On a Budget? Try These Sriracha Alternatives

If your favorite Sriracha brand is too costly, there are wallet-friendly options available.

For the second time in two years, Huy Fong Foods, the most recognized Sriracha producer in the U.S., has faced a shortage of its tangy sauce with the iconic green cap and rooster label. This has been attributed to a limited supply of chile peppers, exacerbated by pandemic-induced hoarding. This situation has caused prices to spike, with some third-party sellers taking advantage of the situation.

However, it’s crucial to remember that a vast range of hot sauce alternatives exists, so there’s no need to succumb to the overblown hype.

Even though Huy Fong is almost synonymous with Sriracha, it’s not the only one in the market, and interestingly, it doesn’t originate from the Thai town that lent the sauce its name.

The vibrant red sauce was the invention of Thanom Chakkapak, a Thai home cook who formulated a mixture of fresh chiles, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar for her own use. By the 1930s, she started selling the sauce as Sriraja Panich, named after her coastal hometown, Si Racha, and it quickly became the top-selling hot sauce in Thailand.

Years later, David Tran, an ardent fan of the sauce, migrated from Vietnam to California and established Huy Fong. His version of the sauce, inspired by Sriraja Panich, was thicker and spicier, and it quickly became a favorite in U.S. households. Huy Fong sources its chiles from Mexico and the U.S. Southwest, but a historic drought has affected the supply chain, resulting in fewer bottles on the store shelves.

The good news is, creating hot sauces and similar condiments is not particularly difficult, and there are myriad global alternatives that provide both heat and rich flavor profiles.

Below are three alternatives from Barbados, Mexico, and Cambodia. While they won’t taste exactly like Huy Fong Sriracha, they don’t have to. Each of them is easy to prepare, and you won’t miss the rooster.

Bajan Hot Pepper Sauce

For the recipe, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/bajan-hot-pepper-sauce

This Bajan hot sauce draws its heat from spicy Scotch bonnet chiles. If you can’t source these, habaneros are a good substitute. It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and yields ½ a cup. Remember, don’t substitute yellow mustard with Dijon mustard as the former, along with ground turmeric, contributes to the sauce’s bright yellow color.

Salsa Macha

For the recipe, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/salsa-macha

Discovered during an incredible taco adventure in Mexico City, Salsa Macha gets its unique, earthy, smoky flavor from toasted dried chiles, garlic, and a mix of nuts and seeds. It requires about 15 minutes to make and yields approximately 1 cup.

Thai Sweet Chile Sauce

For the recipe, visit: https://www.177milkstreet.com/recipes/sweet-chili-dipping-sauce

Nam jim kai is a Thai-style chile sauce that beautifully balances sweet, salty, spicy, and sour flavors. This sauce, which typically has a thick and syrupy consistency, is an excellent accompaniment to Thai corn fritters, seafood, grilled meats, and chicken. It takes around 1¼ hours to prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Sriracha Alternatives

More about Sriracha Alternatives

• Huy Fong Sriracha
• History of Sriracha
• Bajan Hot Pepper Sauce Recipe
• Salsa Macha Recipe
• Thai Sweet Chile Sauce Recipe