LibbySummer eating naturally lends itself to hot hot heat. Flame-licked BBQ finds offer respite from months locked indoors languishing over our instant-pots for the umpteenth time. Burgers, ribs, steaks and sides all benefit from a hit of the heat, and with a ladder of spice to climb and flavours to personalize, the options are only as limited as your palate.
And there’s no wrong way to wing it. From breakfast to dinner, any plate (and some drinks too) can be improved upon with a dash of spice 🔥. From small handcrafted batches made in Ontario to mainstream grocery finds, here are a few of our favourite new hot sauces, each with levels of spice to help you discover your perfect hit.
Front Street Heat 🔥🔥🔥
Dubbed ‘Canada’s Premium Hot Sauce‘ Front Street Heat is hitting the ground running with their recently launched roasted red pepper-based blend. The sulphite-free formula is all about balance, with a dose of honey to add harmony to the mix. No GMO, low-sodium and gluten-free evens the playing field and makes for an accessible sauce. Available at Metro, Sobey’s Foodland and Amazon. Toss it on wings, add it on eggs, this sauce goes with pretty much anything!
Flavour notes: red pepper base with garlic, lime and honey.
TABASCO Sriracha 🔥🔥🔥 1/2
The OG Louisiana hot sauce has a new squeezy Sriracha sauce flavour that is quite a contender considering its namesake. The fresh take on that Thai Chili sauce that started it all, TABASCO’s effort is a sincere form of flattery, and it holds up. Launched in the US in 2014, Canada has been waiting a while for this sauce and for once, it was worth the wait. If you love Sriracha, you’ll be impressed with this one. Vegan, Kosher and gluten-free, this sauce scores high on the flavour front, incorporating a best-of-both-worlds approach when it comes to consistency and taste. Available at your preferred grocer, including Longo’s. Garlicky, zesty and pepper forward, swap this one for anything that you’d usually reach for the rooster.
Flavour notes: Sweet chillies, garlic, pepper.
No. 7 Habanero Peach Mexican Hot Sauce 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Is it getting hot in here, or is it just this sauce? Habanero pepper ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 on the Scoville Scale, so you know this sauce should be treated with respect! Peaches add that hit of sweet without hiding the heat, No 7 Hot Mexican Hot Sauce is hot but manageable with the addition of this juicy nectar. Use it in marinades, fish tacos or with your next sausage. Shop directly on their site no7hotsauce.com.
Flavour notes: Peaches, onion, apple cider vinegar.
Quesada 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Shake well and use with caution! This sauce is firey and authentic, Quesada’s core mission is all about keeping it real and their Garlic Habareno Mexican Hot Sauce is all that (and a bag of made-in-house tortillas). Quesada roasts premium ingredients to create this fiery blend, with habanero peppers taking centre stage in this spicy effort. Silky smooth with a garlic finish, pair with your favourite Mexican food, especially enchiladas or carnitas. Grab a bottle when you’re grabbing your next Quesada fix, find yours at quesada.ca.
Flavour notes: Pepper, garlic, acid.
Suzanne’s Hot Stuff 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Suzanne’s Hot Stuff is a small-batch artisanal line of hot sauces made right here in Ontario. Guided by her Guyanese background, Suzanne’s sensational line of jellies, sauces and marinades are made with love with the freshest ingredients. Six sauces comprise her fired up collection; Guyanese Wiri Wiri, Scotch Bonnet, Ghost Pepper, Peach Scotch Bonnet, Mango Scotch Bonnet and Curry Scotch Bonnet. The result is memorable, each with a not-so-subtle spicy influence courtesy of the Scotch Bonnet-ness. The Curry Scotch Bonnet is our current fave, so impressed with the layers of flavour and all the possibilities this sauce brings! Add flavour and fire to your fave BBQ finds, or add to soups, stews and curries for an authentic twist to any meal. Get all her products and grab delivery too at suzannehotstuff.ca.
Flavour notes: Scotch Bonnet Peppers, garlic, fire!
All images by Libby Roach.