There are several types of dishes that benefit from a dash of the hot stuff.
Hot sauce is present in almost every culture's cuisine. It is most popular in the Americas, present in Central and South America, with a focus on flavor rather than spice. In the United States, it is primarily comprised of crushed peppers that are distilled in vinegar for a unique American flavor. Although some would argue there isn't anything hot sauce doesn't make better, some dishes stand out as especially enhanced by hot sauce.
Seafood
When it comes to cooking seafood, the addition of hot sauce is a definite bonus, especially when preparing shrimp cocktail or having an old-fashioned seafood boil, especially in the Cajun style. In a traditional crab boil, hot sauce is added along with cayenne, specially prepared crab boil packets, hot dogs, whole onions, potatoes and corn on the cob. Traditionally, Cajun cuisine uses the traditional Louisiana brands such as Crystal and Tabasco, which has been in existence since 1868 and is still made today in Avery Island, Louisiana. Hot sauce goes well on any food that accompanies seafood such as shrimp cocktail sauce. Adding hot sauce will enhance the flavor and make for a memorable appetizer.
Wings
Buffalo-style hot wings are an extremely popular dish in the United States. Made from chicken wings marinated in a special wing sauce, Buffalo wings are one of America's favorite hot sauce items. Adding a bit of hot sauce to the wings after they are made can give you the spicy taste you desire, although many wing sauces already have hot sauce added to the mixture. Buffalo wings are not new --- they have been around since 1964 and come in various degrees of hotness. Hot sauce enables you to order hot wings for everyone's taste --- be they mild or wild --- and customize them to your own level of spiciness.
Mexican Food
Although Mexican food uses a particular type of hot sauce that is more about flavor than spice, hot sauce can add a quality flavor to tacos and other Mexican staples such as refried beans, mixed veggies, enchiladas and burritos. It also goes extremely well mixed in with salsas for that little extra kick that makes all the difference. Naturally, you can control not only the amount of spiciness that goes into your food, but also vary the flavor of what you are eating by using a hot sauce that is made from chipolte or habanero peppers to give it your own unique spin.
BBQ and Ribs
Hot sauce is a favorite additive to BBQ and rib sauce as it adds that extra kick to any meal. If you know you have an audience that likes things extra spicy, add it in before you baste for that extra kick by stirring it into your sauce. Even a dash will do to add a bit of flavor that will make your ribs and BBQ taste unique. Make a special combination by putting together some pulled pork, adding a little of the hot stuff and then eating them on a tortilla for a spicy taco. You'll find hot sauce makes your BBQ fare even more interesting with a zesty taste that's all your own.
Tags: extra kick, Adding sauce, Buffalo wings, crab boil, into your, pulled pork