How to Make Homemade Chile Paste – And How to Use It

Published July 5, 2024

What you lose in the convenience of canned paste, you make up for in flavor

Photo: Aya Brackett

It’s tempting to reach for a can of chile paste when a recipe calls for it, but once you start making it on your own, you’ll realize that whatever you lose in convenience (little), you make up for in flavor.

Like spice blends and rubs, chile pastes aren’t exactly sauces, but are more commonly used as ingredients in dressings, sauces, and marinades and to smear on foods before grilling or roasting.


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