You may think of the famous Sriracha as a hot sauce (and it’s definitely used as one), but technically it’s a chili sauce by name on its own label (“Sriracha Hot Chili Sauce”.) It’s not like Tabasco or other dasher-ready hot sauces. It’s thicker, with hints of sugar and garlic. This is a sauce that can fit many chili sauce use cases in recipes.
Why We Love It: This horseradish-forward hot sauce is the ideal addition anywhere you would normally use horseradish, including oysters and shrimp. But we especially love it in Bloody Marys, where the flavors play perfectly together with your favorite homemade or bottled mix. Short on time? Skip the DIY and grab a bottle of our Most Excellent Bloody Mary Mix for all the same delicious flavor with way less work.
Spanish paprika, also known as pimentón, is another popular variety that is made from smoked peppers. It has a distinct smoky flavor and is often used in traditional Spanish dishes like paella and chorizo.
If you are using a recipe that calls for powdered chili peppers of this kind, you can usually use cayenne pepper substitute without significantly changing the taste of the dish.