Honey Sriracha seasoning is a tasty blend of sweet honey and spicy sriracha that can add a kick of flavor to many dishes. This versatile seasoning can be used in everything from stir fries and marinades to dips and dressings. Honey Sriracha provides the perfect balance of sweet and heat to liven up recipes.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about how to use honey sriracha seasoning. First, we will provide background information on what honey sriracha seasoning is and its flavor profile. We will then outline different ways to use this seasoning, including recommended dishes, recipes, and creative uses. Tips for storing and substituting will also be provided. By the end of this guide, you will be a honey sriracha seasoning expert, ready to elevate your home cooking with this dynamic blend.
What is Honey Sriracha Seasoning?
Honey sriracha seasoning combines two popular condiments into one easy-to-use blend. It brings together the sweet viscosity of honey with the garlicky heat of sriracha chili sauce.
Sriracha is a type of hot sauce that originated in Thailand. It is made from chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. Sriracha has a smooth, tangy taste and a moderate level of heat.
Honey sriracha seasoning takes this flavor up a notch by adding sweet honey to the mix. The honey balances out the heat of the sriracha and contributes extra thickness and glaze-ability. This makes for a harmonious blend of spicy, sweet, tangy, and garlicky flavors in one jar.
Pre-mixed honey sriracha seasoning can be purchased from some spice companies. However, it is also easy to make your own at home using just sriracha sauce and honey. For convenience, the seasoning can be prepared in batches and stored in a sealed jar.
Flavor Profile
Here are the main flavor notes found in honey Sriracha seasoning:
– Sweetness – The honey adds a rich, viscous sweetness that tames down the chili heat.
– Heat – Sriracha brings a punchy heat from red chili peppers and vinegar. The honey mellows the burn.
– Garlic – Minced garlic is a key ingredient in sriracha, providing an aromatic garlicky essence.
– Tanginess – both the honey and vinegar in sriracha offer tart, tangy flavors.
– Thickness – Honey gives the sauce a nice thick, clingy texture.
– Spice – Chili peppers bring mild spice to balance out the sweet.
So in summary, expect a blend of sweet, hot, tangy, garlicky, thick, and spicy flavors when using honey Sriracha! It provides complexity and depth of flavor.
Uses for Honey Sriracha Seasoning
Honey sriracha seasoning is extremely versatile. It can be used to add flavor to proteins, vegetables, grains, and more. Here are some of the most popular ways to use this seasoning:
Meat Marinades and Sauces
Mix honey sriracha into marinades and sauces for meats like chicken, pork, and beef. It will add sweet spiciness to grilled or roasted meat dishes. For example:
– Sriracha honey chicken wings
– Pork chops glazed with honey Sriracha
– Sriracha honey-glazed salmon
– Honey sriracha meatballs
Stir Fries and Noodles
Stir a spoonful of honey Sriracha seasoning into Asian noodle or veggie stir fry dishes. It’s especially tasty in:
– Thai noodle dishes like pad Thai
– Vegetable stir fries
– Zucchini noodles with honey Sriracha
– Honey sriracha fried rice
Dips and Dressings
Whisk honey Sriracha into dips, vinaigrettes, mayos, and creamy dressings. It can flavor:
– Honey sriracha hummus
– Salad dressings and coleslaws
– Honey sriracha dipping sauces
– Aiolis and mayonnaise
Snacks
Spice up snacks by drizzling or dipping into honey sriracha. It’s fantastic on:
– Popcorn
– Fries or tater tots
– Fried pickles or mushrooms
– Pretzels
Breakfast
Wake up to honey sriracha at breakfast by adding it to:
– Breakfast sandwiches and burgers
– Omelets and scrambled eggs
– Avocado toast
– Breakfast bowls and hashes
Recipes
Here are some delicious recipes that showcase honey sriracha seasoning:
Honey Sriracha Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
– 3 lbs chicken wings, split and tips removed
– 1/2 cup honey
– 1/4 cup sriracha
– 2 tbsp butter, melted
– 1 tsp garlic powder
– 1 tsp paprika
– Salt and pepper
Instructions:
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Pat chicken wings dry with paper towels. Arrange in single layer on prepared baking sheet.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, sriracha, melted butter, garlic powder, and paprika. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Brush honey sriracha mixture over chicken wings, coating evenly on all sides.
