If you’re a fan of spicy food, chances are you’ve tried Sriracha sauce at least once.
This iconic red condiment has become a staple in fridges and restaurants around the world, known for its unique blend of heat and flavor.
But have you ever wondered what kind of peppers are used to make this delicious sauce?
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the main ingredients that go into Sriracha sauce, including the type of peppers that give it its signature kick.
Get ready to spice up your knowledge!
What Kind Of Peppers Are In Sriracha Sauce?
The main ingredient in Sriracha sauce is a red jalapeño-hybrid chili pepper. Approximately 100,000,000 pounds of these peppers pass through the 650,000-square-foot factory in Irwindale, California each year.
But why red jalapeños? Many people are surprised to learn that jalapeños come in different colors. We are used to eating them when they are young and green, but when they mature into a beautiful crimson red color, their heat increases as well.
Red jalapeños bring the heat hammer quite a bit more than the green varieties. They live at the upper end of the typical heat range for these peppers (2,500 – 8,000 Scoville heat units). This is why Sriracha sauce tastes hotter than your normal jalapeño hot sauce.
In addition to red jalapeños, Sriracha sauce also contains other hot peppers such as Fresno, serrano, and Thai chili peppers. Each of these peppers adds a different level of heat and full flavor to the sauce.
Thai chili peppers are the hottest pepper used in Sriracha sauce, so use them sparingly if you’re sensitive to spice. Jalapeño peppers are the mildest flavor of the three, while serrano peppers are hotter.
All of these hot pepper selections are combined with garlic, sugar, and salt to create the perfect signature flavor.
The Origins Of Sriracha Sauce
The origins of Sriracha sauce can be traced back to the small coastal town of Si Racha in Southeast Thailand in 1949. A woman named Chakkapak began serving a bright, garlicky chili sauce with her meals, which quickly became popular among her family and friends. They urged her to bottle and sell it, and she decided to give it a try. She named her creation Sriraja Panich, and although it wasn’t quite the hot sauce we all know and love today, it was well on its way.
Sriracha sauce is a thick, tangy-sweet chili pepper sauce with a strong kick of garlic. The recipe for sriracha was developed more than 80 years ago in Si Racha, a city on Thailand’s east coast. The first commercial variety, Sriraja Panich, became one of the most popular condiments in Southeast Asia but was not easy to find in America and was very expensive to import.
In 1980, a Vietnamese immigrant named David Tran decided to start producing his own version of sriracha in America, opening Huy Fong Foods in Irwindale, California. To this day, it remains the most popular brand of sriracha, and its packaging is nothing short of iconic: a clear plastic bottle that shows off the vividly red hot sauce, a green twist-to-open squirt cap and a white rooster logo printed on the front that gives Huy Fong Sriracha its nickname, “Rooster Sauce.”
From the get-go, Huy Fong Sriracha was massively popular as a specialty ingredient in Asian American businesses, restaurants and supermarkets and highly beloved by chefs, foodies and restaurant insiders. Its popularity exploded in 2009 when Bon Appetit named it “Best Ingredient of the Year,” and once it became a bona fide phenomenon, imitators soon followed. However, Huy Fong Rooster Sauce remains the most popular sriracha on the market; its factory produces 3,000 bottles every hour, 24 hours a day, six days a week. That’s about 20 million bottles of sriracha a year!
The Main Ingredients In Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce is a unique blend of different chili peppers that create its distinct flavor and heat. The main ingredient in Sriracha sauce is a red jalapeño-hybrid chili pepper, which is known for its spicy kick and crimson red color. These peppers are grown and harvested in large quantities, with approximately 100,000,000 pounds passing through the Sriracha factory in Irwindale, California each year.
Along with red jalapeños, Sriracha sauce also contains other hot peppers such as Fresno, serrano, and Thai chili peppers. Each of these peppers adds a different level of heat and full flavor to the sauce. Thai chili peppers are the hottest pepper used in Sriracha sauce, so they are used sparingly to avoid overwhelming the palate. Jalapeño peppers are the mildest flavor of the three, while serrano peppers are hotter.
To create the perfect signature flavor, these hot pepper selections are combined with garlic, sugar, and salt. This combination of ingredients creates a thick, tangy-sweet chili pepper sauce with a strong kick of garlic. Unlike other hot sauces that are typically made by puréeing peppers in vinegar and then straining out the solid materials, Sriracha sauce has a consistency more similar to ketchup or tomato sauce.
