Sriracha All the Time

Sriracha, the garlicky, chile paste, is just vinegary enough to brighten-up anything while still adding plenty of heat. Sriracha on eggs is outstanding, but it can do so much more than that.

Sriracha is one hot commodity, and a potential shortage at the end of 2013 only added to its popularity. The garlicky, chile paste is just vinegary enough to brighten-up anything while still adding plenty of heat. An extra tidbit, the sauce is named for a coastal city in Thailand, which is why the word needs to be capitalized.

I was a devotee of Tabasco on scrambled eggs in my formative years, so it should come as no surprise that Sriracha makes an appearance at many a meal these days. Sriracha on eggs is outstanding, but it can do so much more than that. Let’s discuss…

Hoppin’ John Salad with Spicy Sriracha Vinaigrette
Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Salmon
  • Drizzled onto poached eggs, Sriracha works to create a sauce with the broken yolk and can add a little heat to your morning routine.

  • Stir a little into savory oatmeal opens in a new tab or creamy grits opens in a new tab for the perfect breakfast side.

  • Make your own dipping sauce for pot stickers, wings or eggrolls, by blending a little Sriracha with honey.

  • Create the fastest peanut sauce on the planet by zapping creamy peanut butter, Sriracha and a little hot water in a blender until smooth.

  • Decorate the top of hummus for a spicy rendition of the appetizer table favorite.

  • Spike any salad dressings with the sauce for an instant boost. Try Buttermilk Ranch Dressing opens in a new tab or Miso Salad Dressing opens in a new tab.

  • Speaking of spiking, Sriracha promises to put any Bloody Mary or Red Snapper over the top. In addition to adding a little of the sauce to the tomato mixture, consider making Sriracha ice cubes so your drink will retain all the heat it was meant to.

  • Stir into ketchup or mayonnaise for a fancy-feeling, but easy condiment. Use that Sriracha-mayo for a slaw topping like in these Asian-Style Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Sriracha Slaw opens in a new tab.

  • Mix Sriracha into any marinade for an extra kick. We especially love it with cooling yogurt for an easy tandoori-style finish like in this Yogurt-Marinated Grilled Salmon opens in a new tab.

  • Dot a little of the sauce into a ground meat mixture before forming patties for burgers.

  • Give this Yellow Split Pea and Sweet Potato Soup opens in a new tab an extra-zingy topping.

  • Tuck this one away for eggplant season – slivers of eggplant roasted with extra-virgin olive oil and a squiggle of Sriracha. (This concept pretty much applies to any vegetables.)

  • If you ever make nachos, Sriracha should be close at hand.

Black-Eyed Pea Nachos
Simply Delicious Homemade Hummus

One of my best friends has a lot of outdoor adventures, and she invented a protein-packed sandwich to power her through cross-country skiing treks and kayaking outings. The Tornado features a bizarre mixture of peanut butter, sharp cheddar cheese and Sriracha, but she swears by it!

What Sriracha uses do you swear by? Is this a condiment you can’t live without? Share your tips and serving suggestions in the comments section below.

Explore More