We love a good chili product. And recently, we re-discovered our love for chili garlic sauce. But apparently, so did the entire world! So, finding some in the shop became impossible.
After a dead-end search, we have to go look somewhere else. That led us to this article today. After experimenting a ton, we came up with a bunch of amazing alternatives, and ones that don’t work so great.
So, what are the best substitutes for chili garlic sauce? In our opinion, chili garlic paste, spicy ketchup, sriracha, and harissa paste will make the best alternatives. They all contain good amounts of chili, garlic, and acid.
However, there are also many other products you can use and alter to re-create a similar flavor to the one you love.
In today’s jam-packed article, we will take a look at how exactly you can and should substitute chili garlic sauce in various recipes. And, we have ranked our favorite options in a comprehensive list below.
What Is A Chili Garlic Sauce?
Some of you may not be familiar with chili garlic sauce, while to others it is a staple ingredient at home. This sauce is truly life-changing.
We never used it when we initially started our cooking journey. But once we were introduced, it completely changed how we look at food and recipes.
Chili garlic sauce isn’t a simple concoction made by home cooks. It is an actual Chinese and Vietnamese condiment that has now become popular across the globe. It is a delicious flavor-packed hot sauce that is added to virtually any dish.
While many prefer adding it to the recipe itself, others love to use it as a condiment alongside their food. Whichever way you use it is up to you, but we can guarantee that it will add a ton of flavor to your food.
Now, there isn’t one set recipe for this sauce. The base ingredients that should be included in all recipes are chilis, garlic, and vinegar.
But, the type of chilis and vinegar you use is entirely up to you. You can also alter the amount of garlic you want to add.
And, if you love playing around with flavors, you can add other ingredients like sugar and spices to create a complex flavor profile.
Take a look at this tutorial from Yummy Kitchen on YouTube for how to make your own homemade garlic chili sauce.
Choosing The Best Substitute For Chili Garlic Sauces
Choosing a substitute for chili garlic sauce may seem simple in theory. But, once you found a product that you are obsessed with, it becomes more challenging.
There are a ton of factors to consider before just making the swap. And if we are being completely honest, there is no one substitute for chili garlic sauce.
You will likely have to make a few adjustments to each of the below-listed options. This way, you can more accurately get the exact flavor that you are looking for.
Here are some basic factors to consider when choosing an alternative for chili garlic sauce.
Spiciness Level
This may be hard to believe, but not all chili garlic sauces are uber spicy. Some have a very pleasant and mild flavor. This is one reason we love it. You can choose an option that is even suited for people who cannot handle the heat.
So, naturally, the first and arguably most important factor to consider is how spicy your substitute has to be.
There is no point in trying to use the hottest chilis or hot sauce if you don’t find it enjoyable. So, if you have a frame of reference of spice-level from a sauce you have previously tried, make sure your alternative is similar in that regard.
And if not, just choose an option you know you like. If you like harissa paste more than chili sauces, then obviously it will be better suited for you.
Amount Of Garlic
This is also a flavor factor to consider. Not all people are in love with loads of garlic. Some eat it raw, and some only like the aroma it adds to the food.
And again, very chili garlic sauce is different and will have varying amounts of garlic included.
So, if you like a sauce with less garlic, you may not want to use a garlic-based alternative (like freshly minced garlic). A hot sauce with some garlic flavors will be better for you.
Overall Flavor
As we have mentioned, vinegar is also a base ingredient for a chili garlic sauce. Along with it, there are almost always additives.
These ingredients help balance the acidic and chili flavors of the sauce. Not to mention, they help create a unique flavor that you like.
If you have a sauce you know you like, try finding (or creating) a substitute that has similar flavors. If the chili garlic sauce of your choice is very acidic, you may want to add more lemon juice or vinegar to the alternative you choose.
If you like a sweeter chili garlic sauce, either choose a good substitute or add some sugar or honey yourself.
Consistency
The consistency of a chili garlic sauce is unique. There are naturally some varieties available, but almost all of them are on the thicker and more textured side.
Your average chili garlic sauce has the same consistency as ketchup, but with bits of chili seeds and chopped garlic in it. If you have a sauce with a thinner and smoother consistency, try to choose a similar alternative.
