9 Best Chili Garlic Sauce Substitute Ideas You Need ASAP!

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Last Updated on March 27, 2023 by Toya

Check out the best chili garlic sauce substitute + 8 other good ways to substitute for chili garlic sauce in a pinch.

Chili garlic sauce, garlic chili sauce, or chili garlic is a spicy, hot, tangy sauce made from coarsely ground red chiles, garlic, vinegar, salt, sugar, and a thickening agent like cornstarch.

chili garlic sauce substitutes

Generally, chili garlic is used to make soups, pizza, pasta, stir-fries, meat, and shrimp or as a condiment for many other dishes.

If you’re making a recipe that calls for chili garlic sauce, the best option is always to use chili garlic sauce, especially if it is a prominent ingredient in the recipe. 

However, you may not always have this sauce on hand. So, you will need a good asian chili garlic sauce substitute that works. Thankfully, I have 7 great options for you!

What are the best substitutes for Asian chili garlic sauce?

The best chili garlic sauce substitutes are:

  • Chili garlic paste
  • Homemade chili garlic sauce
  • Sriracha sauce
  • Chili sauce
  • Harissa paste
  • Sambal Oelek chili paste
  • Chiu chow chili oil

Common ways to substitute chili garlic sauce

Chili garlic paste

The best substitute for chili garlic sauce is chili garlic paste. Chili garlic paste is a type of hot spicy condiment made with chili peppers, distilled vinegar, garlic, salt, and some other flavors. Chili garlic paste is thicker than chili garlic sauce and typically has more chunks, but it works wonders in some of the same recipes like stir-fries, sauces, salads, marinades, and more.

Homemade chili garlic sauce 

Another awesome substitute for chili garlic sauce is a homemade chili garlic sauce recipe. To make this you will need some hot chile pepper, fresh garlic, vinegar, salt, and some cornstarch. You can use homemade chili garlic sauce in the exact same way you’d use store-bought chili garlic sauce. 

Sriracha sauce

If you can get your hands on sriracha sauce, then you have another great chili garlic sauce alternative. Sriracha sauce is a type of sweet, spicy, tangy chili sauce with garlic notes made with red chile peppers, garlic, vinegar, a sweetener, and salt. While it does have the additional sweet element, sriracha is good in stir-fries, salads, meats, and even as a dipping sauce.

Also, sriracha has a more ketchup-like consistency compared to the chunkier chili garlic sauce so keep this in mind.

Asian chili sauce

In a pinch, chili sauce can also work as an alternative to chili garlic sauce. Typically the Asian variety of chili sauce is made with ingredients like pureed chile peppers, vinegar, sugar, salt, garlic, and seasonings. This sauce is tangy, sweet, and has a nice kick. 

Harissa paste 

Have some harissa paste on hand? If you do, you can use this condiment as a replacement for chili garlic sauce as well.  Harissa paste is a thick red chile paste made with red chili peppers, red bell peppers, garlic, vinegar, oil, and salt. 

It is hot, flavorful, tangy, and smoky and can be used to make recipes like soups, pasta, meats, marinades, and salads, in place of chili garlic sauce.

For the best results loosen the texture of the harissa paste by adding some light oil to the paste. Then mix well until the harissa paste becomes harissa sauce. A 1:1 substitute is ideal.

 

Sambal Oelek chili paste 

sambal oelek chili paste

If you can get your hands on Sambal Oelek, then you can use it to replace chili garlic paste in some recipes. Sambal Oelek works because it is a chili paste made with similar ingredients to chili garlic sauce namely red chile peppers, salt, and vinegar.

Sambal Oelek has a bit of a different flavor from chili garlic since it typically contains no sugar or extra flavors. It also isn’t cooked down so none of the flavors are allowed to develop and it also doesn’t thicken up. Sambal Oelek is simply a blend of red chile peppers, salt, and vinegar. You can try making it by following this simple sambal oelek recipe here. 

Nonetheless, Sambal Oelek chili paste can be used to add some heat and flavor to stir-fries, pizza, vegetables, meats, burgers, and more. Start with less, then adjust to your taste.

 

Chiu chow chili oil

If you can’t find chili garlic sauce, but you can get your hands on Chiu Chow Chili Oil, this condiment will work just as well as a good sub for chili garlic sauce. Chiu chow chili oil has a looser texture than chili garlic sauce and it has a more savory flavor. However, it works wonders in stir-fries, noodles, dumplings, and more. 

Chili crisp

Whether store-bought or homemade, chili crisp is a good chili garlic sauce substitute. While it does not replicate the taste of chili garlic sauce exactly, chili crisp can work. It is a blend of shredded dried red chili, oil, and crunchy bits like shredded dried shallots, fried garlic, and ginger. As well as extra spices like cardamon, ginger, star anise, and salt and sugar.

Chili crisp, therefore, provides heat, crunch, and some garlic flavor and can be used in noodles, as a condiment for dumplings, stir-fries, meats, tofu and so much more. 

If you’re making a homemade chili crisp recipe to substitute for chili garlic sauce, make it with garlic-infused oil so the flavor is closer to that of chili garlic sauce. 

Taberu rayu

Out of chili garlic sauce? You can use Tavern rayu as a chili garlic sauce alternative.

Taberu rayu is a Japanese chili oil used mainly in Japanese recipes like ramen, rice, etc. You can buy Taberu rayu online or you can make it yourself with ingredients like chili pepper, garlic, onions, seasonings, salt, sugar, etc. It is not a very spicy chili oil, but if you like chili oil with heavy garlic flavors, then this one is for you. It makes a great non spicy chili garlic sauce substitute, but, you can also just add some extra spice by using more chile peppers if you want more heat. 

You can check out this video to see how to make a  simple recipe for homemade Taberu rayu or you can grab some on amazon. 

Momoya Chili Oil with Fried Garlic Taberu Layu 3.88 Oz × 2
$19.99 ($5.13 / Ounce)

This is a the perfect non spicy substitute for chili garlic sauce. It is a garlicky red chili sauce. But if you want some extra heat, just add some extra chili or cayenne!

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08/24/2023 12:22 am GMT

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