What Is Sriracha?
Sriracha is a hot sauce made by mashing ripe red peppers and fermenting them for a while, then mixing them with garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt into a smooth consistency. It takes its name from the Thai coastal city of Si Racha.
The fermentation process adds a mildly tangy depth to the sauce that many other hot sauces lack; this makes its sweet-hot-sour balance distinctive. The best-known commercial producer worldwide is the bottle with the rooster logo, made in the US.
Nutritional Value of Sriracha
100 grams of sriracha contains about 93 kcal of energy; it carries a moderate amount of sugar and high sodium. Values vary by brand and are approximate.
How Should Sriracha Be Consumed?
Sriracha is consumed as part of a balanced diet, used as a sauce addition to dishes, in moderate amounts.
This information is general; sriracha is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment. People with stomach sensitivity are advised to consume the hot sauce in moderation, and those restricting salt due to its high sodium content should also be careful.
How to Choose Sriracha?
A good sriracha is one with a vivid red color, a smooth-flowing consistency, and a high proportion of real red pepper in the ingredient list.
- The color should be vivid red, not turned brown/darkened
- The consistency should be smooth-flowing, not overly watery-separated
- Red pepper should be listed among the first ingredients
How to Store Sriracha?
Unopened sriracha can be stored at room temperature; once opened, storing it in the refrigerator preserves its color and freshness longer.
Using Sriracha in the Kitchen
Sriracha is most often used over noodle soup, mixed into stir-fry sauces and yogurt/cream-based sauces, and used directly as a table sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are sriracha and sambal oelek the same thing?
No; sambal oelek is a rawer, less processed Indonesian pepper paste that generally contains no sugar. Sriracha, on the other hand, is a fermented, garlicky sauce with a sweet-sour balance.
Can sriracha be made at home?
Yes; red peppers are mashed and mixed with garlic, salt, and sugar, fermented for a few days, then blended with vinegar into a smooth sauce.
Is sriracha found in Turkey?
It is becoming more common; it can be found in the world-cuisine section of large supermarkets and online.