Quick Answer: What Are The Perfect Alternatives To Chili Sauce?
Chili sauce substitutes are a healthy alternative to traditional chili sauces. The recipes include substitutes such as chili powder and flakes, spicy tomato sauce, spicy ketchup, sriracha sauce, harissa paste and more.
For lovers of spicy food, there isn’t one ingredient that’s quite as important as a good chili sauce. Not only does it provide a delicious kick of heat, it also adds an extra layer of flavor to a dish.
However, there’s no need to stress if you don’t have any chili sauce readily available in your kitchen, as there are a number of suitable substitutes you can use instead.
Perfect Chili Sauce Alternative Table
| Substitutes | Calories (per 100 grams) |
| Regular Hot Sauce | 0.5 |
| Sriracha Sauce | 6 |
| Chili Powder And Flakes | 314 |
| Harissa Paste | 261 |
| Chili Garlic Paste | 11 |
| Spicy Tomato Sauce | 37 |
| Spicy Ketchup | 97 |
| Sweet Chili Sauce | 207 |
| Black Bean Sauce | 102 |
| Gochujang | 240 |
With this in mind, our guide will take an in-depth look at seven of the best replacements you can use if you’re running low on chili sauce. What’s more, we’ll also look to answer some of the frequently asked questions related to the delicious ingredient.
1. Regular Hot Sauce
The first chili sauce substitute on our list is regular hot sauce. This is the most straightforward of all the replacements considering that all grocery stores have a wide range of ready-made hot sauces to choose from.
There are several sauces which are extremely spicy and will likely blow your head off, while there are just as many that are considerably milder in heat for those who prefer a more subtle spice.
Before making your decision, it’s a good idea to take a closer look at the label for both the ingredients and the spice level, as this will help guide you towards the sauce which is best-suited for your individual needs.
How To Substitute
The regular hot sauce is a great alternative to chili sauce. This sauce is made from peppers, vinegar, and other ingredients. It’s popular as a topping for chili and pasta. You can substitute it when chili sauce is not available in the kitchen.
2. Sriracha Sauce
Sriarcha sauce originally came from Thailand during the 1930’s, and has since become one of the most popular hot sauces around the world. The sauce is made from red jalapeno chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, and sugar.
Considering these are the only main ingredients of the sauce, you can quite easily try making it at home and have your own homemade sriracha.
If you’re new to sriracha, it’s probably best to only try a little bit of the sauce at first, and then slowly work your way up depending on how you feel with the heat. This is because it’s relatively spicy compared to many of the similar condiments.
How To Substitute
Sriracha sauce (also known as rooster sauce) cna be a good alternative to chili sauce. It can be used on almost anything and works well with familiar taste and texture.
3. Chili Powder And Flakes
Chili flakes and chili powder are incredibly easy to find in stores and markets, and are usually packaged as a seasoning in a bag or jar.
Just keep in mind that both powder and flakes can vary quite a bit in heat, so it’s always recommended to check the label and see whether the spice is suitable for you.
For example, if you prefer a milder kick, you should aim for anaheim peppers and banana peppers, whereas if you’re looking for a super spicy flavor, aim for chili flakes and powder made from ghost peppers, jalapeno peppers, and Carolina Reaper peppers.
What’s more, you can also make your own chili flakes by either roasting or drying chili peppers. Just grind them with the use of a food processor, blender, or mortar and pestle, and keep the chili flakes in an airtight container. These are great because they can last for as long as a year.
How To Substitute
It comes as a great option for chili sauce. Chili powder and paste is a mix of chili powder and ground dried chilies, which are ground together to create a hot and spicy powder.
4. Harissa Paste
Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste that’s packed full of character and flavor. It can be used as a chili sauce replacement for a wide number of recipes, and its main ingredients are dried chili peppers, cumin, caraway, coriander, as well as plenty of herbs and spices.
The heat provided by harissa paste is similar to sriracha, so it’s a little hotter than most of the other alternatives. With this in mind, it’s probably wise to take it easy at first if you’re not the biggest fan of spice.
How To Substitute
Harissa paste can be substituted with chili sauce as a spicy, Moroccan-style condiment. It is made with red chiles, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway, salt, and olive oil. The paste can be used to flavor meats and vegetables.
