Pastes and sauces
Curry pastes, harissa, gochujang, sambal and the wet ground seasonings of the world.
Pastes are spices pounded or blended with wet ingredients such as garlic, oil, vinegar or fermented beans. Curry paste, harissa, gochujang, doubanjiang and recado rojo are examples.
What they are
A paste carries the flavour of fresh aromatics as well as dry spices. Thai curry pastes use fresh chillies, lemongrass and galangal, and Tunisian harissa uses dried chillies, garlic and caraway. Others, like gochujang and doubanjiang, are fermented and develop a deep savoury taste.
How they are used
Pastes are fried in oil or coconut cream to cook out their raw edge and release their scent, before other ingredients are added. Some are used as marinades, dips or table condiments.
Buying and keeping
Jars should be kept in the fridge after opening, with a layer of oil on the top to protect them. Fermented pastes keep well for months. Check the ingredients, as heat and salt levels vary.
Paste on EveryMasala
The spices written up so far, best known first.
🇯🇵 JapanYuzu koshō柚子胡椒
A fermented Japanese paste of chili peppers and yuzu citrus peel.Paste · Hot and fiery · Citrus and bright
🇳🇬 Nigeria and 1 moreOgiriÒgìrì
A fermented West African condiment made from oil-bearing seeds.Paste · Savoury and umami
🇮🇹 Italy and 5 moreMustard
A pungent paste made from ground mustard seeds mixed with liquid and spices.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇲🇽 MexicoSalsa macha
A Mexican condiment of dried chilies and oil, crushed to a coarse texture.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sharp and pungent
🇨🇳 ChinaYongfeng chili sauce永丰辣酱
A fermented paste of peppers, rice and wheat from Hunan province, one of the region's three treasures.Paste · Hot and fiery · Sweet and mellow
🇰🇭 CambodiaKroeungគ្រឿង
The pounded herb paste that gives Khmer dishes their base flavourPaste · Herbal and green · Hot and fiery
🇾🇪 Yemen and 1 moreHilbehحلبة
A frothy Yemeni condiment made from ground fenugreek seeds and waterPaste · Bitter · Earthy and deep
🇨🇳 ChinaMala麻辣
A fiery, tongue-numbing Chinese seasoning of Sichuan pepper and chilliesPaste · Hot and fiery · Numbing and tingling
🇯🇵 Japan and 3 moreWasabiわさび
The pungent rhizome of a stream-side plant, grated fresh for sushi.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Hot and fiery
🇺🇸 United StatesCreole mustard
A grainy paste of brown mustard seeds, vinegar, and horseradish from Louisiana.Paste · Sharp and pungent · Sour and tart
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Yuzu koshō: njt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Wasabi: Qwert1234, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Yongfeng chili sauce: Elena0100, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Kroeung: Goomba King ( en:User:Trilinguist ), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Hilbeh: شرعب السلام, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Mustard: Rainer Zenz, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Salsa macha: BurseraLinanoe, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Creole mustard: Mwaters1120, Public domain, source
- Mala: Theorb, Public domain, source