On January 22 we celebrate, National Hot Sauce Day, Hot Sauce is everyone’s favourite because it has the taste of both sweetness and hotness, however, there are many types and flavours of Hot Sauce, Tabasco is known for its tangy flavour and moderate heat, Sriracha A Thai-style hot sauce with a sweet and spicy kick, Cholula – A Mexican hot sauce famous for its mild heat and rich flavour, Frank’s RedHot – Popular for its use in buffalo wings, it offers a balance of heat and flavour, Carolina Reaper – For the brave, this extremely hot sauce features one of the hottest peppers in the world.
History of National Hot Sauce Day
Did you know that humans started using chilli peppers and other such spices thousands of years ago, with many historians believing that chilli peppers were one of the earliest plants harvested by humans? However, back in this era, historians believe the recipe was a simple mixture of peppers and water mixed into a liquid or thick paste.
However, in South and Central America, there is evidence of chilli peppers being used for cooking as early as 6,000 years ago, but they did not reach Europe until the 16th century when Portuguese and Spanish explorers began sending all sorts of unusual foods from the New World back home.
The first hot sauce to be available in a bottle appeared in shops in the state of Massachusetts in the year 1807, and then suddenly, hot sauce was everywhere and being added to everything.
Tabasco sauce is one of the earliest brands to have come into existence that still exists today, being bottled and sold for the first time in 1868.
Today’s recipes contain a wide variety of peppers, and many food enthusiasts argue passionately about which pepper makes the best sauce. Some of the most commonly used peppers are jalapeños, reapers, Thai chillies, cayenne peppers, serranos, and ghost peppers.
The hottest pepper in the world is often considered to be the Carolina Reaper, with a Scoville rating of 2,000,000 (the average jalapeno pepper ranking at only 3,500 Scoville Heat Units).
| 1492 (Explorers to the New World experience Chiles | It is believed that Christopher Columbus may be one of the first explorers from Europe to taste chiles. He names them “peppers” because of their spicy flavour which is similar to the black peppercorns he was looking for. |
| 1807 (Hot Sauce first appears in America) | In the northeastern state of Massachusetts, newspaper advertisements show that hot sauce appears on the market around this time and is sold as “cayenne sauce |
| 1868 (Tabasco Pepper Sauce is first created) | Edmund McIlhenny feels that the diet of Southerners in the US is a bit bland, so he plants a crop of commercial peppers and creates his classic Tabasco pepper hot sauce. |
| 1964 (Buffalo Wings are invented) | One of the quintessential carriers for spicy, peppery sauce, Buffalo Wings takes shape in Buffalo, New York when a restaurant owner makes a late-night snack for her son and his friends. The restaurant owner’s son and the hot sauce supplier later go on the road together, promoting the use of hot sauce on fried chicken wings. |
| 1980 (Sriracha Sauce hits the market) | A refugee from Vietnam, David Tran, starts a company in California and names his hot sauce after a city in Thailand: Sri Racha. The sauce contains not only chilli peppers but also other ingredients such as garlic and sugar. The hot sauce becomes almost an instant hit |
Spicy Hot Sauce Chicken Wings Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds of chicken wings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup hot sauce (your favourite brands, like Frank’s RedHot, Sriracha, or Tabasco)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon honey (optional, for a touch of sweetness)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (for tanginess)
- Celery sticks (for serving)
- Blue cheese or ranch dressing (for dipping)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil and place a wire rack on top. The wire rack helps the wings crisp up evenly.
- Pat the chicken wings dry with paper towels. This helps them get crispy.
- In a large bowl, toss the wings with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper until evenly coated.
- Arrange the wings in a single layer on the wire rack. Bake in the preheated oven for about 40-45 minutes, or until the wings are golden brown and crispy. Flip the wings halfway through baking for even crisping.
- While the wings are baking, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, whisk in the hot sauce, honey (if using), and apple cider vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes until well combined and slightly thickened.
- Remove the wings from the oven and place them in a large bowl. Pour the hot sauce glaze over the wings and toss until they are evenly coated.
- Transfer the coated wings to a serving platter. Serve with celery sticks and blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
Ways to Celebrate Hot Sauces
- Try New Sauces: On this day you can sample a variety of hot sauces to find new favourites. Visit local hot sauce shops or try online tastings.
- Cooking with Hot Sauce: co-operate with hot sauce in your cooking. Make spicy dishes like hot wings, spicy chilli, or a hot sauce-infused marinade.
- Hot Sauce Tasting Party: Even you can host a tasting party with friends or family. Include a range of hot sauces from mild to extreme and pair them with different foods.
- Share Recipes: Post your favourite hot sauce recipes or dishes online and encourage others to join in the celebration.
- Hot Sauce Challenge: Test your tolerance with a hot sauce challenge, trying and rating increasingly hot sauces.
FAQs
What is National Hot Sauce Day?
National Hot Sauce Day is a day that is dedicated to celebrating hot sauce and its role in enhancing flavours in various dishes.
What types of hot sauces can I try?
From some Hot sauces that you can try such as classic sriracha and Tabasco to artisanal and regional varieties like habanero, ghost pepper, or fermented sauces.
Can I make my hot sauce?
Yes! Homemade hot sauces can be customized with different peppers, spices, and ingredients.
How can I celebrate?
Try new hot sauces, cook with spicy ingredients, host a hot sauce-tasting party, or share your favourite hot sauce recipes.
Are there any health benefits to hot sauce?
Capsaicin, the compound that makes hot sauce hot, may have health benefits like boosting metabolism and providing pain relief, but it’s best enjoyed in moderation.
Also, read more about National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day – January 3, 2025
