• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Food Banjo

  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer
  • About
×

Home » Cooking Tips

Best Substitutes for Calabrian Chili Paste

Published: Mar 11, 2023 · Last Updated: Mar 11, 2023 by Aimee - This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Share with others!

  • Share
  • Tweet

Calabrian chili paste is a must-have in any pantry. But when you find yourself without, it's important to know the best substitutes for Calabrian chili paste and their flavor profiles.

pepper sauce from above

I love a bit of spice in my food and Calabrian chili paste is probably my favorite one. It adds such a delicious depth of flavor to anything I throw it in.

It's a little citrusy, vinegary, and definitely spicy.

I ALWAYS have a jar around, and usually a backup just in case. But there are times when life happens. And I find myself without Calabrian chili paste.

So if you're in a similar boat, here's some substitutions you can use.

What is Calabrian chili paste?

Calabrian chili paste is a spicy and flavorful condiment made from a variety of small red chili peppers that are native to the southern Italian region of Calabria (at the bottom of the "boot").

To make the chili paste, peppers are first dried in the sun before being ground into a paste with the addition of salt, vinegar, and sometimes olive oil.

This paste is highly versatile and can be used in a variety of dishes, from pizza and pasta to seasoning shrimp and seafood. You can even use it mixed in with butter!

One of the standout characteristics of Calabrian chili paste is its intense heat, which can range from mildly spicy to extremely fiery depending on the specific variety of chili used. A little goes a LONG way when it comes to Calabrian chili paste.

However, the paste also has a distinct sweet and slightly smoky flavor that adds complexity to any dish it is used in.

Its vibrant color and rich flavor make it a popular ingredient in many Italian and Mediterranean dishes, and it is becoming increasingly popular in other cuisines around the world.

You can get a variety of brands, and Trader Joe's Bomba Sauce is also a great option if you have a Trader Joe's in your area!

Best substitutes

Harissa

Harissa is a North African chili paste made from roasted red peppers, chili peppers, garlic, and spices. It has a similar heat level to Calabrian chili paste and can be used as a substitute in recipes that call for it.

I think harissa is one of the best substitutes for Calabrian chili paste, as they both are used in the Mediterranean area in similar ways. However, harissa has a slightly different flavor profile due to the addition of spices.

Also, the spice level may vary based on the heat level of your harissa, so it's not a perfect substitute. (Note: here are some harissa substitutes)

Opened jar of harissa.

Sriracha

Most of us are probably familiar with sriracha! It's the one with the rooster on the bottle and the green lid.

Sriracha sauce is a popular hot sauce made from chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, and sugar.

While it is not as thick as Calabrian chili paste, sriracha has a similar level of heat and can be used in many of the same ways. It also has a slightly sweet flavor that can add depth to your dish.

Sriracha is typically much smoother in texture than Calabrian chili sauce, which has definite chili flakes in it.

Bottle of sriracha.

Sambal oelek

Sambal oelek is a chili paste commonly used in Indonesian and Malaysian cuisine. It is made from fresh red chili peppers, salt, and vinegar.

It has a similar consistency and heat level to Calabrian chili paste, but lacks the smoky and slightly sweet flavor. It is a good substitute if you are looking for a pure chili flavor.

Red pepper flakes

This is perhaps the most readily available substitute for Calabrian chili paste. I know I always have a jar in my spice drawer!

Red pepper flakes are made from dried chili peppers that have been crushed into small flakes. While it lacks the smoky and slightly sweet flavor of Calabrian chili paste, it does provide a similar level of heat.

A key difference is red pepper flakes are dried and served as a spice, whereas Calabrian chili paste is jarred with oil and other liquids and stored in the refrigerator after opening.

How to use Calabrian chili paste

Calabrian chili paste has so many uses! I love it to flavor pastas and pasta sauce, like in this Creamy Calabrian pasta.

Creamy calabrian pasta on a plate topped with cheese and herbs.

It's also delicious on chicken or shrimp! It adds a nice spicy flavor to this Calabrian Chicken or Spicy Calabrian Shrimp (AKA one of my favorite dishes ever).

Calabrian shrimp topped with fresh basil in a white bowl.

And you can also use it to flavor vegetables! I like pairing it with a variety of vegetables, like these Calabrian potatoes.

calabrian potatoes in a bowl with half a lemon.

And finally, it is delicious when used as a compound butter. This Calabrian chili butter is one of my favorite things to make, and then I used it in eggs, on potatoes, or to top steaks.

calabrian butter in a small bowl
« Ways to Use Flavorless Tomatoes
Air Fryer Harissa Chicken »

Share with others!

  • Share
  • Tweet

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello!

foodbanjo-authors
Hi! I'm Aimee, and I'm so glad you stopped by! I love sharing easy recipes that are flavorful and delicious.
Read more about Food Banjo!

Join the Email List!

Sign up for recipes & learn about what's going on with us!

(Check your spam box... just in case!)

Weeknight Dinners

Air fried caprese chicken on a white plate topped with basil leaves.

Air Fryer Caprese Chicken

Spicy paprika chicken in a tomato butter sauce topped with red onions and parsley.

Paprika Chicken with Tomato Butter Sauce

Blood orange salmon with blood orange slices on top.

Blood Orange Salmon

Air Fryer Peri Peri Chicken

Peri Peri Salmon on a white plate with parsley on top.

Peri Peri Salmon

Calabrian chicken on a plate with parsley.

Calabrian Chicken

Air Fryer rainbow trout with lemon slices.

Air Fryer Rainbow Trout

air fried pesto salmon on a white plate.

Air Fryer Pesto Salmon

Soup Favorites

tuscan chicken soup with a spoon

Tuscan Chicken Soup

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup - Dairy-Free

chickpea and tomato stew with bread

One-Pot Chickpea and Tomato Stew

Lemon orzo soup topped with shrimp.

Lemon Orzo Soup with Shrimp

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Nutrition Disclaimer

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2023 Food Banjo