Cholula is another one of those ubiquitous hot sauces that is widely found at eating establishments and certainly in many kitchen pantries. But it’s common a good reason, it’s a darn good condiment and has a lot of different uses. It is one of the milder sauces out there among those that are widely available, but it still has enough of a kick and good enough heat to satisfy lovers of fiery foods.
The flavor profile of Cholula brings a tanginess and saltiness along with a unique earthy finish. It is made with piquin and arbol chilis, and my guess is that cumin is included in the “spices” mentioned on the label. It comes in at 1,000 Scoville Units which notably lower than Tabasco, making it more palatable to the wider dining audience. But it still has some heat and can give just the right amount of kick when added to a dish.
Back in the day, California Pizza Kitchen had this sauce sitting on every table (these days you have to ask them to bring you the condiments). Since then, my wife can’t eat pizza without Cholula and we buy the giant-sized bottles at Costco to make sure we always have enough (and they never sit in the pantry long enough to go bad)! But it goes on much more than pizza. The sauce goes particularly well with Mexican food, but since it is a milder sauce it works well with many different dishes, particularly a good cheese and broccoli soup.
For hot sauce beginners, this is a good one to start with. It brings some heat with good taste and can initiate you into the world of hotter sauces if you find it pleasing. This is also a good one to have around for those who shy away from fiery stuff but still like to add a bit of kick to a burger or a taco or a slice of pizza. It is also instantly recognizable with its ball-like wooden cap.
>Recipe with Cholula: Quick and Easy Spicy, Cheesy Hash Browns
Cholula got its start in Mexico in the city of Chapala, Jalisco, and it is named after the oldest, still-inhabited city in the country. It was introduced into the United States in 1989 and quickly became one of the most popular sauces on the market (you even find the little condiment packets of it at some fast food and fast casual restaurants). It has several varieties including a sweet habanero version, which I do not recall seeing on store shelves locally. I’ll be searching that one out, though, so keep an eye open for an upcoming post.
Tale of the Tape:
Ingredients: Water, peppers (arbol and pequin), salt, vinegar, garlic powder, spices, and xanthan gum
Serving Size: 1 Teaspoon
Calories: 0
Fat: 0g
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 0g
Sodium: 110mg