5. Bake for 25-30 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until chicken is cooked through.
6. Serve hot with an extra drizzle of the honey sriracha sauce. Enjoy!
Honey Sriracha Tofu Stir Fry
Ingredients:
– 1 lb extra firm tofu, drained and cut into 1 inch cubes
– 2 tbsp oil
– 1 red bell pepper, sliced
– 1 cup snap peas
– 2 carrots, peeled and sliced
– 1 cup broccoli florets
– 3 tbsp honey
– 3 tbsp sriracha
– 2 garlic cloves, minced
– 1 tsp grated ginger
– 2 tbsp soy sauce
– Sesame seeds to garnish
Instructions:
1. Press tofu between paper towels to remove excess moisture.
2. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add tofu and cook 5 minutes until golden brown. Remove tofu from skillet and set aside.
3. Add remaining 1 tbsp oil to skillet. Add pepper, snap peas, carrots and broccoli. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
4. Make sauce by whisking together honey, sriracha, garlic, ginger and soy sauce in small bowl.
5. Add sauce and tofu back to skillet. Gently toss everything together until vegetables are tender and coated in sauce.
6. Serve stir fry over rice. Garnish with sesame seeds.
Honey Sriracha Grilled Shrimp Tacos
Ingredients:
– 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
– 3 tbsp honey sriracha seasoning, divided
– 1 lime, juiced
– 1 avocado, sliced
– 8 small corn tortillas
– 1 cup shredded cabbage
– Cilantro for garnish
Instructions:
1. Combine shrimp with 2 tbsp honey sriracha and lime juice in a bowl. Let marinate 15 minutes.
2. Grill shrimp over medium high heat 2-3 minutes per side until cooked through.
3. Warm tortillas on grill.
4. Assemble tacos by layering grilled shrimp, avocado slices, cabbage, and cilantro in tortillas.
5. Drizzle with remaining 1 tbsp honey sriracha. Enjoy!
Tips for Using
Follow these tips for getting the most flavor and functionality out of your honey Sriracha seasoning:
– Start with a small amount – Honey sriracha is strongly flavored, so you often don’t need much. Start with 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per pound of food and adjust up from there.
– Mix it into liquids – Blend honey sriracha into sauces, dressings, marinades, and dips to help it distribute evenly.
– Drizzle it on at the end – For maximum flavor impact, avoid overcooking the honey sriracha. Drizzle it on finished dishes instead.
– Use as both a marinade and finishing sauce – Marinate proteins in some of the sauce, then serve the rest on the side for drizzling.
– Bake it onto chicken wings or meatballs – The honey will caramelize and char for finger-licking results.
– Spice up mayo with it – Add honey sriracha to mayo instead of ketchup for spicy sandwiches and burgers.
– Thin it with vinegar or broth – If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a splash of vinegar, lemon juice, or broth.
Storing Honey Sriracha
Follow these storage tips to keep honey sriracha seasoning tasting its best:
– Store in the fridge – The honey in the sauce makes it prone to spoiling if left at room temperature. Keep it chilled.
– Use within 2-3 months – For best quality and flavor, try to use up honey sriracha within 2 to 3 months of opening.
– Store in airtight container – Keep honey sriracha in a tightly sealed jar or container to prevent drying out.
– No need to refrigerate unopened – Unopened bottles of honey sriracha can be stored in the pantry. Refrigerate after opening.
– Look for signs of spoilage – Discard if mold appears or if the seasoning separates or smells off.
– Freeze for longer storage – Frozen honey sriracha stored in an airtight container will last 4-6 months in the freezer.
Substitutions
If you don’t have honey sriracha seasoning on hand, here are some good flavor substitutions:
– Sriracha + honey – Combine 2 parts sriracha sauce with 1 part honey. Adjust honey to taste.
– Sweet chili sauce – Look for Thai and Asian sweet chili dipping sauces.
– Hot honey – Smoky, seasoned hot honey replicates the honey sriracha taste.
– Chili garlic sauce – Asian chili garlic sauces add garlic and vinegar notes.
– Harissa with honey – North African rose harissa sauce mixed with honey.
– Sriracha mayo – Combine mayo with sriracha to make a quick blended sauce.
– Honey + cayenne – For milder heat, use cayenne pepper and honey.
Be sure to adjust other seasonings like garlic, ginger, vinegar, and soy sauce to match the flavor profile when subbing. Start with less and add more to taste.
Conclusion
Honey sriracha seasoning is endlessly adaptable, adding the perfect sweet and spicy kick to all kinds of recipes. Use it in everything from Asian noodle dishes to tacos, dressings, marinades and more. With its addicting sticky-spicy flavor, a jar of honey sriracha is a must-have for home chefs. We hope this guide has inspired you with new ways to incorporate this versatile seasoning into your cooking rotation. Just be careful not to add too much honey sriracha at first—a little bit goes a long way!