sauce adds a fiery kick to any dish and has developed a cult-like following. However, what happens when the beloved Huy Fong Sriracha faces a shortage? No worries! There are plenty of alternative options available. We’ll explore the world of sriracha substitutes and find the perfect option for your taste buds.
Jump to:
- 💎 Why Do These Substitutes Work?
- 🌶️ What is Sriracha?
- ⛔ The Huy Fong Sriracha Shortage
- 🔄 List of 11 Sriracha Substitutes to Try
- 1. DIY Homemade Sriracha
- 2. Sambal Oelek
- 3. Chili Garlic Sauce
- 4. Gochujang
- 5. Tapatio
- 6. Cholula
- 7. Tabasco Sauce
- 8. Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- 9. Buffalo Sauce
- 10. Peri-Peri Sauce
- 11. Cocktail Sauce
- 🙋♀️ People Also Ask [FAQs]
- 💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- 🔑 Key Takeaways: Substitutes for Sriracha
- 🍽️ Recipe
💎 Why Do These Substitutes Work?
- Research: We have carefully selected what we believe are the best options! Through extensive research and tasting, we found the ones that closely mimic sriracha sauce's flavor profile and heat level. You will find most of them on any grocery store shelves!
- Flavor: Each sriracha substitute, including sambal oelek, chili garlic sauce, buffalo sauce, Cholula, tabasco sauce, different Mexican Style Hot Sauces, Chipotle ketchup, and peri-peri sauce, is assessed based on its flavor profile. This ensures that they align with the spicy and garlicky notes that make sriracha sauce distinctive. These are the best hot sauces to use!
- Heat Level: We considered the heat levels of these substitutes, allowing you to find a replacement that matches your heat tolerance, whether you prefer mild or fiery. Sriracha lovers, you will find your best sriracha substitute!
- Pairings: Specific dishes and cuisines are recommended for each substitute to help you maximize your chosen alternative. Whether you need to pair it with a stir fry with aromatic soy sauce, or want to add flavor with a Portuguese sauce, we got you covered!
- Homemade Option: At the bottom, we included a DIY homemade sriracha recipe. This allows you to customize the sauce to your taste preferences, making it a standout choice among the substitutes.
🌶️ What is Sriracha?
Sriracha is a type of hot sauce that originated in Southeast Asia, specifically in Thailand. It is often called "rooster sauce" or "cock sauce" due to the rooster image displayed on the bottle.
The sauce's origins trace back to the 1940s when a Thai woman named Thanom Chakkapak created it in the town of Si Racha, Thailand, which is why it's often known as sriracha sauce. However, the version we're most familiar with today was popularized by a man named David Tran, who founded Huy Fong Foods in California in 1980.
It is made from fresh red jalapeño peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. The ingredients are blended together into a thick paste and then aged for several months. It is known for its distinctively spicy and garlicky flavor, which makes it a popular condiment in many countries worldwide.
Traditionally, it was used as a dipping sauce for seafood dishes and as a condiment for noodles, soups, and curries. However, in recent years, people have discovered that it can be used in almost anything. You can add it to marinades, dressings, cocktails, popcorn, and even ice cream!
⛔ The Huy Fong Sriracha Shortage
If you’re a fan of sriracha sauce, you might have noticed that Huy Fong Foods’ sriracha hot sauce has been increasingly hard to find. The company has cited a shortage of jalapeño chili peppers as the main reason why they’re struggling to produce enough sauce to meet the demand.
🔄 List of 11 Sriracha Substitutes to Try
1. DIY Homemade Sriracha
If you're looking for a sriracha substitute that you can customize to your liking, try making your own at home. All you need is a blend of red chili peppers, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and salt.
Blend them together to create a thick paste-like consistency. This homemade version allows you to control the sweetness and consistency to your liking. And the best part? You can make it as spicy as you want!
🔔 Be sure to check out the recipe card for all the ingredients and instructions you'll need to make this dish. Don't miss out on any of the details!
2. Sambal Oelek
Sambal Oelek is a close cousin to sriracha with a similar chili pepper base. It's less sweet than sriracha but offers a comparable heat level and consistency.
This spicy hot sauce is made with fresh red chili peppers and a touch of vinegar. It has a slightly grainy texture and is great for spicing up soups, stews, and stir-fries. We make ours using Thai chili peppers, however, in our recipe card for it you will find alternatives, such as Fresno, cayenne peppers, or red serranos.
