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    Home > Recipes > Thai

    Vegetarian Nam Prik Pao (Thai Chili Paste)

    Published: Feb 29, 2016 · Modified: Apr 4, 2022 · by Jess Smith · Jump to Recipe · 18 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Nam Prik Pao - Vegetarian Thai Chili Paste
    Nam Prik Pao - Vegetarian Thai Chili Paste

    thai chili paste

    Smoky, sweet, tart and spicy, Nam Prik Pao (Thai Chili Paste) has a flavor-packed punch that is a secret weapon in Thai kitchens. It is super easy to make at home, keeps in the fridge for weeks, and just a spoonful will turn you into a Thai chef overnight.

    I wrote about my vegetarian version of  Thai Chili Paste years ago and it remains one of the most popular recipes on this site. I'm bringing the recipe back with all new step-by-step photos and detailed instructions.

    Step 1: Prepare the Chilis

    I use dried New Mexico Chilis which are are widely available in the United States and work great. They are about 6 inches / 15 cm in length and have a deep red color. You can use any other dried chili, including dried Thai Chilis to make this, but make sure that they are large chilis of the dimensions above (not the small, super spicy Thai chilis often called "Bird's Eye chilis").

    New Mexico Chilis on a wooden table

    One of the best things about making Nam Prik Pao yourself is that you have total control over the level of spice.

    The more seeds you remove from the chilis, the less spicy your finished dish will be. If this is your first time making Nam Prik Pao, it's a great idea to remove most of them and set them aside. You can always add some back in at the end.

    Step 2: Roast

    Next, roast the chilis, shallots and garlic at 400 F / 204 C degrees. This is the set-up I like for roasting (a cooling rack over a baking sheet) because it allows air to circulate underneath the ingredients.

    chilis, shallots and garlic on a metal rack

    The chilis will start to char after 10 minutes, at which point you should pull those off the baking sheet.

    Then continue roasting the shallots and garlic for another 15 minutes, until golden brown and tender.

    Roasted Garlic and Shallots on a cooling rack

     

    Step 3: Puree

    Blitz all of the ingredients in a food processor until a thick paste forms, adding water if needed.

    ingredients for Thai chili paste in a food processor

    It turns bright red and thick. At this point it's a good idea to taste and adjust the flavors a bit. With a quick taste you'll know if you need to add a bit more sugar (palm sugar is traditional, but brown sugar works) or salt (in the form of soy sauce, fish sauce, or tamari).

    Vegetarian Thai Chili Paste in a food processor

    Step 4: Toast

    The final step is what gives Nam Prik Pao an extra dose of deep, smoky flavor. You can skip this step if you prefer or are short on time. Just add a bit of oil to a skillet and then saute the Nam Prik Pao until it turns dark and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes.

    Nam Prik Pao - Vegetarian Thai Chili Paste in a white bowl with a spoon

    Tamarind Paste and Shiitakes

    The only thing that might seem unusual in this lovely condiment is Tamarind Paste. You can read all about making tamarind paste here. We also tested this recipe using tamarind concentrate found at our local Asian grocery store or online here.

    The homemade tamarind paste (left) is thicker and has more texture to it than the commercial version (right), but both will work in Nam Prik Pao.

    Tamarind Paste on a wooden table

    And dried shiitakes are the key ingredient that give this vegetarian version a ton of umami flavor. Traditional Nam Prik Pao uses dried shrimp to give the dish that umami, but I love the more subtle (less fishy) flavor of shiitakes.

    Dried Shiitakes on a wooden tray

    Once you start making this condiment at home, you'll find endless ways to use it. Crispy Tofu Stir-Fry with Nam Prik Pao is a good place to start. Enjoy!

    More Homemade Thai Sauces

    • Simple Dressing for Thai Salads
    • How To Make Thai Peanut Sauce
    • How To Make Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
    • Pad Thai Sauce
    • Delicious-With-Everything Thai Dipping Sauce

    Favorite Tools

    • Half Sheet Pan
    • Kitchen Scissors
    • Cuisinart Food Processor
    • Calphalon Nonstick Frying Pan

     

    thai chili paste in a glass jar
    Print Recipe
    5 from 12 votes

    How to Make Vegetarian Nam Prik Pao (Thai Chili Paste)

