5 Street Food Sauces Every Food Lover Needs to Try This Summer

Posted by I4C on 2nd Jun 2026

5 Street Food Sauces Every Food Lover Needs to Try This Summer

There is something about street food that captures the imagination. Whether it's smoky barbecue from the American South, spicy tacos from Mexico, Korean-inspired flavours packed with umami, or bold Indian-inspired marinades, some of the world's most exciting dishes have their roots in street food culture.

The challenge is recreating those flavours at home or in a busy professional kitchen without spending hours sourcing ingredients, making sauces from scratch, and balancing spices.

That's where the Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Sauce Range comes in.

Created by chefs who travel the world researching emerging food trends and authentic global flavours, these ready-to-use sauces bring restaurant-quality street food inspiration straight to your kitchen.

Even better, throughout June, the entire range is available exclusively at Infusions4Chefs for just £8.79 per bottle, reduced from £9.49.

Essential-Cuisine-Street-Food-Chef-Sauce-Range

What Makes the Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Range Different?

Essential Cuisine's development chefs spend their time exploring food markets, street vendors, independent eateries and culinary hotspots around the world. The result is a collection of chef-crafted sauces inspired by some of the most exciting street food flavours on the planet.

Each sauce is designed to be incredibly versatile and easy to use.

Use them as:

  • Marinades for meat, fish, tofu and vegetables
  • Glazes for barbecue dishes
  • Dipping sauces
  • Burger sauces
  • Drizzles for loaded fries and street food bowls
  • Finishing sauces for tacos, wraps and flatbreads

They're also:

  • Gluten free
  • Vegan friendly
  • Made in the UK
  • Supplied in recyclable packaging

Street Food Chef Smoky El Diablo Inspired Sauce

If you love smoky heat with a rich depth of flavour, this is the bottle you'll reach for again and again.

Inspired by Mexican street food flavours, Smoky El Diablo combines smoky notes with warming chilli character that works brilliantly with slow-cooked meats, grilled vegetables and tacos.

Try it with:

  • Pulled pork tacos
  • Loaded nachos
  • Chicken wings
  • Grilled sweetcorn
  • Roasted cauliflower tacos

Recipe Inspiration: Pulled Pork El Diablo Tacos

One of our favourite ways to use this sauce is in pulled pork tacos. Slow-cooked pork coated in Smoky El Diablo sauce, piled into soft tortillas and topped with crunchy slaw creates a simple but impressive dinner packed with flavour. Here’s the full recipe:

Prep Time: 30 mins | Cooking Time: 4 hours | Serves: 10

Ingredients:

For the Pulled Pork:

For the Dirty Rice:

For the Tacos:

  • 20 small soft taco tortillas
  • 1 baby gem lettuce, shredded
  • 300g tinned sweetcorn, drained
  • 300g pickled red onions (pre-prepared)
  • Fresh coriander leaves (for garnish)
  • Lime wedges (for serving)

Method:

Slow Cook the Pulled Pork:

  1. Preheat your oven to 150°C / 130°C fan / gas 2.
  2. Rub the pork shoulder with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. If desired, coat with Mexican style seasoning for enhanced flavour.
  3. Place the pork in a large roasting tray, cover tightly with foil, and slow cook for 5-6 hours or until the meat is fall-apart tender.
  4. Once cooked, remove from the oven and shred the pork using two forks.
  5. Pour 300ml Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Smoky El Diablo Inspired Sauce over the pulled pork and mix thoroughly to coat in the smoky, spicy sauce. Keep warm until serving.

Cook the Dirty Rice:

  1. Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Sauté the diced onions, garlic, and red peppers until softened.
  3. Stir in the smoked paprika, ground cumin, and rinsed rice, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the rice is coated with the aromatics.
  4. Pour in the chicken stock, bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender and fluffy.
  5. Fluff the rice with a fork, season to taste, and keep warm.

Assemble the Tacos:

  1. Warm the soft taco tortillas in a low oven or on a griddle.
  2. Fill each taco with:
    • A generous portion of pulled pork coated in Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Smoky El Diablo Inspired Sauce.
    • Spoonful of seasoned dirty rice.
    • Handful of shredded baby gem lettuce.
    • Sprinkle of crunchy corn.
    • Pickled red onions for a tangy contrast.
  1. Garnish each taco with fresh coriander and a lime wedge on the side.

Street Food Chef Memphis Champion Inspired BBQ Sauce

Sweet, smoky and rich, this sauce takes inspiration from classic Memphis barbecue.

Think sticky ribs, smoky brisket, burgers fresh from the barbecue and loaded sandwiches packed with flavour.

