I know it’s not that easy to find good substitutes for chili paste. Well, at least I had this problem. Chili paste adds a ton of flavor and has a pretty cool red color, which is important in Asian cooking… You can also consider adding other ingredients to make it tastier.
What Is Chili Paste?
Chili paste is a spicy condiment made from dried chilies, garlic, and other seasonings. It is similar to chili powder, but with a thicker consistency. Chili paste is often used in Chinese cooking, as well as in Mexican and other South American cuisines.
Chili Paste vs. Chili Sauce
Chili sauce is basically a thicker version of chili paste. It contains the same ingredients but has less water content than the paste. This makes it more flavorful, but also means it will burn easily when heated. Chili sauce is often used when cooking meat because it allows you to add color and flavor without making your food too spicy.
10 Spicy Chili Paste Substitutes
Spicy chili paste is a staple in many Asian cuisines. It’s a combination of chili peppers, garlic, and salt that is used to add an extra kick to dishes like noodles, stir-fries, soups, and more.
Here are ten alternatives that are all in your kitchen!
1. Garlic Powder and Onion Powder
This is the easiest recipe on this list because it only requires two ingredients: garlic powder and onion powder. You can use them separately or mix them together for a more complex flavor profile. You can also use this mixture instead of garlic salt or onion salt in other recipes that call for one of those ingredients.
2. Cayenne Pepper
The fiery taste of cayenne peppers makes them a great alternative if you’re looking to add some heat to your dish without using a store-bought chili paste. Simply sprinkle some onto your dish after it’s cooked, or add it at the beginning of cooking if you want some extra kick from the start!
3. Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes give dishes a spicy kick without the lengthy preparation time of other chili pastes. They’re also great for adding texture and flavor to soups, stews, and salads. Just sprinkle them on top when serving!
4. Ground Chipotle Chili Pepper
Chipotles are smoked jalapeno peppers that add a smoky heat to any dish they’re added to. They’re perfect for adding heat to soups and stews, but can also be used as an ingredient in rubs for meat or fish.
5. Smoked Paprika
Paprika is a staple of many cuisines, so it’s no wonder that we use it to spice up our dishes as well. You can sprinkle smoked paprika on everything from potatoes to scrambled eggs for an extra kick of flavor. Try mixing it with cumin powder for an Indian-inspired meal or use it instead of chili paste in your Thai curry recipe!
6. Cumin Powder
Cumin powder is another great way to add some kick to your dish without having an overpowering heat level. Try sprinkling some cumin powder into your next pot of soup, sauce, or chili!
7. Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Most people are familiar with crushed red pepper flakes, which are used in everything from pizza to pasta to tacos. They’re also a great way to add heat to chili. Just be careful when using them because they do have quite a bit of kick!
8. Sriracha Sauce
Another staple in most kitchens, Sriracha sauce is made with garlic, chiles, vinegar, and sugar. It comes in both hot and mild varieties — the hot version has more heat than the mild one. You can use this sauce instead of crushed red pepper flakes or other spicy pastes to add heat to your chili recipe.
9. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is a great substitute for chili paste, especially when you want to make a salad dressing or marinade. It has a very distinct flavor that can be overpowering, so it’s best used sparingly. Sesame oil is also high in omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Fresh Habanero Peppers
Habanero peppers have some serious heat! If you want something really spicy for your chili recipe then try adding some habanero peppers instead of crushed red pepper flakes or other spicy pastes or powders.
8 Homemade Asian cuisines With Chili Paste Recipe
Asian cuisine is the most popular and favorite food of people all over the world. There are many types of Asian cuisines available. You can find different kinds of recipes to prepare different types of Asian cuisines at home.
Here are the top 8 homemade Asian cuisines with chili paste recipes:
1. Chinese Cashew Chicken (Kung Pao Chicken)
The dish has its origin in Sichuan province, China, and is made with chicken pieces stir-fried with peanuts, cashews, garlic, dried chilies, and Sichuan peppercorns in a spicy sauce topped with scallions for garnish.
2. Pad Thai
Pad Thai is one of the most popular dishes in Thailand. The dish consists of stir-fried rice noodles, tofu, shrimp, bean sprouts, and chives with tamarind juice, fish sauce, dried shrimp, and red chili peppers. It is served with lime wedges and often garnished with roasted peanuts or crushed peanuts.
3. Lao Gan Ma Hot Pot Spicy Chili Oil
This is a condiment that is made from hot peppers, garlic, Sichuan peppercorns, and other spices. It is used to add flavor to many Chinese dishes such as wontons and dumplings.
4. Cao Lau Noodle Soup With Spicy Pork (Vietnamese)
Noodles with soup are popular in many countries around the world, but there’s nothing like authentic Vietnamese noodles with a soup to get your taste buds going. Cao Lau is a noodle soup dish made with seafood and vegetables along with pork or chicken meatballs (or just meat).
5. Mee Goreng: Indonesian Fried Noodles
Mee Goreng is a traditional Indonesian-style fried noodle dish that’s popular street food. It’s usually served with a chili sauce made from ground dried chilies, shallots, garlic, and soy sauce. Mee Goreng is one of the most popular dishes in Indonesia.
6. Teriyaki Chicken Steak With Pineapple Salsa – Indian Dish
This is a spicy chicken dish that has been marinated in teriyaki sauce and grilled to perfection. This grilled chicken steak is served with sweet pineapple salsa for added flavor.
7. Chili Garlic Sauce (Sambal) – Malaysian Dish
The taste of this chili garlic sauce is quite different from the store-bought one because of the addition of palm sugar. It is a bit sweeter than the other sambals, but still has a good amount of heat from the chilies. This is an easy recipe and you can make it in less than 10 minutes!
8. Korean Beef Bulgogi
The dish consists of thinly sliced beef marinated in soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil then cooked on a hot pan until browned on each side before being served with rice or noodles as the main course meal or as an appetizer along with other traditional Korean dishes known as Banchan which consists of kimchi, pickled.
FAQs
1. I am allergic to seafood, can I use the substitute for chili paste?
No, you cannot use the substitute for chili paste if you are allergic to seafood, because it is made with fish sauce.
2. I have a baby and I want to use this product to make my own baby food. Can I do so?
Yes, you can use this product as a substitute for chili paste to make your own baby food at home. However, always consult a doctor before doing so.
3. Can I make my own chili paste?
Yes! Making your own chili paste is easy, although you may need to buy some ingredients online or at an Asian market if you don’t have them already on hand. You can also purchase premade chili pastes if you don’t have time to make your own.
4. Is chili paste vegan?
Chili paste is vegan because it does not contain any animal products. However, be sure to check the label on your product to ensure that no animal products have been used in its preparation.
5. Does chili paste expire?
Chili pastes do not have an expiration date printed on the packaging because they last indefinitely when stored properly in a cool dark place away from direct sunlight.
6. What’s a good substitute for Thai curry paste?
For Thai curry pastes, the best substitutes are Indian curry powders. They have similar flavors and are hot in nature.
In Conclusion
Then read it. If you are in such a situation and want to know what to substitute for chili paste, we have just the right recipe for you. Make it once and you will want chili paste again!