Sriracha Hot Sauce: Is It Keto-Friendly?

Sriracha is a hot sauce that is used to spice up a variety of dishes, from cocktails to eggs and burgers. It is made from chilli peppers, garlic, distilled vinegar, sugar, and salt, and is famous for its unique packaging with a rooster on it. While it is a low-calorie condiment, it has a high carbohydrate content, with approximately 16.96g net carbs per 100g. This means that even a small amount of sriracha can significantly contribute to your daily carb limit, which is usually around 20 to 50 grams per day for those on a keto diet. Therefore, it is not typically considered keto-friendly. However, some people may still include it in their keto diet in moderation, as long as they carefully track their carb intake.

Sriracha is keto-friendly in moderation

Sriracha is a popular hot sauce that can be used to spice up any meal. It is made from chilli peppers, garlic, distilled vinegar, sugar, and salt, and sometimes includes additives like xanthan gum to increase viscosity.

The keto diet is a low-carb, high-fat regimen that puts your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. To maintain this state, it is important to limit your daily carbohydrate intake, usually to around 20 to 50 grams per day.

Sriracha typically contains approximately 16.96 grams of net carbs per 100 grams, which is considered high. This means that even a small amount can significantly contribute to your daily carb limit. However, if consumed in moderation, sriracha can be considered keto-friendly. A teaspoon of sriracha (around 5-6.5 grams) has only about 1 gram of net carbs. Therefore, you can comfortably have a few teaspoons with your dish without exceeding your daily carb limit.

It is important to note that different brands of sriracha may have different ingredients and nutritional values. Some brands may add maple syrup, tomatoes, or cornstarch, which can increase the carb content. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the ingredient list and nutritional value before purchasing.

If you are a strict ketogenic dieter, you may want to avoid store-bought sriracha due to the added sugar. Instead, you can make your own keto-friendly sriracha at home by using a keto-friendly sweetener and adding it to a chilli garlic sauce or a similar sauce that does not contain sugar.

Sugar content in sriracha

Sriracha is a spicy sauce that adds a punch of flavour and heat to many dishes. It is typically consumed in small quantities as a condiment and is a low-calorie option for adding flavour to dishes.

The main ingredients of Sriracha include chilli peppers, sugar, distilled vinegar, garlic, and salt. The sauce contains approximately 1 gram of sugar per teaspoon, which is similar to the sugar content in ketchup.

While Sriracha does contain sugar, the amount of sugar is relatively small due to the small serving sizes. A serving of Sriracha accounts for 2% of your daily recommended sugar intake, based on a 2,000-calorie per day diet.

If you are following a ketogenic diet, you may need to consider your macros and decide how much of your daily carb allowance you want to dedicate to Sriracha. The common rooster brand has 1 carb per teaspoon, which equals 7 grams of carbs per day if you consume 7 teaspoons throughout the day.

There are alternative options available that are similar to Sriracha but do not contain sugar. For example, Huy Fong Foods, the company that makes Sriracha, also produces a garlic chilli sauce and a sambal sauce that are both sugar-free. You can also make your own keto-friendly Sriracha sauce by adding keto-friendly sweeteners to these chilli garlic sauces.

Carbohydrate content in sriracha

Sriracha is a spicy sauce that adds a punch of flavour and heat to many dishes. It is typically consumed in small quantities as a condiment and is a low-calorie option for adding flavour to dishes.

The common rooster brand of sriracha has 1g of carbohydrates per teaspoon. There are 96 teaspoons in a bottle, which gives approximately 7 teaspoons per day with 7g of carbohydrates, assuming equal consumption over a fortnight.

The carbohydrates in sriracha mostly come from sugar, with almost 1g of sugar per 2-teaspoon serving. However, when compared to one carb count or 15 grams of carbohydrates, this is considered a low-carb food source.

The makers of the popular Sriracha Sauce, Huy Fong, also make a chili garlic sauce that has everything Sriracha does but without the sugar. You can also make your own keto-friendly sriracha sauce by adding keto-friendly sweeteners to the Huy Fong Garlic Chili Sauce.

Health benefits of sriracha

Sriracha is a popular hot sauce with a tangy-sweet taste and a hint of garlic. While it is not commonly considered a health food, some potential health benefits are associated with its ingredients.

Firstly, the capsaicin in chilli peppers in sriracha may have positive effects on heart health. Studies indicate that capsaicin may help treat pain associated with angina and increase patients' ability to exercise. Additionally, the garlic in sriracha could also be beneficial for the heart. Research suggests that consuming garlic may lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which is especially helpful for people at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Secondly, sriracha may aid weight loss. The capsaicin in chilli peppers can increase overall energy expenditure and help the body metabolise fat more quickly. Furthermore, spicy foods have been shown to reduce hunger pangs, leading to reduced appetite and more sensible food choices.

Thirdly, sriracha could contribute to longevity. The red chillies in hot sauce may positively impact circulation and cardiovascular health. Cultures with a high consumption of spicy foods, like Mexico, India, and China, tend to have lower rates of heart disease and certain cancers. Spicy foods have antioxidant, antibacterial, and potential anti-carcinogenic properties, so a regular dose of sriracha could support a longer life.

Lastly, sriracha's spicy properties can help alleviate cold and flu symptoms by easing sinus and nasal congestion, increasing body temperature, and improving respiratory function. Additionally, hot and spicy foods have anti-inflammatory effects, helping to treat conditions like headaches, nausea, shingles, arthritis, and some autoimmune disorders.

While sriracha offers these potential health benefits, it is important to remember that excessive consumption may have negative effects due to its high sodium content. Raised blood pressure is a potential risk, especially for individuals already dealing with hypertension.

Keto-friendly alternatives to sriracha

Sriracha is a keto-friendly condiment, but it does contain a small amount of sugar, so it's best consumed in moderation. If you're looking for alternatives, there are a few options that fit the bill.

Firstly, the makers of Sriracha, Huy Fong, also produce a chili garlic sauce that is similar to Sriracha but without the sugar. You can add your own keto-friendly sweetener to make a perfect keto-friendly sauce. Erythritol, Liquid Sucralose, and Chicory Root powder are some recommended options. You can also add MCT oil, which is a flavour enhancer and gives a ketone boost.

If you're looking for a ready-made alternative, Cholula Hot Sauce is recommended as the best keto alternative to Sriracha. It has a similar ingredient list but uses different chili peppers, giving it a tangier taste. It is also a little runnier but can be used as a keto-friendly replacement in any recipe.

Other alternatives include Tabasco Hot Sauce, which is thinner and tangier, and has fewer calories, sodium, and carbohydrates than Sriracha. It is also sugar-free and additive-free. Gai Gan Thai Chili Hot Sauce is another option, with a similar ingredient list to Sriracha but with added bell peppers for a sweeter flavour. It is also lower in sodium. Both of these sauces are keto-friendly and can be used as a replacement for Sriracha.

Finally, Sambal Oelek is another alternative, made by Huy Fong. It has a better flavour and doesn't contain sugar.

Frequently asked questions