3. Chili Garlic Sauce
Another great substitute is chili garlic sauce. This Huy Fong product has a garlic-forward flavor, however, sriracha is slightly sweeter.
It maintains the chili paste consistency, making it an excellent choice for adding heat and flavor to your meals. Try it in your savory dishes like egg fried rice, noodles, and dumplings, or add it to your fried chicken burgers and wraps.
4. Gochujang
Gochujang is a Korean fermented chili paste that has a complex flavor profile. It's less sweet than sriracha but offers a unique umami depth.
This hot sauce is slightly sweet and salty and pairs well with meats, vegetables, and rice dishes. You can add sweetness and vinegar to balance its taste, and it can be found in most grocery stores.
5. Tapatio
Tapatio is a Mexican-style hot sauce that stacks up well with sriracha for spice levels without the sweetness.
It contains red peppers, salt, spices, garlic, acetic acid, xanthan gum, and sodium benzoate as a preservative. You can enjoy Tapatio with a wide range of foods, such as eggs, tacos, burritos, and soups, and it surely is one of the best sriracha alternatives.
6. Cholula
Cholula is a great option for those who enjoy Mexican-style hot sauce. While it has a more vinegar taste than sriracha, it is still a great substitute.
Cholula's texture is slightly runnier than sriracha, and it has a thinner consistency, but it goes well with anything from pizza, eggs, and tacos to chicken wings.
7. Tabasco Sauce
Another American classic hot sauce is Tabasco, made of course, using Tabasco peppers. It's the perfect balance of flavor and heat; Tabasco hot sauce has a strong vinegar kick that really stands out compared to other hot sauces.
Mix sugar, garlic, and tomato paste with Tabasco to replicate sriracha's sweet and roasted chili flavor. It's an ideal sauce for chili, meat, and vegetable stews.
Louisiana hot sauce is milder than Tabasco, if that's what you prefer. Louisiana style hot sauce uses cayenne peppers, offering similar flavors but different levels of heat.
8. Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
For a sweeter taste, Thai sweet chili sauce is another excellent option for sriracha sauce. This sauce has chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and salt. However, it is quite sweeter than Sriracha.
With a little tweak to the recipe, you can adjust the sweetness and heat with vinegar, sugar, or red pepper flakes. Thai sweet chili sauce pairs well with fried rice, egg rolls, grilled cheese, and chicken wings. Try making Thai sweet chili wings for your next gathering or party.
9. Buffalo Sauce
Buffalo sauce is a commonly used sauce in the US, thanks to its tangy, spicy flavor that goes well with chicken wings and fries.
If you're looking for a sauce similar to sriracha, try combining it with honey, garlic, and tomato paste to enhance its flavor profile. Buffalo sauce has a moderate heat level, making it a suitable option for those who can't tolerate high levels of spiciness.
10. Peri-Peri Sauce
Peri-Peri sauce is a Portuguese hot sauce that became popular through the chain restaurant Nando's. It has a spicy and tangy flavor that is perfect for those looking for a substitute for sriracha.
The sauce can be adjusted to your desired sweetness and consistency by adding sugar and vinegar. Add some chili flakes or cayenne pepper powder to the mix if you want extra heat. Peri-peri sauce pairs well with chicken, fish, and vegetables.
11. Cocktail Sauce
Cocktail sauce, a US culinary classic from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, boasts a unique and mildly spicy tomato-based flavor profile.
Combine ketchup with horseradish, tabasco, and cayenne or ancho chili powder to create it. Typically served in small cups with shellfish, it complements shrimp, lobster, and crab. You can also use it as a dipping sauce for fries or onion rings, while in Italy it is often served with chunky fries and fancy paninis.
🙋♀️ People Also Ask [FAQs]
This hot sauce is naturally gluten-free and made from chili peppers, sugar, garlic, vinegar, and salt.
Sriracha sauce can go bad if not stored properly or if it's past its shelf life. Keep unopened bottles in a cool, dry place away from sunlight for up to two years. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 6-9 months. Check for spoilage before using.
As a result of the ongoing drought, it is currently challenging to determine when the sriracha shortage will come to an end. Huy Fong Inc., the well-known hot sauce producer, is uncertain when full-scale production will resume. Consider trying alternative hot sauces or making your own DIY recipes for now.
💡 Expert Tips and Tricks
- Customize the sweetness and spiciness to your liking when making your own sriracha substitute at home by adjusting ingredient quantities.
