In Los Angeles, I deal frequently (75% of my caseload actually..) with immigrants from Latin America. Many are distrusting or fearful of law
enforcement for a variety of reasons. I use many techniques to gain rapport and their trust. One of the more fun ways (there are a million..) of
breaking down "the wall" inhibiting communication is to talk about their heritage and experiences from their homeland. Since I have a Spanish mother
and a Mexican wife, I like to talk about food, especially picante sauce. After a few minutes people generally warm up to this topic, no pun intended.
My point is, I frequently poll people about what their favorite type of STORE BOUGHT picante sauce is. I do this because I also have a personal
interest in it. I love picante or hot sauce. If it is a female I am talking to, they are very reluctant to cop-out to using or liking store bought
anything because no self-respecting Latin American female would use store bought salsa, right? But eventually I do get a vote for a specific type or
brand.
During my last trip to Baja, I noticed that the favorite type of picante sauce seems to be Salsa Huichol. Here in Los Angeles, it is Tapatio.
Cholula, Pico Pica and EL Pato are some others. I have learned never to mention Tabasco Sauce because it almost always draws a negative response or
laugh. But to each they own.
So, my question is, what is your favorite STORE BOUGHT picante or hot sauce? I am starting a collection and want some input. I just bought a bottle of
Huichol yesterday. And, if you have not heard of it, Tapatio is VERY good!!! Jon
Picante
tehag - 8-31-2008 at 10:18 AM
Guacamaya habanero - red. Bufalo chilpotle. Just Chile (Shameless plug, my cousin bottles it) really is good though.
Not Mexican but the greatest!!
Cardon Man - 8-31-2008 at 11:10 AM
For me the king of all hot sauce is "Toung Ot Sriracha" made by Huy Fong foods. It's the classic sauce you might see in a good teryaki place or other
asian restaurant...clear plastic bottle with a rooster on it and green cap. It's got such great flavor and a brilliant natural red color. It's
vietnamese in origin I believe.
As far as Mexican brands go...On the mild side but great is Huichol. Salsa La Extra is a good habanero sauce.woody with a view - 8-31-2008 at 11:23 AM
7 Mares. good on everything....
salsa
stimbo - 8-31-2008 at 11:36 AM
I've been a fan of the Salsa Huichol Picante and Tapatio. Recently though, we ran across Salsa Encino. VERY tasty! A nice, spicy chile de arbol to add
to your collection.Paulina - 8-31-2008 at 11:49 AM
We use Guacamaya or the Rooster sauce, Toung Ot Sriracha. We recently found a new Rooster sauce that has added garlic. I don't have the name of it
handy. Too tasty for words!
P<*)))>{Diver - 8-31-2008 at 11:57 AM
We love Pico Pica hot sauce but we've never seen it in Baja.
And Herdez for red or green chili sauce always works in a pinch for chips or tacos or over fish.capt. mike - 8-31-2008 at 01:19 PM
herdez cinco chilis hands down.bajabound2005 - 8-31-2008 at 02:20 PM
I LOVE Sriracha! Guacamaya is a good back up. Bufalo is on the sweet side.Mexitron - 8-31-2008 at 02:39 PM
Second the motion on Crystal's grover--great for a marinade on pork before slow grilling.Sharksbaja - 8-31-2008 at 03:23 PM
I actually combine some of those mentioned above. Herdez, Tapitio, Crystal
Guacamaya. They all have their proper place imo.
A thin sauce like Guacamaya lends it's self very well to tossing and filling. While Herdez works well spread across a layer in tostada compuesta.
My son however is a teenage salsa critic. He must have tried a hundred odd-ball varieties.
His likes are similar to mine.(wink)shari - 8-31-2008 at 03:47 PM
OK while we're on the topic...Juan is offering a special reward to anyone who can bring a bottle of that vietnamese sashimi sauce...when people ask
what can they bring we always say that but none has made it here yet. Paulina??? when are you coming down next??Paulina - 8-31-2008 at 04:09 PM
Unfortunately Shari, it's going to be a while. As it looks now, I probably won't get back down till Christmas/New Years. I'll put it on my list for
you though. We found the Rooster sauce with garlic in the Smart and Final in Ensenada. Killer stuff.
P. <*)))>{
Shari...think again...
