What Sauces Does Firehouse Subs Have, Taste Test & Pairings
Firehouse Subs is becoming more popular all over the world not only for its firefighter theme, but also for its delicious sub sandwiches filled with layers of meat, juicy vegetables, and savory sauces. This restaurant chain also makes for a great conversation starter, especially with my cousin, who argues that their sauces are good but not classic yet. So, what sauces does Firehouse Subs have?
Firehouse Subs has Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce, Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce, Sweet Golden Mustard Sauce, Cajun Mayo, Spicy, Sweet, and Jerk Mustard. It also offers more common condiments such as Honey mustard, Mayonnaise, Light Mayonnaise, Marinara, and Sriracha.
The best thing about these sauces is that you can combine them with almost any sub on the menu! In my experience, not all condiment combinations are matches made in heaven, and you should know their flavors before adding them to your sub. In order to give you some ideas, I have enlisted Firehouse Subs’ sauces, explaining their taste, pairings, and how to replicate some of them at home.
List of Firehouse Subs’ Sauces
One of the things that sets Firehouse Subs apart from other sandwich shops is its wide variety of sauces. They offer a dozen different sauces, ranging from sweet and tangy to spicy and bold. Let’s see what those are!
Cajun Mayo
Cajun Mayo is a piquant delicacy that matches well with any grilled chicken sub. Firehouse offers Spicy Cajun Chicken sub, and pairing it with Cajun Mayo might be a bit over the top. Still, if you enjoy some extra spice, this may be the right combination.
From time to time, I like to prepare it at home. Preparation takes no longer than 5 minutes, and all you need is mayo, pickles, minced garlic, lemon juice, and cajun seasoning. Mix it all, and you are good to go.
Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce
Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce is one of the sauces on the list that combines well with every meal that’s lacking a bit of spice. The combination of sweet and hot works quite well with the Pepperoni Pizza Meatball Sub, but it can also make a lovely twist on the Steak and Cheese Sub.
A perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and bitter flavors creates the umami effect that we all love in a sandwich such as Engineer, which is one of my favorites. You can easily make it at home with tomato paste, datil pepper, vinegar, honey, and spices, or simply order the original from Amazon.
Honey Mustard
Honey Mustard has become almost an iconic addition to any sub. This sweet, spicy, and slightly tangy sauce pairs well with ham subs like the Hook & Ladder, one of the chain’s first sandwiches.
You can easily make it at home with several ingredients such as mustard, mayo, vinegar, seasoning, and a good honey. If you prefer it a bit spicier, try adding cajun pepper as well. It’s delicious!
Spicy Mustard
If you like your sub with some heat, this sauce is perfect for you. It contains brown mustard seeds, which are naturally spicy compared to regular ones. Furthermore, these seeds are soaked in less vinegar, which allows them to release more heat.
The spicy mustard matches well with mild-flavored ingredients, and it is one of my go-to sauces for the Corned Beef Brisket Sub.
Jerk Mustard
Jerk Mustard is an exotic twist on honey mustard. Aside from mustard and honey, it contains a mix of onions, garlic, jalapenos, and lime. It is usually available in combination with the Jamaican Jerk Turkey Sub. This juicy and lightly smoked sub with Caribbean seasoning has been on my order list a couple of times and hasn’t disappointed me once so far!
Sweet Mustard
There’s also the Sweet Mustard! This sauce perfectly blends sweet and tangy flavors with a hint of smokiness. It’s not too spicy or overpowering and has a subtle sweetness — it’s a masterpiece!
I especially loved it with their Hook & Ladder, but it also goes well with grilled chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs. To make it, just mix honey mustard, mayonnaise, and a dash of liquid smoke. Adjust the sweetness and tanginess according to your taste, and enjoy this delicious condiment with your favorites.
Mayonnaise
This common condiment is a part of almost every Firehouse Subs’ sandwich. Tangy and creamy, it provides the necessary moisture to subs, binding all ingredients into a mouthful delight.
You can make it yourself with eggs, lemon juice, oil, Dijon mustard, and a pinch of salt. I usually spice it up with some black pepper or garlic powder.
Light Mayonnaise
Light mayonnaise is the perfect condiment if you are counting calories. It contains less fat and still pairs lovely with any sub of your choosing. It usually contains more additives and ingredients that make it less caloric. However, if you would rather make it at home, try mixing some egg yolk or egg white (if you wish to make it as light as possible), avocado oil, lemon juice, salt, mustard, and even a bit of Greek yogurt.
Marinara Sauce
No good meatball sandwich comes without the red Marinara. This savory combination of tomato paste, olive oil, onions, and tomatoes is a welcomed ingredient in a variety of meals, and Firehouse Subs’ sandwiches are no different.
Even though it makes the best match with Firehouse Meatball, it can also upgrade the flavor of Corned Beef Brisket, Premium Roast Beef, and even Pastrami sub. My cousin, for instance, adds it to the Steak & Cheese as well, but she really likes Marinara — she could eat it solo with a spoon.
Sriracha Sauce
This hot sauce is an indispensable addition to hot subs, which are some of the Firehouse Subs’ specialties. Usually made out of chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, salt, and sugar, it presents a unique combination of flavors that matches well with any meat. From time to time, I enjoy adding Sriracha to a Steak & Cheese sub, especially since this sandwich often requires a bit more moisture.
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce has a recognizable smoky aroma and spicy, tangy, and sweet flavor, ready to upgrade any sub from Hook & Ladder to Premium Roast Beef. However, it is best known as a signature sauce in Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar.
From my perspective, this sauce is too sweet, so I recommend making a replica with less sugar. To do so, you need ketchup, brown sugar or molasses, liquid smoke, Worcestershire sauce, apple cider vinegar, paprika, onion powder, mustard, and black pepper. Add all of the ingredients into a pan, whisk them until they blend, bring the sauce to a simmer, and once it cools off, store it in a jar.
If you like the original, though, you can always get it off Amazon.
Sweet Golden Mustard
Sweet Golden Mustard is somewhat similar to Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce. It is a combination of smoky, sweet, and spicy, yet it has a recognizable golden color. Its smooth and sticky texture makes it a perfect pair with barbecued meat, especially chicken.
I found it to be a satisfying addition to subs containing ham as well as corn beef. It is pretty easy to make at home, with the same ingredients you would use for Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ, yet without ketchup.
What’s the Hottest Sauce at Firehouse Subs?
The hottest sauce at Firehouse Subs is Captain Sorensen’s Datil Pepper Hot Sauce. The reason for that is its main ingredient — datil pepper. It has a similar heat index as habanero pepper — around 300,000 Scoville heat units (not as intense as one would think). Because of this, it pairs well with beef and chicken, upgrading their mild flavor and providing that kick of spice every foodie looks forward to.
Which Firehouse Subs’ sauce is your favorite? I would love to hear about your favorite combinations in the comments below!
