What to Put El Guero 2 Hot Sauce On: Tacos, Carne Asada & More
A good hot salsa isn't just for tacos. Keep a bottle within reach and you'll find yourself reaching for it at every meal. Here's our guide to what to put El Guero 2 Chile de Árbol Hot Salsa on, from street tacos and carne asada to weeknight leftovers.
First, what does it taste like?
El Guero 2 is a spicy salsa made with chiles de árbol and garlic. Chile de árbol brings a clean, bright heat and a toasty chile flavor, and the garlic adds savory depth. It's meant to make food taste better, not to overpower it, so it works on a lot more than you might expect. Because it's spicy, start with a few drops and build from there.
Tacos
This is home base. A hot salsa is what takes a taco from good to great.
- Tacos de asada: grilled steak, onion, cilantro, lime, and a stripe of El Guero 2.
- Al pastor: the heat plays nicely with sweet, charred pork and pineapple.
- Carnitas: rich pork needs something sharp. Chile de árbol plus a squeeze of lime does the job.
- Fish and shrimp tacos: add it to the crema or slaw, or right on top.
- Chicken tacos: simple grilled or shredded chicken gets a big lift from a few drops.
Carne asada and the grill
Carne asada is a weekend tradition across Southern California, and a bottle of chile de árbol salsa belongs next to the grill.
- Splash it on sliced asada right off the grill, along with grilled onions and lime.
- Build a plate with asada, rice, beans, guacamole, and tortillas, and let everyone add their own salsa.
- Put it on grilled chicken, pork chops, sausages, and burgers.
- Stir a little into melted butter with lime juice to brush on grilled corn.
Eggs and breakfast
Eggs and hot salsa are a perfect match. Try it on huevos rancheros, chilaquiles, breakfast burritos, or a simple fried egg on a tortilla. We wrote a whole chile de árbol breakfast guide with our favorite ways to use it in the morning.
Seafood
- Ceviche and aguachile-style dishes: add a few drops right before serving for extra heat.
- Shrimp cocktail: stir a little into the cocktail sauce.
- Oysters and clams: a drop of salsa and a squeeze of lime.
- Grilled fish: serve with lime wedges and salsa on the side.
Burritos, tortas, and quesadillas
Add a line of El Guero 2 inside a burrito before rolling it so the heat is in every bite. On a torta, drizzle it over the meat before the bread goes on. For quesadillas, use it as a dip or open the quesadilla and add a few drops before closing it back up.
Snacks and botanas
- Tortilla chips with cheese (nachos), or tostadas with beans and cheese.
- Fresh fruit with lime and salt, if you like a little heat with sweet.
- Popcorn with melted butter and a few drops of salsa.
- Elote and esquites.
- Chicharrones and a squeeze of lime.
Everyday food that needs a kick
Once you have a hot salsa you love, it goes on everything:
- French fries and potato wedges
- Pizza
- Rice and beans
- Soups like pozole, caldo de res, or chicken tortilla soup
- Instant ramen and noodle bowls
- Mac and cheese
- Leftover anything
Set up a salsa bar for your next carne asada
Hosting a party or a backyard carne asada? Set out a taco bar with warm tortillas, grilled meats, chopped onion and cilantro, lime wedges, guacamole, crema, and a few salsas ranging from mild to hot. Put a couple of bottles of El Guero 2 at each end of the table so nobody has to wait. Guests who like it mild can stick to the tomato salsa, and the chile lovers will find the El Guero 2 on their own.
Tips for getting the most out of your bottle
- Add it at the end. The bright chile flavor comes through best when the salsa goes on after cooking.
- Pair with lime. A squeeze of lime and a few drops of chile de árbol salsa is a classic combination.
- Tame it with creamy toppings. Crema, avocado, or cheese softens the heat for anyone who wants less.
- Store it right. Unopened bottles are shelf-stable. After opening, refrigerate and use by the best-by date on the label.
Keep a bottle everywhere
El Guero 2 Salsa is made in small batches in our family's San Diego catering kitchen. The 5 oz squeeze bottle comes as a Single, 3-Pack, 6-Pack, or 24-Pack, which is the lowest price per bottle and ships free (free U.S. shipping on orders of $70 or more). Shop El Guero 2 Salsa, or find it in-store in San Diego on our Where to Buy page.