- Sambal Oelek offers a heat level and consistency similar to sriracha, making it versatile for enhancing soups, stews, and stir-fries. As it is made in a food processor, you can choose whether you prefer a smooth or chunky texture.
- Gochujang adds unique umami depth, and combining buffalo sauce with honey, garlic, and tomato paste creates a sriracha-like flavor.
- Opt for Thai sweet chili sauce for a sweeter taste; adjust to your preferred sweetness and heat levels.
🔑 Key Takeaways: Substitutes for Sriracha
- Sriracha, a spicy garlic-flavored hot sauce from Thailand, is commonly known as "rooster sauce" due to its iconic label.
- It was created by Thanom Chakkapak in Si Racha, Thailand, in the 1940s and gained popularity in the United States through Huy Fong Foods, founded by David Tran in 1980.
- It's versatile and can be used for dips, marinades, dressings, and even unconventional pairings like ice cream.
- Huy Fong Foods faces challenges meeting the demand for sriracha sauce due to a shortage of jalapeño chili peppers.
- Sriracha sauce substitutes include DIY homemade sriracha, sambal Oelek, chili garlic sauce, gochujang, Tapatio, Cholula, tabasco sauce, Thai sweet chili sauce, buffalo sauce, peri-peri sauce, and cocktail sauce, each with its distinct flavor and spiciness.
👋 Have you given this recipe a try? We'd love to hear your thoughts! Please leave us a ⭐ review below, and don't forget to tag us @spiceandlife_com on Instagram and Pinterest. Your feedback means the world to us, and we really appreciate it. For more recipes, follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. Thank you! 🙏
🍽️ Recipe
How To Make Your Own Homemade Sriracha Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup red jalapenos or Fresno peppers (stems removed)
- ½ cup Thai peppers optional (stems removed)
- 4 cloves garlic chopped
- ½ cup distilled vinegar
- ½ cup rice wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (adjust to taste)
Instructions
Method 1: Fermented Sriracha Sauce
- Fermenting peppers may take some patience, but the result is worth it! Fermentation adds depth and complexity to your sriracha sauce.
Prepare the Pepper Brine:
- Wear gloves to avoid irritation from the peppers. Remove the stems and roughly chop the red jalapenos or Fresno peppers, and Thai peppers.
- In a glass jar or container, combine the peppers, kosher salt, and distilled vinegar. Ensure the peppers are submerged.
- Seal the container and let it sit in a cool, dark place for about 1-2 weeks. Stir the mixture daily.
Fermentation Process:
- During fermentation, beneficial bacteria will develop, giving the sauce its distinct flavor.
- After 1-2 weeks, you'll notice bubbles and a tangy aroma – this means it's ready!
Blend and Cook:
- Blend the fermented pepper mixture with chopped garlic, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and simmer over low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust salt and sugar to your liking.
Cool and Store:
- Let your homemade sriracha sauce cool to room temperature before transferring it to a clean, airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Method 2: Quick & Spicy Sriracha
- For those who want instant gratification, this method skips fermentation but still delivers a delicious sriracha sauce.
Prep and Blend:
- Wear gloves and remove the stems from the peppers.
- In a blender, combine the red jalapenos, Thai peppers, garlic, distilled vinegar, rice wine vinegar, 2 teaspoons of kosher salt, and brown sugar.
Blend and Cook:
- Blend until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a saucepan and simmer over low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Taste and adjust salt and sugar to your liking.
Cool and Store:
- Allow the sauce to cool before transferring it to an airtight container.
- Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
Notes
- Remember, the spice level of your sriracha depends on the peppers you use. Red jalapenos are milder while adding Thai peppers will give your sauce a fiery kick. So, if you prefer a less spicy sauce, adjust the proportion of peppers accordingly.
- If you want to intensify the flavor without increasing spiciness, consider adding a tablespoon of fish sauce during cooking.
- If you find that your sriracha sauce is too spicy, add some honey or extra brown sugar to balance out the flavor.
- Fermentation not only imparts unique flavors to the sauce but also helps preserve it naturally. It breaks down the sugars and carbohydrates in the peppers, creating complex and savory flavors while reducing the heat level. Don't be alarmed by the bubbling; this is a sign that beneficial bacteria are at work.
- So, whether you opt for the patience-testing fermentation or the quick-and-spicy method, you're sure to enjoy the delightful kick of your very own homemade sriracha sauce.
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