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Red chilli paste substitute: what to use when you have run out
The quickest swap is red chilli powder mixed with a little water or oil and a pinch of salt. Use about 1 teaspoon of powder for every tablespoon of paste, then taste and adjust.
By the Cooker Master team · Updated 6 November 2026
The best substitutes, in order
1. Chilli powder + water or oil
For 1 tablespoon of paste: 1 teaspoon red chilli powder, 1 teaspoon water or oil, a pinch of salt. Add crushed garlic and ginger if you have them.
2. Soaked dry red chillies
Soak whole dry red chillies in hot water for 15 minutes, drain, and grind with a little garlic, ginger, salt and vinegar. This is the closest to a homemade paste.
3. Sambal oelek or chilli garlic sauce
Use 1 to 1, but cut back the salt and vinegar elsewhere in the recipe, because these are saltier and sharper.
These amounts are starting points. Heat changes with the chilli, so taste before you add more.
What about Kashmiri chilli, gochujang and Thai paste?
- Kashmiri chilli powder: gives deep red colour and mild heat. Good when you want colour without too much fire.
- Gochujang: sweeter and fermented. It changes the taste of a dish, so use it only when you want that.
- Thai red curry paste: tastes of lemongrass and galangal. It is not a swap for karahi or marinades.
Or just keep a jar ready
A paste saves time, because the ginger and garlic are already in it. Our red chilli paste is red chilli, ginger, garlic, pink salt and vinegar, in a 490g jar. If you cook karahi or marinades often, it is one less thing to chop.
Questions people ask
Can I use chilli powder instead of chilli paste?
Yes. Mix 1 teaspoon red chilli powder with 1 teaspoon water or oil and a pinch of salt for each tablespoon of paste. Add a little crushed garlic and ginger if the recipe needs them.
What can I use instead of Kashmiri chilli paste?
Kashmiri chilli powder mixed with a little water gives the same deep red colour with mild heat.
Is sambal oelek a good swap?
Yes, use it 1 to 1. It is saltier and more sour, so reduce the salt and any vinegar in the recipe.
Is gochujang a good swap?
Only if you want a sweeter, fermented taste. It is not a like-for-like replacement for a plain red chilli paste.
Ran out in the middle of cooking?
Message us on WhatsApp and we will help you get a jar to your door in 1 to 2 days.
Cooker Master
Desi Ghoti Red Chilli Paste. Red chilli, ginger, garlic, pink salt and vinegar. Made by Cooker Master in Pakistan.
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