The consistency will alter the outcome of your product. Let’s say that you are making a chili jelly that uses a filtered (thin, runny, and smooth) sauce in the recipe.
If you substitute that with a textured one, your jelly will struggle to set and will be chunky.
For some recipes, the consistency change won’t matter. But there are still some recipes that you should consider this factor.
Accessibility And Price
Depending on where you are located, not all of the alternatives may be available or affordable. At the end of the day, you don’t want to pay more for the alternative than the actual sauce!
So, always buy seasonal and local. Don’t import an alternative that will cost you more. It isn’t very Eco-friendly and wastes a lot of money.
Best Chili Garlic Sauce Substitutes
Without further or do, here are our top chili garlic sauce substitutes you can choose. Each of these has unique qualities and flavors, guaranteeing that you will find one best suited for your needs.
But remember, you can still make flavor adjustments after you choose one of these. They merely act as a base substitute to which you can add sweeteners, spices, acids, and consistency changes.
So, let’s get right to it!
1. Chili Garlic Paste
A chili garlic paste is extremely similar to a chili garlic sauce. The key difference is the consistency and accompanying ingredients.
More often than not, a store-bought chili garlic paste has been marinated in oil. This oil doesn’t add a ton of flavor and acts more as a preserving agent than anything else.
The flavor of the garlic and chili is far too strong to be overwhelmed by any additional ingredient.
Then, you do also get options that consist only of freshly chopped chili and minced garlic. But, these are often freshly made and will only last a day or two.
If you want to use these as an option, you can even make a fresh chili garlic paste at home.
This option will give you the most authentic chili garlic flavor. And, the consistency won’t matter if you are adding this option in marinades, basting sauces, or as a condiment.
How To Use This Substitute
This alternative will have a thicker consistency than its sauce counterpart. So, you can thin it using a liquid if you need to.
For a more authentic flavor, add some vinegar to give it some acidity. But, you can also just add more oil, preferably olive oil.
This option also makes it easy to add additional ingredients to get the flavor as close to what you want.
2. Sriracha Sauce
Sriracha sauce is one of your easier ready-to-use alternatives. There are even a bunch of different flavored sriracha products available. And yes, including one that specifically focuses on the garlic flavor.
This sauce is made using jalapenos, garlic, sugar, and vinegar. It is only a little bit sweeter than a traditional chili garlic sauce, making it perfect for virtually any recipe.
Sriracha isn’t a textured sauce and has a slightly runnier consistency. But, these factors shouldn’t be a problem in most recipes so you can easily use them in a one-to-one substitution.
How To Use This Substitute
Sriracha is a lot spicier than chili garlic sauce because of the jalapenos. So, if you don’t like your food as spicy, you may want to cut back on some of the sauce.
You can replace the rest with ketchup or mayonnaise. Another way to balance the flavor is to add a little bit more sugar or vinegar.
3. Spicy Ketchup
Spicy ketchup or spicy tomato sauce are great solutions. They are very easy to find and can even be made at home.
It has a thick consistency of a chili garlic sauce but without the texture. Most of them also do include some garlic, but not a lot.
Overall, this option will add a much more complex flavor to your recipes thanks to the tomato. And, many options also include some spices like cumin and dried herbs.
How To Use This Substitute
Spicy ketchup will help substitute the chili and vinegar part of a chili garlic sauce. But, when it comes to garlic, you may want to add some more if you want a more prominent flavor.
If you cannot get your hands on spicy ketchup, you can always just add chili powder or hot sauce to some regular ketchup. And, for a textured option, add chopped garlic or chilies too.
4. Harissa Paste Or Sauce
Harissa paste is an extremely flavorful North African condiment. While it does contain chili and garlic as the main ingredients, it is also packed with spices. Cumin and caraway seeds are amongst the most popular.
This paste comes in various consistencies. But, it is easy to alter with a little bit of vinegar to make it thinner.
How To Use This Substitute
Harissa paste is a great option, but it isn’t extremely flexible. You can only alter the consistency and make it a little bit sweeter with sugar or honey.
But, because it is loaded with spices, you cannot make it more simplistic. In our opinion, this isn’t a bad thing. But, it does depend on the recipe you make. The flavor of the spices in this paste may not pair well with the flavors in your recipe.