JaraHurd - 8-31-2008 at 05:20 PM
U never told me that or we would have brought some for you guys!!! J
almost forgot A GREAT bottled sauce.
capt. mike - 8-31-2008 at 05:36 PM
Chalupa.
i don't know who makes it but it is sooooo flavorful!
i like it just skaken on warm tortillas.
it seems to cost a premium in the states over all the other bottled sauces.Hook - 8-31-2008 at 07:29 PM
Pico Pica was my favorite north of the border, but it's no where to be found down here.
We generally have five on hand' Huichol, Guacamaya, Tamazula, Siete Mares and a habanero one. Currently it is LOL Tun. I like habanero picantes that
arent totally overwhelming with their heat and I like them pureed with carrots. It's a relatively thick habanero salsa.
El Yucateco
The Gull - 9-1-2008 at 07:59 AM
Chile Habanero - Green stuffbajabound2005 - 9-1-2008 at 08:30 AM
The Sriracha can be bought in Ensenada at Smart and Final and I think Pro San. Shari -- when will Sirena be going home for visit or will you be
coming here? We'll make sure you get some (that the "sashimi" sauce).thebajarunner - 9-1-2008 at 10:17 AM
Herdez Salsa Verde,
brought back 24 of the bottles in March and just used the last one.
when I check out at Comercial Mexicana the girl usually asks
"do you own a restarante?"
nope, we just live on Herdez Verdewoody with a view - 9-1-2008 at 10:37 AM
Quote:
Herdez Verde
the first stuff i experimented with (in the can) when i started camping out in baja....flyfishinPam - 9-3-2008 at 08:16 AM
i had to go hame and take a look and the brand name-
CASTILLO green habanero sauce, my current favorite flyfishinPam - 9-3-2008 at 08:17 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by shari
OK while we're on the topic...Juan is offering a special reward to anyone who can bring a bottle of that vietnamese sashimi sauce...when people ask
what can they bring we always say that but none has made it here yet. Paulina??? when are you coming down next??
they sell it in Loreto at the restaurant supply, do you want me to ship some to you via baja pack?Bob H - 9-3-2008 at 09:02 AM
Jamaican Style Batch #114..... Oh my... it is wonderful stuff. A habaneros sauce. Made in Kansas.
You will love the flavor and it's good on and in everthing you cook.
Bob H
[Edited on 9-3-2008 by Bob H]wsdunc - 9-3-2008 at 09:37 AM
El Yucateco XX (brown)
Melinda's XXXX
Trinidad
Pickapeppa
Matouk's Calypso Sauce
For all the hot stuff you could possibly want:
MoHotta MoBetta on line
Habanero salsa's are maybe 30,000 scoville units (measurement of heat)
Dave's insanity (made from chile extract) is maybe 50,000 scovilles. This tastes crappy to me, but is really HOT
For the completely insane they have some new concentrated extracts, 4,000,000 scoviles. $100 for 2 oz. I think you add 1 drop to a pot of chili. I
am not sure why anyone would want something like this unless you had a big mouthed friend (enemy?) who kept saying nothing was too hot for him. I
assume this would physically hurt you.
For me nothing above the habanero salsas are worthwhile, but the habaneros salsas YUM!Sharksbaja - 9-3-2008 at 11:21 AM
Watch those Asian sauces Shari. They use LOTS of MSG in EVERYTHANG!
No MSG...
Cardon Man - 9-3-2008 at 11:47 AM
It should be noted that Tuong Ot Shriracha ( "rooster sauce" ) contains no MSG.Mango - 9-3-2008 at 12:20 PM
I like the El Yucateco sauses...
My favorite is "De Boca en Boco" by Grupo Fuego Maya...more flavor than most.. and still wayXXX hot.
They have a website listed.. but not much information..
Originally posted by Cardon Man
It should be noted that Tuong Ot Shriracha ( "rooster sauce" ) contains no MSG.
what's wrong with Tabasco?
Cardon Man - 9-3-2008 at 01:05 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by JaraHurd
I have learned never to mention Tabasco Sauce because it almost always draws a negative response or laugh.
While I have several of the aforementioned sauces in my kitchen I also have a bottle of Tabasco. I may not use it as often as others but I do enjoy
it. Am in the minority?
It's All About Balance
Gypsy Jan - 9-3-2008 at 02:33 PM
Hot sauces should add flavor as a grace note and not overwhelm the other tastes in the dish. The scovillenatics are missing the point.
