In some circles, it is known as rooster sauce. This super hot sauce is named after the coastal city of Si Racha, located in the Chonburi Province of Eastern Thailand where local seafood restaurants serve it.

This snappy paste is made from distilled vinegar, sun-ripened chili peppers, garlic, salt, and sugar. It has a heating rating of 2000 Scoville units, making it less than half as hot as a jalapeno pepper, which ranges from 2,500 to 10,000 units.

Health benefits of sriracha sauce

Not only is sriracha sauce an amazing addition to tasty dishes, but it is also good for you. Here are just a few of the health benefits of this kicked up topping.

Sriracha sauce boosts metabolism and helps with weight loss: The main ingredient in sriracha sauce is red chili peppers.  Red chili peppers contain capsaicin that has been found to boost metabolism. In addition, capsaicin can help curb your appetite which in turn means you eat less. By inhibiting fat accumulation, capsaicin can effectively combat weight issues.

Sriracha sauce can help balance blood sugar: If you struggle with blood sugar issues, adding a little sriracha to your diet can help keep sugars in check. Research shows that chili consumption can help with both glucose absorption in the small intestine as well as the regulation of insulin levels.

Sriracha sauce can make you happier: This may seem hard to believe, but studies confirm that heating up your favorite dish with a little sriracha sauce can, in fact, elevate your mood. Capsaicin releases serotonin, the feel-good chemical that helps promote feelings of bliss and reduce pain.

Sriracha sauce can help you fight a cold: Like any other hot and spicy food, sriracha sauce can clean out your nasal passages and help with breathing that is compromised from a cold or the flu. A few drops of sriracha on your morning eggs will clear out mucus and act as an expectorant.

How To Make Your Own

This recipe makes about 1 ½ cups of hot goodness.

What’s in it

• 1 cup Thai red chili peppers *Start with less (about half) if you want a more mild, gentle hot sauce
• 4-5 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
• 3-4 medium shallots, minced
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil
• 15 ounces tomato sauce
• 1 Tablespoon fish sauce
• 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
  3 Tablespoons coconut crystals

How to make it

1. Remove the stems from chili peppers and rinse them well. Blot with a paper towel.
2. Put on gloves and mince the peppers into very fine pieces.
3. Heat coconut oil in a saucepan and add the minced garlic and shallots. Saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until light brown and fragrant.
4. Add in the tomato sauce and minced chili peppers.
5. Add fish sauce, vinegar, and coconut crystals.
6. Simmer sauce for 5 minutes. This helps to break down the chili peppers and soften them.
7. Remove sauce from the heat and allow to cool.
8. Pour sauce into a blender and blend until smooth.
9. Taste and customize adding more sugar, vinegar or water.
10. Store in the fridge for up to one week.

-Susan Patterson