Perfect for:

  • Pulled pork
  • Beef brisket
  • Burgers
  • BBQ chicken
  • Loaded fries

SFC-Mmphis-Champion-Inspired-BBQ-Sauce---BBQ-Pulled-Pork-Flatbread

Recipe Inspiration: Caramelised Onion BBQ Pulled Pork Flatbread

This crowd-pleasing flatbread combines tender pulled pork, sweet caramelised onions and Memphis Champion BBQ sauce for a dish that works equally well for weekend lunches, summer entertaining or casual dining menus. Here’s the full recipe:

Prep Time: 30 mins | Cooking Time: 4 hours | Serves: 10

Ingredients:

For the BBQ Pulled Pork:

  • 2kg Pork leg joint, skin removed and trimmed
  • 60g American BBQ style seasoning
  • 50ml Vegetable oil
  • Water

For the Flatbread Dough:

For the Topping and Garnish:

Method:

  1. Marinade and cook the BBQ pork. Coat the pork leg with the American BBQ style seasoning and the oil, making sure all of the meat is covered, wrap and place in the fridge overnight. Preheat oven to 150 °C. Remove from the fridge and place in a suitable oven-proof dish with a tight-fitting lid. Pour a little water over the pork to help to moisten it while cooking. Slowly cook, turning occasionally for 4 hours, or until the pork is tender and the meat separates easily. Allow to cool slightly.
  2. Make the flatbread dough. In a large bowl, mix the flour, salt, sugar and yeast. Add the water and olive oil, mix until a dough forms. Knead for 8-10 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise for 60-75 minutes until doubled in size.
  3. Place the cooked pork leg into a suitable container, use two forks to rake through the meat to separate into strands. Meanwhile, reduce the remaining cooking liquor in a suitable pan on a high heat to a syrup, this is then cooled and mixed into the pulled pork.
  4. Preheat oven to 200 °C. Divide the flatbread dough into 10 equal pieces (approximately 125g each). Roll out into 20-22cm ovals, brush lightly with the olive oil.
  5. Place equal amounts of the caramelised red onion, followed by the pulled pork and cheese, and sprinkle the spring onions on top of the flatbreads.
  6. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until the bread is crisp and the cheese melts. Serve on a large serving platter, spoon the sour cream or crème fraiche over, sprinkle with the coriander and drizzle with the Street Food Chef Memphis Champion Inspired BBQ Sauce if desired.

Street Food Chef Korea Town Style Ketchup

Korean flavours continue to dominate food trends, and for good reason.

This ketchup-style sauce delivers the perfect balance of sweet, savoury and gently spicy flavours inspired by Korean street food culture.

Use it with:

  • Fried chicken
  • Korean-style burgers
  • Loaded fries
  • Rice bowls
  • Crispy tofu

It is an easy way to bring one of the biggest global food trends into everyday cooking without needing a cupboard full of specialist ingredients.

Street Food Chef Carolina Mustard Style BBQ Sauce

A barbecue classic inspired by the American South.

Unlike traditional tomato-based barbecue sauces, Carolina-style barbecue sauce uses mustard as its foundation, delivering a tangy, punchy flavour that cuts beautifully through rich meats.

Ideal for:

  • Pulled pork
  • Sausages
  • Grilled chicken
  • Ham
  • Barbecue sandwiches

If you've never tried Carolina-style barbecue before, this is an excellent introduction to one of America's most distinctive regional barbecue styles.

Street Food Chef Bombay BBQ Inspired Sauce

Indian-inspired flavours continue to be one of the UK's favourite food trends, and this sauce combines warming spices with barbecue character for something truly versatile.

Try it with:

  • Chicken skewers
  • Lamb kebabs
  • Paneer
  • Grilled vegetables
  • Flatbreads and wraps

The combination of aromatic spices and smoky barbecue notes makes it ideal for summer grilling and outdoor cooking.

SFC-Carolina-Mustard-Style-BBQ-Tofoo-Ultimate-Veggie-Burger

Recipe Inspiration: The Ultimate Veggie Burger

Looking for a meat-free option?

The Ultimate Veggie Burger recipe showcases how versatile the Street Food Chef range can be. Combining bold sauces with plant-based ingredients creates a burger that is packed with texture, flavour and visual appeal.

It's a great example of how these sauces can be used to create exciting vegan and vegetarian dishes without additional preparation. Here’s the full recipe:

Prep Time: 15 mins | Cooking Time: 15 mins | Serves: 10

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Lightly oil the veggie burgers. Cook for 10 minutes at 180 °C until piping hot.
  2. Stack the salad, veggie burger, tomato and gherkin on the bun.
  3. Smother with the BBQ sauce and the Carolina Mustard Style BBQ, then top with the crispy onions.
  4. Top with the bun and serve with your choice of fries.

Why These Sauces Are Perfect For Summer

As barbecue season arrives, versatile sauces become one of the easiest ways to add variety to your cooking.

Instead of buying multiple specialist ingredients, one bottle can transform burgers, wraps, tacos, salads, grilled vegetables and barbecue favourites.

Whether you're planning a family barbecue, creating quick midweek meals, experimenting with global flavours or adding excitement to a professional menu, the Street Food Chef range makes it easy to create dishes inspired by some of the world's most popular street food destinations.

Save Throughout June at Infusions4Chefs

For a limited time throughout June, all five Essential Cuisine Street Food Chef Sauces are available exclusively at Infusions4Chefs for just £8.79 each, reduced from £9.49.

Explore the full range and discover how easy it is to bring authentic street food inspiration to your kitchen.

Shop the range here.