Bottom Line: Tabasco’s version of Sriracha sauce has a similar taste to Huy Fong’s but with a little extra kick of heat and garlic.
Huy Fong Sriracha sauce is still hard to find in stores due to a pepper shortage (more on that here) and bottles of the stuff are selling for upwards of fifty dollars on Amazon.com! No need to be spending that much money, though, because there are options out there to tide you over during this period of scarcity. I have been sampling several Srirachas over the past few months and I have worked my way to Tabasco’s version of that sauce. And I can tell you that it definitely offers an affordable option with a very similar taste.
The Tabasco version has a stronger vinegar tang than Huy Fong and not as much sweetness. But that Sriracha taste is definitely there with a very similar fermented pepper funk. The taste of garlic is also quite evident as well, maybe even a bit stronger than in the Huy Fong stuff. Basically, imagine what you would get if you mixed regular Tabasco sauce with Huy Fong’s Sriracha (which according to the ingredients they did) and maybe boosted the garlic a bit.
Heat-wise, this may not be quite as hot as you would expect. Since the original Tabasco sauce has quite a bite, you might expect the same from their Sriracha, but this does not quite reach the Medium heat level on my scale (perhaps they mixed in the milder Tabasco Garlic sauce instead). It is a little above the mild burn that the Huy Fong’s sauce delivers, but not enough to set your mouth on fire. If you do want hotter, though, just mix in some Tabasco Habanero sauce and that will light things up!
Tabasco Sriracha sells for around four bucks depending on where you buy it. That is a little more than the regular price for the Huy Fong sauce, but a whole lot cheaper than what third parties are selling it for during the shortage. Of the Sriracha I have tried so far, this probably comes closest to the Huy Fong taste, and it should act as a pretty good substitute. I could even see keeping a bottle of this one around once the shortage ends to have a spicier option available.
Now if only I could find a good substitute for the Chili Garlic sauce. That is my favorite product from Huy Fong’s and there are not too many alternatives out there. If anybody is aware of a good option, let me know.
Nutrition Info:
Ingredients: Red Jalapeno Pepper, Water, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar, Xanthan Gum, Tabasco Brand Pepper Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Red Pepper, Salt)
Serving Size: 1 tsp (5ml)
Calories: 5
Fat: 0g (0g Sat/0g Trans)
Protein: 0g
Carbs: 2g
Sodium: 160mg
I actually prefer the Tabasco version over Huy Fong. The vinegar pop really works well with most foods.