5. Fresh Chili And Garlic
This should be a last-resort substitute, but it works very well nevertheless. This is why we ranked it so high on our list.
If you don’t like any of the alternatives, you cannot find them, or you are in a pinch, chopping and adding some fresh chili and garlic isn’t a bad option. After all, these are the base ingredients of the sauce.
The big and obvious difference here is that chopped chili and garlic don’t have a saucy consistency – not even a paste-like one! So, use this alternative only when appropriate. It won’t work everywhere.
How To Use This Substitute
This substitute will work best in recipes with a ton of liquid. This includes marinades, sauces, dressings, and dips. It won’t make a great substitute for a sandwich, for example.
You can also use it in stews, casseroles, and soups – again, anything that already has a bunch of liquid.
You can alter the consistency by adjusting how coarsely or finely you chop the ingredients. And, if you do have access to lemon juice or vinegar, definitely add some to turn them into a sauce.
6. Spicy Peppers
If you are only looking to substitute the spicy flavors, you can simply add some chopped or ground spicy peppers. And trust us, there are hundreds to choose from that are all fairly easy to get hold of.
Some of our favorites include jalapeno, serrano, habanero, cayenne, and a scotch bonnet.
Naturally, these have varying spice levels and surprisingly, different flavors too. So, if you have one in mind, make sure to go read up on it to make sure it will add the flavor you are looking for.
This substitute is a great option because you will always be able to find some type of hot pepper. You don’t need to worry too much about flavor, and if you want to, you can add and adjust the amount of garlic used.
How To Use This Substitute
Similar to the chopped chili and garlic substitute option, using fresh chilies or peppers will mean that you will have a different consistency.
For some recipes, simply chopping them up roughly will get the job done. But, if you are making smooth sauces, then you may need to grind the peppers into a paste.
7. Dried Chili Products
This is another way to add spicy flavors to your dish. And you will always be able to find some form of dried chili. It is even easier to find (and more affordable) than fresh chilis or hot sauces.
You can use whole dried chilis, chili flakes, chili powder, or chili salt. All of these have their pros and cons. And more importantly, you have to consider when and where to use each.
How To Use This Substitute
Naturally, all of these options will need to be used with a liquid. So again, you cannot substitute the sauce with chili powder when it is used as a condiment on a sandwich. Rather choose an entirely different option.
But, they do work well in sauces, dips, dressings, soups, marinades, broths, and other saucy dishes.
Chili powder and flakes will be easier to use and most versatile. They can be simply whisked into a recipe and will immediately help add flavor. Just make sure they don’t clump together.
Whole dried chilis might be hard to incorporate and eat in some dishes – like a condiment for example. Whole options will likely be better utilized in soups, stews, and broths where you can remove them later.
8. Tomato Sauce
Here we are not referring to ketchup, but instead, the actual sauce made from whole tomatoes. You often find these in canned or bottled forms. These sauces are made with fresh tomatoes for a very tangy-sweet flavor.
By simply adding some chili or chili powder to them, you can easily get the flavor that you want. And, this technique will also allow you to precisely adjust the spice level and garlic amount you need for your recipe.
How To Use This Substitute
You can use dried chili and garlic or fresh versions. You can even just add a dollop of hot sauce to tomato sauce if you want to.
This substitute works the best for stews and soups. But, if you blend it and cook it over low heat for a while, it instantly becomes a sauce on its own.
If you choose a tomato sauce, make sure to choose the chopped versions. Stay away from whole tomatoes or whole peeled tomatoes. These won’t make a good alternative.
9. Black Bean Sauce
This option may surprise a few of you, but it is certainly worth a try in our opinion. Black bean sauce is a type of Asian sauce that is a staple in many countries.
This sauce consists of soybean oil, chili, salt, and water. So, if you want garlic, you will need to add some freshly chopped ones or re-hydrated garlic flakes.
The biggest thing to keep in mind is that this sauce is black. So, it may change or alter the flavor of the recipe you are using it in.
How To Use This Substitute
You can add an equal amount of black bean sauce as the chili garlic sauce the recipe calls for. Then, add additional garlic if you’d like.
The consistency of this sauce is also similar to chili garlic sauce, making it easy to add without worrying about the consistency implications.
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