Sambal oelek is increasing in popularity among chefs and foodies, to the point where everyday recipes are now commonly calling for this spicy chili paste. But what do you do if your local grocer doesn’t carry it or if you simply don’t have the time to pick some up? What are your best options for a sambal oelek substitute? The good news — you have some simple options available to you that will keep your recipe’s flavor experience relatively intact.
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Your best option: Sriracha or Tabasco Hot Sauce (for different reasons)
If you’re to find sambal oelek in the store, it’s often near Sriracha Sauce, seeing the most popular brands are made by the same company, Huy Fong Foods. Sriracha (a chili garlic sauce) is the easiest to get alternative to sambal oelek, and it’s also a very good flavor profile match too.
The main flavor differences are the hint of garlic in Sriracha (which sambal oelek does not have) and less vinegar tang. If your recipe can work with a sauce instead of a paste, Sriracha is your best match.
But why do we mention Tabasco hot sauce seeing that Sriracha and Tabasco sauce are so different in terms of flavor? It’s the vinegar in the sambal oelek. Being a Cajun hot sauce, Tabasco hot sauce leans heavily on the vinegar, so if you love (or need) that vinegar taste for your recipe that Sriracha can’t provide, subbing in Tabasco is an interesting alternative. Use it sparingly as it’s a big vinegar upgrade.
Learn More: Sambal Oelek Vs. Sriracha — How Do They Compare?
The next best thing: Another chili paste (like Thai chili paste, harissa, or gochujang)
If your store has a well-stocked international foods section, you may be able to pick up another chili paste that will fit as a substitute for sambal oelek. Chili pastes like Thai chili paste, harissa, or gochujang will carry the same consistency and a comparable heat to sambal oelek, but there will be flavor differences that can affect your recipe.
Sambal oelek is a simple spicy paste — mainly chili peppers, vinegar, and water. Comparatively, gochujang chili paste has a rich fermented sweetness (our gochujang recipe uses miso) and harissa has a warm earthiness due to the use of spices like cumin, allspice, and nutmeg. Read the labels on the chili pastes available and go as simple as possible to preserve your recipe’s intent. Or consider the additives in each paste and make sure they work with your need.
Learn More: Gochujang Vs. Sambal Oelek
For the culinary adventurer: Make your own sambal oelek
As we said, sambal oelek is a simple chili paste, only four ingredients: chili peppers, vinegar, water, and salt. If you have red hot peppers at hand — like red serranos, Fresno peppers, or Thai chilies — then pulling together a delicious homemade sambal oelek is well within reach. Take a look at our sambal oelek recipe to learn how it’s done.
If you’re in a real bind: Red pepper flakes
This is the quick and dirty fix that simply replaces the heat provided by sambal oelek, not the consistency or overall flavor. It’s an if-you-must solution. Consider your recipe carefully, and if the chili paste is not being used as a binder, then simply sprinkling in some crushed red pepper flakes can work when no other solution is available.
Must-read related posts
- Six Tasty Sambal Oelek Uses: Try these delicious ways to use up that chili paste jar.
- Our Sriracha Hot Sauce Review: Yes, it’s among the best substitutes for sambal oelek, but how do we score it in terms of flavor, overall heat, and usability? Find out.
- Our Hot Sauce Rankings: Looking for other hot sauce options to sub in other than Tabasco and Sriracha? We rank and review over 100 different hot sauces.
Would chili garlic sauce be a suitable sub for sambal oelek?