Bottom Line: Trader Joe’s Sriracha and Green Dragon Sauce have a bit of a kick and offer a nice substitute to Huy Fong products while they are in short supply.
If you haven’t already noticed, Sriracha sauce from Huy Fong’s (the one with the green top and rooster on the bottle) is getting harder to find. Due to the ongoing drought and labor shortages, the chili peppers that they use for their sauces are in short supply and the Huy Fong products will be missing from the shelves for a few months (more on all that here).
So what’s a person got to do if they need their Sriracha fix? Well, the Huy Fong rooster sauces may be a staple in many restaurants and common in many homes, but they don’t have exclusive rights to the Sriracha name. That sauce originated in Thailand and the version that you will find in that country is somewhat different than what Huy Fong puts out. And while the sauce that is better known here in the states (where it has always been made) will be in short supply, I will be looking at some alternatives to see what would act as a good substitute.
To start off with, I am not going far. Just down to my nearby Trader Joe’s where they have a Sriracha sauce with their name on it as well as a green sauce that might also help tide us over while Huy Fong is missing from the shelves.
I do have to say at this point that Huy Fong’s Sriracha and Chili Garlic sauces are among my favorites, even though they are not that hot. Neither gets much beyond the Mild heat level, but the taste makes up for it with the fermented chilis and garlic and other spices added (you can read more about my thoughts on the Huy Fong sauces here). The rooster sauces are favorites worldwide for a reason: because they really are that good.
But Trader Joe’s wants you to know that they have you covered during the Huy Fong shortage (unless the scarcity of chili peppers starts impacting their supply). The TJ sauce does not quite have the bite or fermented pungentness of Huy Fong seeing as they use ground chili peppers instead. And it has almost a tomatoey tang even though there are no tomatoes in the ingredients. It is also a little bit heavier on the garlic with not as much sweetness. But it still has the taste you expect from Sriracha and right about the same heat level. I can definitely see myself replacing Huy Fong with the TJ’s stuff for now (once my stash has run out) even if it will leave me craving that irreplaceable bite of the rooster sauce.
And as another option, Trader Joes has its Green Dragon sauce. That one is made with jalapenos, tomatillos, and garlic and together they deliver a nice taste that is reminiscent of Sriracha. It has the tartness you expect from tomatillos, and it has the tang from the vinegar along with some sweetness to balance that out. Heat-wise, it comes in a little bit higher than Mild level. It has an Asian bite to it even though there are no spices in the ingredients that would suggest that cuisine. The flavor profile also works good Mexican cuisine, but it has plenty of uses beyond that. The sauce is perfect with eggs, though it also pairs well seafood and chicken and could be a nice addition to soups, sauces, and dips.
At around three bucks per bottle, these sauces won’t break the bank either. So if you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I recommend picking these up (unfortunately, they do not have an option for ordering online on their website, and be wary of third-party sellers because they add a notable markup). And there are plenty of other spicy selections in that store like the TJ’s Habanero Sauce and their Italian Bomba Sauce. Huy Fong products should hopefully be back in the stores by Fall, but in the meantime there are at least some options.
Tale of the Tape:
Trader Joe’s Sriracha Sauce
Ingredients: Ground red chili peppers, water, sugar, ground garlic, salt, contains 2% or less of garlic powder, cultured dextrose (for freshness), citric acid
Serving Size: 1 tsp (4g)
Calories: 0
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 0g
Sodium: 75mg
Trader Joe’s Green Dragon Sauce
Ingredients: Water, organic jalapeño pepper puree, tomatillo puree, white distilled vinegar, cane sugar, cilantro puree (cilantro, vegetable oil [canola oil and/or olive oil], citric acid [for freshness]), salt, garlic puree (garlic, water), garlic, spinach powder, lime juice concentrate, habanero pepper powder, xanthan gum.
Serving Size: 1 tsp (4g)
Calories: 0
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0 Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 0g
Sodium: 70mg