    A vegetarian version of the flavorful, spicy, sweet Thai Chili Paste called Nam Prik Pao. Makes an amazing stir-fry, but is great for dipping vegetables and crackers as well.
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time40 mins
    Total Time50 mins
    Course: Condiment
    Cuisine: Thai
    Keyword: chili paste, homemade sauce, Thai sauce
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 938kcal
    Author: Jess Smith via Inquiring Chef
    Cost: $4.00

    Equipment

    • Half Sheet Pan
    • Food Processor
    • Large Skillet

    Ingredients

    • 20 dried New Mexico Chilis (see note)
    • 14 small / 4 oz / 113 g Shallots, peeled (see note)
    • 20 cloves / 2 oz / 57 g Garlic, peeled (see note)
    • 6 Tbsp Cooking Oil, divided (any neutral-tasting oil will work)
    • 10 / 2 oz / 57 g dried Shiitake Mushrooms
    • 6 tablespoon Tamarind Paste (click here for everything you need to know about this)
    • 4 Tbsp / 1.8 oz / 50 g Brown Sugar (use the same weight of palm sugar if you can find it)
    • 4 tablespoon Soy Sauce (sub fish sauce if you eat fish; sub Tamari if gluten-free)
    • ½ cup Water, plus more if needed

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350 F / 177 C degrees. Lightly spray a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray or brush with a small amount of oil. (Note: I previously always roasted the chilis and aromatics on a cooling rack over a sheet pan to increase air circulation while they roast as shown in the photos above. I no longer find it necessary to do this, and prefer to roast the ingredients directly on a sheet pan to save a step. I find the results to be very similar.)
    • Rinse the chilis under water to clean (no need to soak them). Use kitchen scissors to cut off and discard the stems. Shake out seeds to achieve your desired level of spice. (Note: If you leave all the seeds in, you will have a very spicy Nam Prik Pao, and if you remove nearly all the seeds it will barely be spicy at all. If you are hesitant about spice, remove as many seeds as you can the first time you make this. You can always set the seeds aside and add them back in during the final step.)
    • Toss chilis, shallots, and garlic cloves with 2 tablespoon oil. Spread out on sheet pan.
    • Place the sheet pan in the oven and roast until the chilis start to char and blacken in spots, 8 to 10 minutes, turning everything with a flat spatula halfway through cooking.
    • When chilis are charred, remove them from the sheet pan. Return the shallots and garlic to the oven and continue roasting until golden and tender, 10 to 15 minutes more.
    • Meanwhile, rinse the dried shiitake mushrooms under tap water (no need to soak them).
    • In the bowl of a food processor combine the chilis, shallots, garlic, shiitakes, tamarind paste, brown sugar, soy sauce, and ½ cup water. Turn the machine on and blend until smooth, adding additional water to create a thick paste.
    • Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoon oil. When oil begins to shimmer, add chili paste and cook, stirring frequently, until the paste becomes fragrant and turns dark, 6 to 8 minutes.
    • Taste the paste and add additional sugar or soy sauce, if needed to reach your desired balance of sweet / salty. If you reserved some of the chili seeds, you can add them back in and cook for a few minutes longer to increase the spice level.
    • Transfer to containers and refrigerate. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 weeks.

    Notes

    Dried New Mexico Chilis are widely available in the United States and work great in this dish. They are usually about 6 inches / 15 cm in length and have a deep red color. You can certainly use any other dried chili, including dried Thai Chilis to make this, but make sure that they are large chilis of the dimensions above (not the small, super spicy Thai chilis often called "Bird's Eye chilis").
    Shallots and Garlic - Thai shallots and garlic cloves tend to be much smaller than the variety we find in U.S. or other Western grocery stores. If using larger garlic or shallots, it's a great idea to measure these by weight to balance the flavors in the chili paste. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 938kcal | Carbohydrates: 170g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1401mg | Potassium: 3317mg | Fiber: 22g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 2866IU | Vitamin C: 439mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 7mg

     

    *This post contains affiliate links*

    Related

    « How to Make Authentic Pad Thai
    Crispy Tofu with Thai Chili Paste, Cashews and Kale »

    About Jess

    Hi! I'm Jess. I am the recipe creator and photographer behind the 900+ recipes you’ll find on Inquiring Chef. As a mom to three young kids and professional cook, my mission is to make every moment in the kitchen and around the table count. If you’re looking for easy, flavorful, family-approved recipes, you’ve come to the right place! Learn more about me here.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Renee

      August 06, 2016 at 10:22 am

      5 stars
      Going to try this recipe today!

