Sriracha is a hot sauce or chili sauce made from a paste containing chile peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt which has become ubiquitous in the U.S. It is named after the Thai coastal city of Si Racha, where it was said to have been first produced for dishes served at local seafood restaurants.

In a Bon Appétit magazine interview, U.S. Asian-foods distributor, Eastland Food Corporation, said that the Thai brand of hot sauce, Sriraja Panich, which Eastland distributes, is the original "sriracha sauce" and was created in Si Racha, Thailand, in the 1930s from the recipe of a housewife named Thanom Chakkapak.

However, in the United States, Sriracha sauce is most commonly associated with the version produced by Huy Fong Foods, a California manufacturer. Sometimes called "rooster sauce" or "cock sauce" due to the image of a rooster on the bottle, it was created in 1980 by Chinese-Vietnamese founder David Tran. Tran's sauce recipe has not changed significantly since 1983. The company originally used serrano chiles but found them difficult to harvest, and so switched to fresh ripe red jalapeños. The bottle lists the ingredients "Chili, sugar, salt, garlic, distilled vinegar, potassium sorbate, sodium bisulfite and xanthan gum. The sauce contains no added water or artificial colors. Garlic powder is used rather than fresh.  To keep the sauce hot, the company produces only a pre-sold quantity at a time using peppers only from known sources.

In Thailand, Sriracha sauce is frequently used as a dipping sauce, particularly for seafood. In Vietnamese cuisine, Sriracha sauce appears as a condiment for pho, fried noodles, a topping for spring rolls, and in sauces.

Sriracha sauce is also eaten in soup and on eggs and burgers, and it makes a delicious dipping sauce when mixed with mayonnaise. Jams, lollipops, and cocktails have all been made using the sauce, and Sriracha flavored potato chips and snacks have recently appeared.

In 2009, Bon Appétit magazine named the sauce Ingredient of the year for 2010, and in 2012, more than 20 million bottles of Huy Fong brand Sriracha Sauce were sold. 

Since the name was not trademarked, many companies use the name "Sriracha." You'll find a number of versions on store shelves, from Tabasco Brand Sriracha and Heinz Sriracha Ketchup to Texas Pete CHA! Sriracha Sauce and Frank's RedHot Slammin' Sriracha Chili Sauce .

Recipes

Spicy Sriracha Panko Chicken Fingers Recipe
Hot and spicy Sriracha sauce makes a tasty coating for these panko-crusted chicken fingers. The chicken pieces are coated with the sauce and panko crumbs, then they're baked to perfection. 

Sriracha Chicken Wings
These wings are nicely marinated, but for more heat I add a few teaspoons to the wings just before serving.

Roasted Chicken With Sriracha Glaze
The sriracha sauce mixture produces a tasty glaze with nice flavor and heat. 

Fried Green Tomatoes with Sriracha Mayonnaise
These fried green tomatoes are deep fried to golden brown perfection then served with a spicy Sriracha mayonnaise for dipping. 

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