What goes with fire? Almost everything — but not everything.

Pairing food with hot sauce often seems obvious. Tacos? Yes. Fried rice? Yes. Anything grilled, greasy, or begging for a slap of acid and heat? Absolutely. Sometimes the bottle is already on the table when you sit down — that's your clue. It belongs here; you’re in safe territory.

But then there are those other times — when your little home experiment turns into a culinary disaster. A dollop of one style of hot sauce on the dish that it doesn't belong on and suddenly you’re regretting your life choices. That’s why you always start small: a drop, a dab, a toe in the lava. Be curious, not reckless.

That’s the beauty of hot sauce at home — you're the mad scientist. Try a little, mix a little – maybe even mix it with another ingredient or sauce. (I love blending our fermented mango hot sauce with mayo, some minced garlic and a touch of lemon juice for a quick aioli.) You’ve got full control of the lab. You are the DJ and the rapper – get jiggy with it like Will Smith, but let the hot sauce do the slapping, please.

We’ll do a full deep-dive pairing guide soon — but for now, here’s the fast-track to pairing each of our vegan, fermented chili sauces with the stuff they love best

Red Hot Goji

The OG. Fermented goji, garlic, and chili — sharp, funky, and fiery. Pairs best with: fried foods, grilled meats, BBQ, eggs, roasted vegetables, tacos, sandwiches, sausage, beans, rice, tofu, tempeh, pizza, rosemary, avocado, and even mayonnaise. Pro-move: Dunk crispy fries in it or drizzle it over crispy roast chicken — just trust us. Get it here.

Golden Mango

Sweet heat with a turmeric twist. Fermented mango brings bright acidity and big attitude. Pairs best with: tacos, sandwiches, anything fried, grilled meats, chicken, seafood, beans, rice, tofu, sausage, avocado, lemon, and especially mayonnaise. Pro-move: Hit your fish tacos or fried rice with this and prepare for enlightenment. Get our Golden Mango Sauce now.

Black Magic Plum

Dark, smoky, complex — like a BBQ sauce with secrets and a tart finish. Fermented plum, garlic, and a subtle burn. Pairs best with: grilled vegetables, eggs, rice dishes, cheese, grilled meats & BBQ, tofu, eggplant, sausage, duck, mushrooms, baked beans, pork, avocado, and even a bit of ketchup. Pro- move: Swirl it into ketchup and slather it on a burger or dip your fries and prepare for a new experience. Get our Black Magic Plum sauce now!