5. Chili-Garlic Paste
If you have some spare red chilis and garlic in your kitchen, then this next substitution is perfect for you. What’s more, a chili-garlic paste is incredibly easy to make at home as all you need is a mortar and pestle.
Before pounding the chili and garlic cloves together, it’s a good idea to either roast or dry the chilis and chop them into smaller pieces. If you don’t own a mortar and pestle, you can use a food processor or blender just as effectively.
Once you’ve made the chili-garlic paste, you can get a week’s worth of usage so long as you store it in a clean jar. If you want to add some extra flavor to the paste, you can also add salt, pepper, and olive oil.
This chili sauce replacement is ideal for several dishes, including hot chicken wing glazes and rice bowl toppings.
How To Substitute
Chili garlic paste is a delicious blend of red chili peppers, garlic, salt, and sugar. It’s a quick and easy way to add some spice to your favorite dishes. It is a great substitute for chili sauce as it gives a similar texture, smell and taste.
6. Spicy Tomato Sauce
For this next chili sauce substitute, you can simply open a jar or can of regular tomato sauce, and then add either fresh chili or chili powder to mix through the sauce, providing a stronger heat.
It’s worth noting that a number of chefs use this technique when adjusting their pasta sauces to give them a little extra kick.
Using this method also allows you to adjust the spiciness of the sauce to suit your taste preferences, giving you considerably more freedom than using a ready-made chili sauce.
How To Substitute
Spicy tomato sauce has a mild flavor and is used as a seasoning in many different dishes. It has a strong, tangy taste that can be used on any type of food. This is also a versatile product that can be used in many different ways.
7. Spicy Ketchup
The final chili sauce substitution on our list, and by certainly no means the least, is spicy ketchup. This replacement ingredient is an excellent choice if you prefer a paste-like spicy condiment rather than one in powdered form.
If you only have regular ketchup on hand, you can simply add some fresh, chopped chilis into the sauce and mix them together. Similarly, you can add chili flakes or powder to make the ketchup a little spicier.
To make things easier, there are also readily available bottles of spicy ketchup that you can purchase at most grocery stores. These bottles are a better option because of their longer shelf life, as well as their ease of use for pouring on meats, hotdog buns, and other dishes.
How To Substitute
Spicy ketchup is a red ketchup that is typically made with crushed red chiles and spices. The ketchup can be either used as a condiment or as a sauce. It is a great substitute for chili sauce in your kitchen.
8. Sweet Chili Sauce
Sweet Chili Sauce is a classic sweet and spicy sauce that is made from fresh ground red chiles, brown sugar, vinegar, and garlic. It has a tangy, sweet taste with a hint of heat. This sauce is perfect for cooking or dipping.
Sweet Chili Sauce is a delicious blend of spicy and sweet chili peppers, and is perfect for dipping, marinades, sauces, and more.
This sweet and tangy chili sauce is the perfect blend of natural ingredients. It has a bit of a bite with a sweet taste and a fiery kick.
The sauce is made from fresh red chilis, garlic, and ginger that are blended to a smooth and velvety texture. The sauce is the perfect addition to Asian-style dishes, or can be used as a dipping sauce for appetizers.
How To Substitute
In a hurry? You can substitute chili sauce for sweet chili sauce in most recipes. This sauce is thicker than chili sauce, but it can be substituted for the latter in most recipes. It has a sweet flavor, which makes it a great alternative to the traditional hot sauce. Sweet chili sauce is also made without any high-fructose corn syrup or artificial ingredients.
9. Black Bean Sauce
Black bean sauce is a thick, dark sauce made from fermented black beans, brown sugar, soy sauce, and other spices.
Black bean sauce is commonly served with Chinese and Vietnamese dishes such as pho and bahn mi sandwiches.
If you’re looking for a spicy and flavorful Asian-inspired dish, you’ve come to the right place. Black bean sauce is a delicious sauce that is perfect for all types of meat, vegetables, and tofu dishes.
It’s packed with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, sesame oil, and more. With such a robust flavor, you’ll find yourself craving this sauce over and over again.
It has a distinctive dark color and earthy flavor, which is used to add depth to various dishes. It is often used as a dipping sauce for seafood, or as a topping for noodle dishes.
How To Substitute
Substituting black bean sauce with chili sauce will allow you to get the same flavor in your dish, but without the added salt. The substitution is easy to make and is an ideal way to reduce sodium intake and enjoy more flavorful food. A common alternative is soy sauce.
