Red chili flakes can be a substitute for chili bean paste.
When cooking spicy Asian dishes, especially Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, many recipes will call for chili bean paste to achieve the right blend of spice and garlic that give this food its unique regional taste. However, traditional chili bean paste is not always available at your local supermarket. In a pinch, you can substitute some ingredients to achieve the same flavor and spice.
Hot Sauce
While chili bean paste is not always available locally, a variety of hot sauces usually are. To achieve a similar taste to your favorite Asian dishes, buy sauces that are spicy (habanero or red pepper sauces) and garlicky. Add to your dish according to the level of spiciness desired.
Red Pepper Flakes with Minced Garlic
One non-sauce option is to mix in red pepper flakes and minced garlic (or garlic powder). Adding some oil and vinegar to taste will achieve the pepper and garlic flavor of the chili bean paste. Adjust your portions from what is called for using chili bean paste, as you can achieve more with less with red pepper flakes.
Homemade Chili Bean Paste
If you must have paste but cannot locate it nearby, an option is to make the paste yourself. The Food Network has a simple recipe in which you combine the following in a food processor with some oil:
6 shallots, peeled
1 tbsp. coarse ground black pepper
Two Serrano chilis
Three Thai bird chilis
Six cloves garlic
Two stalks lemon grass, chopped, white part only
2 tbsp. minced ginger
1 tbsp. sugar
1 tbsp. kosher salt
Two limes, juiced
1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
Tags: bean paste, chili bean, , chili bean paste, always available, Asian dishes, Bean Paste