Sriracha sauce has become something of an icon in the kitchen, with a wide cult following across the globe. If you’re asking yourself, “What is sriracha, and why is everyone so obsessed with it?”, then it’s time to get stuck into hot sauces. It’s usually made with red jalapeño peppers, garlic, white vinegar, sugar, and salt and the original recipe was based on a popular Thai condiment. In recent years, though, there’s been a shortage of this tasty sauce, in part due to climate change affecting pepper harvests. If you’re now struggling to find a bottle of your favorite sriracha, then there are plenty of alternatives to sample instead. To help you on your way, we’ve rounded up our top seven suggestions for the best replacement for sriracha sauce below, so you can still get your hot sauce fix.
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If sriracha is the hot sauce of the moment, then Tabasco was the original cult leader. Despite its name, it was actually created, and is still made, in Louisiana. Unsurprisingly, the sauce is made from Tabasco peppers, vinegar, and salt. It’s slightly hotter than sriracha, but still just as versatile, and can be added to dishes from noodles to scrambled eggs. It’s even a key component in the classic cocktail, the bloody Mary. In our opinion, this is the best substitute for sriracha on the market, and any true hot sauce fan should have a bottle of this in the cupboard.
2. Homemade chili oil
No self respecting pizzeria would be complete these days without a bottle of fiery chili oil ready and waiting to add a spicy element to your pizza. And if you fancy making a bottle to have on your table at home, it’s easy enough to infuse your favorite vegetable oil with fresh red chili pepper flakes. You can also spice things up further with peppercorns and paprika, depending on how spicy you like your oil. Even though it’s not a like-for-like alternative when it comes to the texture, it’s still a good replacement for sriracha and will definitely give your dish a kick.
3. Peri-peri sauce
Where sriracha has its roots in Thai cuisine, peri-peri sauce is a hybrid of South American, Portuguese, and African cultures, with its name deriving from the Swahili word for pepper. It’s made with ingredients that were originally taken by the Portuguese to South America and the African coast during colonial times. Today, it’s one of the world’s most famous hot sauces. Spicy, tangy, and lemony, peri-peri sauce is a hotter sriracha alternative and comes into its own in marinades, pairing excellently with meats like chicken. Or add it to a warm roast pepper sandwich for a vegetarian alternative.
4. Gochujang
An essential sauce in Korean cooking, gochujang is a thick, sticky, and spicy paste that’s simply made for marinades and sauces. It doesn’t pack quite the spicy punch that sriracha does though, and even has a slight sweetness to its taste. Gochujang refers to the paste, and it needs a little watering down to be made into a sauce that works as an alternative to sriracha. As a sauce, it really shines when it’s mixed into classic Korean bibimbaps or as a glaze for dishes like ribs. It’s actually an ancient condiment that’s made from fermented soybean and can be traced back to the 16th Century, but in modern times it’s now a trendy sauce that’s grown in popularity in foodie circles.
5. Sweet chili sauce
Traveling back to Thailand, sweet chili sauce is perhaps just as, if not more, famous than sriracha. There’s still a noticeable kick in this one but it’s far less spicy than its neighbor sriracha, so if you struggle with the heat, this is a great sauce to start with. We like sweet chili sauce as an alternative to sriracha for a delicious dip to accompany spring rolls or tempura vegetables. Bright and colorful, it’s commonly made with red chili peppers, and you won’t be hard pressed to find a wide selection of brands at your local grocery store to choose from.
6. Harissa
Harissa paste hails from North African cuisine, and is made from a mix of dried chilis including bird’s eye chilis, and a selection of spices from cumin to caraway. As an alternative to sriracha, it’s more herbal, but still has a strong spicy kick. Harissa can be mixed in with a variety of different ingredients to make spicy condiments. Stir into yogurt or hummus for a spicy dip for crudités or to slather onto a burger at a summer social with friends in the garden. Or you could take inspiration from other North African dishes and enjoy alongside a classic tagine with couscous and a selection of root vegetables.
7. Homemade hot sauce
Last, but not least, if you’re a hot sauce fanatic then you have to try your hand at making a homemade hot sauce. Whilst it might be tempting to reach for the shop-bought options, making your own homemade concoction allows you to personalize it to your spice levels. You can also choose from any number of herbs and spices to tailor it to your taste buds. For a more complex approach some chefs will use fermentation as part of the process, but others will simply simmer the ingredients on the stove to make a quick and easy sauce.