10. Gochujang
Gochujang is a savory Korean fermented soybean paste that is used as a condiment or seasoning. Gochujang is a spicy Korean fermented soybean paste that is used as a condiment or seasoning.
This sauce is a savory, tangy, and savory Korean condiment or seasoning made from red chili peppers, glutinous rice, and fermented soybeans.
It is usually made with glutinous rice, but can be made with other types of rice. It is often used as a condiment in Korean cooking, especially as a seasoning for meats, vegetables, and noodles.
It is also used as a cooking ingredient in dishes like bibimbap and gimbap.
How To Substitute
To substitute chili sauce with gochujang, you need to find a sauce that has similar flavor and is available in the market. You can also use a mixture of soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil.
Making A Homemade Chili Sauce
Knowing how to make a delicious homemade chili sauce can save you a fair amount of time and stress in the kitchen. Therefore, listed below are the main ingredients, as well as a trusted cooking method to keep in mind when trying to create the perfect chili sauce for your dish.
What You Need:
- 1 x cup of red chili peppers
- 1 x cup of jalapeno peppers
- 1 x large tomato
- 3 x garlic cloves
- 1 x tablespoon salt
- 1 x tablespoon pepper
- 1 x tablespoon ground oregano
- ¼ x cup of vinegar
Method:
- To begin with, it’s a good idea to either roast or dry the chilis in the oven, removing the seeds if you’d prefer a milder sauce.
- Then, it’s time to heat the pan and start sauteing both the roasted chilis and the garlic, before adding the rest of the ingredients.
- Mix everything together and cover for around 15 to 20 minutes to cook.
- Following this, remove the chili sauce mixture from the heat and let it cool down for roughly 20 to 30 minutes.
- Then, transfer the chili sauce and puree to either a food processor or blender for further reduction.
- Once you’ve achieved your desired consistency, store the chili sauce in a clean airtight container – preferably in the fridge to avoid contaminants from spoiling the sauce.
How To Substitute
The homemade chili sauce gives a delicious balance of sweetness and tanginess. It is a great option of alteration for chili sauce and for a perfect dip to level up the taste. You can make it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use Salsa Instead Of Chili Sauce?
Yes, salsa can be used as a good replacement for chili sauce. Just be mindful when purchasing salsa to look for one which is low in added sodium. If you’re able to do this, you can add the salsa to a blender or food processor to get your desired consistency.
Where Would Chili Sauce Be In A Grocery Store?
The first areas to check are the Latin, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Asian products. If you can’t find a suitable chili sauce there, have a look in the condiment aisle, near all of the sauces.
What’s The Difference Between Heinz Chili Sauce And Heinz Cocktail Sauce?
For chili sauces, the main ingredient is usually a chili-like ingredient such as a red chili pepper or chili flakes. These sauces are also likely to have onion, sugar, green pepper, vinegar, and spices.
On the other hand, cocktail sauce typically gets its kick from horseradish. The other ingredients often include hot pepper sauce such as Tabasco and lemon juice.
What’s The Difference Between Chili Powder And Paprika?
The main difference between the two is all down to their ingredients. Chili powder is used as a seasoning and is made with a chili pepper base, as well as a combination of cumin and garlic powder. In contrast, paprika is made solely of chilis or a mixture of chilis, and provides a unique sweet flavor.
Is Chili Sauce Good For You?
Chili sauce can provide several health benefits if you consume it in moderation. This is largely down to capsaicin which has shown to offer antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties.
Is Chili Sauce Good For Weight Loss?
Yes, the kick of spicy chili sauce can be beneficial for healthy weight loss. Several studies have shown that capsaicin, one of the main active ingredients in chili sauce, can speed up the body’s metabolism, helping it to burn calories at a much faster rate.
10 Of The Best Chili Sauce Substitutes
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minutesChili sauce is a condiment that is used in many different types of cuisine, and can be used to add a spicy kick to many different dishes. Here are 7 great chili sauce substitutes.
Ingredients
Regular Hot Sauce
Sriracha Sauce
Chili Powder And Flakes
Harissa Paste
Chili-Garlic Paste
Spicy Tomato Sauce
Spicy Ketchup
Sweet Chili Sauce
Black Bean Sauce
Gochujang
Directions
- Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
- Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio
Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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