Chili paste is typically thicker in consistency than, say, hot sauce. It has a pasty consistency, which is where you might be able to compare it to tomato paste. The flavoring of chili paste can vary greatly. In some mixtures, it’s hot and spicy while in others it is sweet and spicy.

How hot is chile paste?

For SPICY chili paste, add a couple of chilies higher on the Scoville scale to your mix, such as Serrano (8,000-23,000 SHU) or Arbol (15,000-30,000 SHU). These types of peppers are small but mighty! Just a couple will pack a punch. Remember to take safety precautions (below) when handling hot chilies.

Is chili paste the same as hot sauce?

Hot sauce has most of the same ingredients as chili paste. The flavors will be pretty close. I would suggest using more of a Louisiana style hot sauce, which is made mainly from chili peppers, salt and vinegar. Go for a thicker sauce rather than a thinner one like Tabasco.