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.