Hot sauce. It’s an entirely non-fancy, non-French ingredient and I love it.
It’s spicy, it’s bright, and it brings a special zing to any dish, whether you use it sparingly or you’re a hot sauce aficionado that pours it liberally on all things (me!).
Still, hot sauce is a bigger multi-tasker than you may think. It doesn’t have to be an immediate tear inducer (if you like pickled chipotles in adobo, you know just what I mean). It can be used as a condiment, dressing, or a marinade – try it out next time you make fried chicken or want to spice up a steamed or roasted fatty white fish.
Click on over to VRAI, the Things I Love issue, to read my whole ode to hot sauce and its many uses in cooking.
Or click on a few of the recipes below for extra inspiration.
Finding a good hot sauce is like finding a good restaurant – it’s hard to know whether to keep it to yourself or tell everyone.
I agree! I have an “off brand” sriracha I like that’s hidden in my fridge, to that effect 😉
Yes indeed! Totally get you on the hot sauce love… my favourites are definitely chipotle, smoked jalapeño and that perennial favourite, SRIRACHA *fist pump emoji*. Love your culinary recommendations Ksenia. And the plate art (girl after my own heart, so much fun!) xxx
haha I had fun with that little plate art (though someone *cough* was looking at me like I was doing smth totally crazy as I tried to perfect my heart haha). I love the smokiness of chipotle too – thanks, Laura! xx
I agree with you about hot sauce, I know that I have at least four different kinds opened in my refrigerator right now. 😀
Used sparingly, it can add so much beyond just spice 🙂 Thanks, Karen!