Sriracha Madness

It seems sriracha is the latest craze.In fact it's so popular  there's even a shortage. What to do ? Make it yourself. It's a pretty easy recipe that can be replicated in time for a fun holiday party or better yet a spicy dinner on a cold fall night. It'll add to anything and give ordinary dishes zing.

It was the topic of an article in yesterday's New York Daily News Now Focus section. The piece written by Jeannette Settembre explains the reasons for the shortage.One is the many fans that the sauce has attracted and the other is because fumes from the Irwindale California  factory is leaving residents in the are with irritated eyes and throats.The sauce is basically ketchup's more exotic ,definitely more fiery cousin. It can be put on everything from omelets and noodles to steaks and chicken for kick. It's a definite must at tailgate parties where it would elevate burgers and dogs to the next level of flavor.

Sriracha sauce, unlike ketchup, ispretty easy to make.It's a mix of two kinds of peppers, namely red hot peppers and Thai chili peppers along with tomato paste  and fish sauce. Sugar is added to temper the hear and to give it tang , rice wine vinegar. Canola oil is added to give it smoothness along with water. The entire mix , including garlic is put into a blender and pureed. It can be served with the traditional Thai omelet or as hai tod, with mussels and oysters.However you can also add it to meat loaf and hamburger along with chicken wings.Steaks and stir fry can also benefit from it as well.

Sriracha sauce is one of the hottest flavors out right now. if you can't get it , the sauce is a snap to make. Whip of a batch and let it add zing and zest to your favorite dishes.