
Other than sambal oelek, you can go for chili paste, crushed chili flakes or even cayenne pepper to replace sriracha. Although these substitutes may not be hot enough, neither do they have the same thick consistency as Sriracha, yet will serve the same basic purpose.
If you wonder whether you can substitute one for the other, the answer is yes. You would use a lot less red chili powder, even if it is of the milder variety, than you would paprika. In fact, the best way to go about this is add it slowly and in small amounts, till you get the heat factor that you want. In a pinch, you can use paprika instead of red chili powder as well, though you may not get the color that you want and the flavor may be different.
Paprika powder is made from dried and ground Capsicum annuum peppers, such as bell peppers or chili peppers. It is known for its vibrant red color and can be sweet, hot, or smoked, depending on the variety of peppers used. Paprika is often used to add color and a subtle, sweet or smoky flavor to dishes.


Yes, paprika and paprika powder generally refer to the same thing. Paprika is a spice made from grinding dried red fruits of the Capsicum annuum family, such as bell peppers or chili peppers, into a fine powder. This powder is commonly known as paprika and is used to add flavor, color, and sometimes heat to a wide variety of dishes.

Chilli powder is largely considered to be one of the best paprika substitutes out there and it’s bursting with flavour. However, if you want something super hot, then it’s probably not the right choice but you’ll be fine to add it in the same amount as paprika.


This type is made from gradually smoking pimentón (a type of Spanish smoked pepper). Since it’s dried by way of smoking, the flavor it imparts is somewhat woody, peppery, and smoky with a mild spicy kick. Unlike other types, this one is prized for its smokiness rather than the heat level it can provide. Check the best smoked paprika substitute options below:
Sriracha is a multi-purpose sauce. It can be used in a variety of cuisines, from pasta, seafood and more. But when you’ve run out of this magical hot elixir, go for sambal oelek. Sambal oelek is hands down the best substitute for the thick sriracha sauce packed with heat. It is wildly popular in major grocery stores and it packs a similar punch in the heat department. It is made of much simpler ingredients than sriracha itself. It just has one drawback - you have to add garlic powder to it to get close to the same taste.
These peppers are then dried to perfection. Then, the dried peppers are turned into powder form.
This paprika is delicious when added to cheeses, chicken, duck, egg dishes, hors d'ouvres, rice, salads, smoked foods, vegetables, and cottage cheese. It’s also terrific in salad dressings, where it not only adds color but also acts as an emulsifier.