Sriracha is famous as a Vietnamese hot sauce that pairs well with pho noodles in the US.
But here’s the thing: Sriracha is as American as mayonnaise and ketchup not because of its origin—but because of the numbers! (*)
Their US annual sales in 2019 amounted to $150 million! That’s not the best part. (*)
Surprise: The company doesn’t have a marketing, sales, or advertising department.
They rely on word-of-mouth advertising, and boy, it’s so effective!
If you haven’t tried this famous sauce yet, you might be wondering: what does sriracha taste like?
Sriracha tastes sweet, tangy, and spicy with a strong kick of garlic that can make just about any dish come to life.
If you want to know more about this fantastic condiment, keep reading!
In this article, you’ll also discover:
- What is Sriracha?
- What does Sriracha taste like (and why it’s so addictive!)
- The Best Ways to use it
- And Other interesting sriracha facts you need to know
Are you ready to take your chicken meals to the next level? If so, let’s dig in!
What’s Sriracha Sauce Madde Of?
Sriracha is a bright red Asian hot sauce that comes in a clear squeeze bottle, a vibrant green lid, and a big picture of a rooster at the front.
This condiment is commonly used in Vietnamese and Thai dishes like pho, stir-fries, and chicken wings.
Unlike other hot sauces, the ingredients of Sriracha are all-natural and relatively simple. As a result, you can find just about all of the ingredients in your kitchen pantry– salt, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and red chili peppers.
There are two popular brands of Sriracha today. The original brand is Sriraja Panich which has a thinner and liquid-like consistency. On the other hand, the more popular version made by the Huy Fong company has a thicker ketchup-like consistency.
What Does Sriracha Mean?
In 1949, a Thai woman named Thanom Chakkapak made the first-ever Sriracha in the coastal city of Si Racha, Thailand. The condiment was named after the said city. Because many of her friends and family members loved it so much, she decided to sell it commercially.
It was only until David Tran decided to bring it to the US in 1980 that it became a worldwide sensation. He established Huy Fong Foods, which is the company that manufactures the Sriracha that we grew to love today.
What Does Sriracha Taste Like?
Like most hot sauces, Sriracha is mostly spicy and tangy with a hint of sweetness. However, its main difference from the other hot sauces in the market today is its pungent garlic notes that add a savory touch to any meal.
The popular Sriracha today is a bit different from the original recipe by Thanom Chakkapak. Aside from being thicker, the sauce we have today is also a lot less sweet.
To help you further understand what sriracha tastes like, here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about it:
Is It Spicy or Sweet?
It’s both. Sriracha is mostly spicy but also has a hint of sweetness.
Does Sriracha Taste Like Tabasco?
Sriracha is similar to Tabasco sauce because they are both hot sauces so they can deliver a spicy kick to your dishes. However, they don’t taste the same.
While Sriracha is a thick sauce with a slightly sweet taste and strong garlic flavor, Tabasco hot sauce is Louisiana-style. Hence, it has a thin and flowy consistency and a slightly salty flavor with a vinegar base.
What Does Sriracha Pair Well With?
One of the reasons why sriracha has become extremely popular is its versatility. Here are some of the ways you can incorporate Sriracha into your menus:
1. Use it as a condiment.
The most common use of sriracha is a condiment. This bright red sauce is best served in a small bowl alongside your main dish. It will add a pop of color to your meal—it can add a kick of spice as well.
2. Mix it in your soups.
You would mostly see this in Vietnamese restaurants because it’s best mixed in Asian soups like ramen, pho, or chicken noodle soup.
Pro Tip: Try mixing it with creamy soups like chowder or other Thai soups with coconut milk as a base.
3. Add it to your sauces.
If you love making dips and sauces, you can add sriracha to them for a spicy bite.
Pro Tip: Mix it with creamy dips like mayonnaise, cream cheese, and sour cream.
4. Use it to brighten up creamy dishes.
Have you noticed that all our recommendations are for creamy dishes?
That’s because the spicy and garlicky flavor of sriracha can balance the creaminess of dairy products.
Drizzle it over a cheesy nacho sauce or your favorite baked mac recipe to discover what we mean!
Pro Tip: You can also drizzle it all over fluffy eggs to jumpstart your day in the most delicious way possible.
5. Pair it with meaty dishes.
Another food item that goes best with sriracha is meat! In addition to using it as a dip for your meaty dishes, you can also use it as a marinade to infuse a spicy flavor to your barbecued meats.
Pro Tip: Cook it with honey to create a delicious glaze for chicken wings and ham
6. Stir it in your drinks.
Make your drinks refreshing and spicy by adding sriracha. This is recommended for tomato juices and cocktails like Bloody Mary.
The Interesting Sriracha Facts You Need to Know
As promised, we’re throwing in some fun Sriracha facts that may (or may not be) useful. Here they are:
1. Sriracha is pronounced as see-rotch-ah.
It’s pronounced the same way as the city it originated from- Si Racha, Thailand.
2. You can make sriracha at home.
Since most of the ingredients of Sriracha are available in your home, you can make a homemade version of sriracha.
- You would need red jalapeño peppers, red serrano peppers, light brown sugar, salt, garlic, water, and distilled white vinegar.
- Remove the stems of the peppers and discard. After that, chop them well, then place them in a blender. Add the salt, water, sugar, and garlic and blend well.
- Transfer mixture into a glass container and cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit in a cold and dark place for 3 to 5 days. Stir it every day.
- When bubbles start to show in the mixture, blend it again, then let it pass through a strainer.
- Bring the resulting mixture to a boil for around 10 minutes, stirring it from time to time. Let it cool, then transfer to a container and seal well.
Get Recipe: whiteonricecouple.com
3. If you don’t have sriracha at home, there are a few substitutes that you can use.
The best Sriracha substitutes are Sambal Oelek, Tabasco sauce, and chili garlic sauce.
4. The bright red color of the sauce is all-natural.
Sriracha doesn’t contain any artificial color. The vibrant red shade that its known for came from the chili peppers.
5. All the chilies used for Sriracha are grown by only one company.
To ensure the quality of their products, they get all their chilies from just one company—the Underwood Ranches located in Camarillo, California. To meet the needs of Huy Fong, they grow up to 48,000 tons of peppers every year.
6. There’s a meaning behind the rooster logo (and it’s most likely not what you think).
The rooster is David’s zodiac sign.
The Bottom Line
What does sriracha taste like? To put it simply, it’s sweet, spicy, tangy, and garlicky. The ingredients of Sriracha are pretty simple. But, despite that, this condiment has won the hearts of spicy lovers simply because it delivers a unique and complex flavor.
Now that you know what Sriracha tastes like, it’s about time that you experiment with it. Put in your eggs, sauces, marinades, dips, soups, and many more—the sky is the limit!
So what’s your favorite way to use Sriracha? Let us know in the comments section!