      Reply
      • Jess

        August 06, 2016 at 1:34 pm

        Hope you like it as much as we do Renee! I can put it on everything!

        Reply
    2. Judy from St. Louis

      February 10, 2017 at 3:26 pm

      5 stars
      Our family has started a tradition of picking a different country's cuisine for Christmas dinner each year. Each of us takes a course (there are 5 of us) and then researches recipes that sound like something we would all enjoy. This year our country was Thailand and I was in charge of soup. I made a Tom Yum Gai soup (hot and sour chicken soup) that called for thai chili paste to add the hot and sour flavor. My daughter doesn't care for shrimp, so I was at first dismayed to see that the typical thai red chili paste was flavored with shrimp......then I found your vegetarian recipe and life was good. Then I made your recipe and life was GREAT! We used the leftover chili paste not needed for the soup in our thai turkey lettuce wraps. We were all fighting over the last few bites. Thanks for your help in making our Christmas feast perfect this year!

      Reply
      • Jess

        March 08, 2017 at 8:57 pm

        Judy - I'm late in responding to your wonderful comment but I was thrilled to read it. What a fun Christmas tradition - I'm so glad we could have a little part in it!!

        Reply
    3. Eric Regaspi

      October 29, 2017 at 1:21 am

      5 stars
      I'm in Bangkok just finished making this recipe, it's delicious! I will try it out on my Thai friend who complains that nothing I cook is spicy enough, lol. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jess

        November 02, 2017 at 1:26 pm

        So glad you liked it Eric. Let me know if it passes the Thai-spicy test, though I know that's a steep curve!

        Reply
    4. Noha Kabbani

      February 03, 2019 at 8:24 am

      5 stars
      EXTREEEEEEEEEMELY Good !! thank you very much
      fron Beirut

      Reply
    5. Lisa Hutson

      April 08, 2019 at 12:06 pm

      I have seen various renditions of this recipe by you. Which one is best?

      Reply
    6. Diane

      May 03, 2019 at 3:26 pm

      I see that this revised recipe omits the 1/4 cup of vinegar which is in your original recipe. Why the omission?

      Thank you,
      Diane

      Reply
      • Jess

        May 07, 2019 at 9:33 am

        Hi Diane - Great question! Really it just came down to personal preference. Over the years, as I made and adapted the recipe, I found that I liked the version with a less tart flavor (and therefore no vinegar). The vinegar is delicious in this, but the newer version really highlights the roasted savory notes of the other ingredients. It's great either way, so I'd recommend the original version if you like more tart notes and the newer version if you'd like more sweet / savory flavor.

        Reply
    7. Uzair

      March 08, 2020 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for the great recipe with clear instructions!

      Any suggestions for someone going sugar free. Do you think adding sugar substitute (stevia etc) is better or leaving out the sweetener all together is better?

      P.S. I think, the serving size was meant to be 30 grams instead of 3 grams (possible typo)

      Reply
      • Jess

        March 09, 2020 at 10:39 am

        Thanks so much for the note and the catch on that typo. We reformatted the recipes a few years ago and a few little errors snuck by. That's been updated. Thanks again!

        Reply
    8. Leela O

      April 07, 2020 at 5:16 pm

      Can I use red onion instead of shallots?

      Reply
    9. Josie

      May 20, 2020 at 6:38 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Straight forward and tastes amazing!

      Reply
      • Jess

        May 20, 2020 at 8:27 pm

        So glad you liked it Josie!

        Reply
    10. Mhairi

      July 27, 2020 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      Just made this! Absolutely delicious 💛 just had to put it away fast before I started eating it by the spoonful! Thanks so much for the recipe I will definitely be making this again and again

      Reply
    11. Kayla

      October 12, 2022 at 7:07 pm

      I had plans to make this tomorrow but, looking through the updated recipe, I see that I have the wrong kind of chili's. I have the bird's eye chilis, just slightly longer than a quarter. If I remove the seeds, could these chilis be used in this recipe?

      Reply
      • Jess Smith

        October 12, 2022 at 8:06 pm

        Even with the seeds removed, those will be way too spicy to make Nam Prik Pao. But you could also try this with a mix of those spicy Bird's Eye Chilis and red bell peppers. The texture and color will be a little different since the bell peppers have a lot more liquid than dried chilis, but it should still give you a very good version. I'd try roasting 2 red bell peppers and just using 2 to 4 Bird's Eye Chilis, depending on your spice preference.

        Reply

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