The Peppers Used In Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce is made with a combination of different hot peppers, with red jalapeño-hybrid chili pepper being the main ingredient. These peppers are chosen because they mature into a beautiful crimson red color, which increases their heat level. Red jalapeños are hotter than the green varieties and live at the upper end of the typical heat range for these peppers (2,500 – 8,000 Scoville heat units). This is why Sriracha sauce tastes hotter than your normal jalapeño hot sauce.
Apart from red jalapeños, Sriracha sauce also contains other hot peppers such as Fresno, serrano, and Thai chili peppers. Each of these peppers adds a different level of heat and full flavor to the sauce. Thai chili peppers are the hottest pepper used in Sriracha sauce, so use them sparingly if you’re sensitive to spice. Jalapeño peppers are the mildest flavor of the three, while serrano peppers are hotter.
All of these hot pepper selections are combined with garlic, sugar, and salt to create the perfect signature flavor. The combination of these ingredients results in a thick, tangy-sweet chili pepper sauce with a strong kick of garlic. Its flavor is much more layered and complex than common hot sauces like Tabasco, which taste of heat and vinegar. It’s also far thicker, with a consistency more similar to ketchup or tomato sauce than watery American-style hot sauces.
How Spicy Is Sriracha Sauce?
Sriracha sauce falls within the range of 1,000 to 2,500 heat units on the Scoville scale, which measures the spicy heat of a chili pepper. This range places Sriracha sauce above banana pepper and below Jalapeño pepper in terms of spiciness. Although it is considered a spicy sauce, its flavor is much more layered and complex than common hot sauces like Tabasco. The garlic in the sauce also adds a tangy-sweet kick that balances out the heat. If you’re sensitive to spice, it’s best to use Thai chili peppers sparingly as they are the hottest pepper used in Sriracha sauce. However, if you enjoy a bit of heat in your food, Sriracha sauce is a great way to add some extra flavor and kick to your dishes.
Health Benefits Of Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce may not be commonly regarded as a health food, but research into its ingredients has shown that it has some potential health benefits. The capsaicin found in the chili peppers used to make sriracha is responsible for its spicy flavor and is known to have several health benefits. Capsaicin can help boost metabolism, promote a healthy body weight, and increase overall energy expenditure, which can aid in weight loss. Additionally, capsaicin has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antioxidant properties that can help lower blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and maintain collagen, which has anti-aging properties.
The garlic found in sriracha sauce may also be beneficial to heart health. One study suggests that consuming garlic may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which can help people who are at risk of cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the capsaicin found in chili peppers has been researched extensively as a potential anticancer agent. While more research is needed to confirm these claims, there is some evidence that capsaicin may be able to target cancer-associated signaling pathways and genes.
It is important to note that most of the studies investigating the health benefits of capsaicin involve large supplemental doses of the nutrient. It is unlikely that you will consume enough capsaicin from sriracha alone to provide you with these benefits. However, pairing sriracha with other nutrient-dense foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can boost its nutritional value and provide you with a well-rounded diet.
How To Incorporate Sriracha Sauce Into Your Meals
Sriracha sauce is a versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of ways to add flavor and heat to your meals. Here are some ideas for incorporating Sriracha sauce into your dishes:
1. As a dipping sauce: Sriracha sauce is great as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, dumplings, or fried chicken.
2. As a marinade: Mix Sriracha sauce with soy sauce, honey, and lime juice to create a delicious marinade for chicken or shrimp.
3. As a topping: Drizzle Sriracha sauce over eggs, pizza, or tacos for an extra kick of flavor.
4. In dressings and sauces: Add Sriracha sauce to salad dressings or pasta sauces for a spicy twist.
5. In soups and stews: Use Sriracha sauce to add heat and depth of flavor to soups and stews.
6. In burgers and sandwiches: Mix Sriracha sauce with mayonnaise or ketchup to create a delicious spread for burgers and sandwiches.
7. In stir-fries: Add Sriracha sauce to stir-fries for an extra layer of flavor.
Remember, a little goes a long way with Sriracha sauce, so start with small amounts and adjust to your taste. Happy cooking!