Here's my list:
1. La India Brava, Productos Navajos, Salsa de Chiltepin
2. El Yucateco, Salsa Picante Roja de Chile Habanero
3. El Yucateco, Salsa Picante Verde de Chile Habanero
4. El Yucateco, Salsa de Chipotle Ahumado
5. Tuong Ot Sriracha Chile SauceMango - 9-3-2008 at 03:27 PM
I used to eat peppers like they were going out of style. I still like some heat now and again; but, I keep it toned down enough to enjoy taste.
That is unless I have a wicked cold.. then I'll take in a lot of hot sauce and "sweat it out".
Unfortunately; last time I tried this tactic.. I got a wicked burning/upset belly and still had a horrible cold... Sharksbaja - 9-3-2008 at 04:33 PM
Geeze, don't they make a good Mango salsa anywhere?Diver - 9-3-2008 at 05:40 PM
We make a great fresh mango salsa to go over pork or fish or chicken.
Mangos, diced red onion, diced jalapenos, cilantro and a squeeze of lime.
We are getting cases of fresh local peaches right now.
Some get sliced and frozen for pies and smoothies;
some get dehydrated for snacks,
and we have a great peach chutney recipe to put up for the winter.
.Packoderm - 9-3-2008 at 07:24 PM
I just found out that Gerber makes a picante sauce.
bajasammy - 9-4-2008 at 06:59 AM
My kids are practically 'collectors'. They love the stuff!
Here's the current favorite for the heat-loving son (mentioned already in this thread)...
[Edited on 9-4-2008 by bajasammy]
bajasammy - 9-4-2008 at 07:05 AM
THis is one for the not-so spicers that don't like it too hot...
bajasammy - 9-4-2008 at 07:09 AM
And we have a family split on 7-mares - I think it's great on seafood. The boys are always having me take pics of what we've tried so they know what
to pick up at Calimax (check out the eager student of picante in the background).
[Edited on 9-4-2008 by bajasammy]
Hook - 9-4-2008 at 08:30 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by grover
Quote:
Originally posted by Gypsy Jan...The scovillenatics are missing the point...
Heh.
We used to keep a bottle of Habanero in the trailer as a gag.
Not much flavor, but a boatload of heat.
That's why I like the habanero salsas that have a high concentration of zanahorias in them. Good flavor and it tones down the heat level to tolerable.Paulina - 9-4-2008 at 11:08 PM
Dern rule is that it's only good if it burns both on the way in and again on the way out...
Dennis, I had a special request to buy some of that "New York City" stuff for Cody today...She really needs to get back to Baja.
P<*)))>{jeans - 9-4-2008 at 11:28 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
There are a bunch of sauces and dips mentioned above. How many of them are from....gasp...choke...stutter.....New York City?
I hope you old folks can remember that add on TV.
New York City??!!!
Git a rope.....
(and that commercial is not that "old")
[Edited on 9-5-2008 by jeans]
hey Sammy
capt. mike - 9-5-2008 at 07:07 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by bajasammy
THis is one for the not-so spicers that don't like it too hot...
i use that one in my home made wing sauce. it's great.
we flash fry pork shoulder carnitas style then turn it in a wing sauce for bar snacks. it's called "what happens when pigs fly".Hook - 9-5-2008 at 08:35 AM
That NYC commercial was enjoyable................the only problem is that Pace salsas arent really that good, IMO. Too much tomato paste for a jarred
"salsa fresca".
We prefer Herdez; wish they made it in those large containers of Pace like you see at Costco and Smart and Final.Cardon Man - 9-5-2008 at 08:59 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Hook
That NYC commercial was enjoyable................the only problem is that Pace salsas arent really that good, IMO. Too much tomato paste for a jarred
"salsa fresca".
We prefer Herdez; wish they made it in those large containers of Pace like you see at Costco and Smart and Final.
Hook, you are being too kind to Pace. It's horrible IMO.
Herdez is far superior.tripledigitken - 9-5-2008 at 09:06 AM
Agree with Cardon Herdez is far superior to Pace. We always have 3-4 cans of Herdez in our pantry!
I've been taking a lot of notes here and will be buying some of those bottles!
I like El Pato sauce (in the can) for cooking.
I can tell by this crowd, that when some go to the Thai restaurant with the heat scale from 1-5 their ordering at the the 5 level.
