Chili Paste???

[Jessica]

Based on all your recommendations, I want to try the tofu with finger-licking peanut sauce. What is chili paste and can you recommend a brand? Is there a good substitute--something I might already have?

Thanks. I've been craving tofu, which my DH thinks is funny. Still, he would eat my gym socks if they were dipped in peanut sauce, so this dish should satisfy both of us.

[KValley]

Jessica,

I use Lee Kum Kee Chili Garlic Sauce in this and other recipes calling for chili paste. It's delicious!

This particular recipe is one of my favorites- enjoy! (add broccoli :))

[lisas3575]

I found Chili Paste in the Asian section of my grocery store (look for it by the coconut milk and Thai noodles etc.). I'm a big one for buying whatever's the cheapest, so I don't have a particular brand. I'm not sure of a substitute, but the jar of paste wasn't very expensive, around $1.

We love this recipe! I like to smoosh the tofu up really small so it's more a part of the sauce.

[aggie94]

Lee Kum Kee is my brand of choice, too. If you can't find it in the Asian section of your grocery store, look at an Asian market or grocery store.

[Beth]

I have both the chili paste and the garlic chili sauce. The paste is even more concentrated and hotter, generally speaking, but brands vary. I also checked my jar and notice it has oil where the sauce doesn't. I think the other ingredient differences are variations in the different brand recipes (one has fish sauce, the other has anchovy paste -- that sort of thing).

The paste is generally sold in small jars (half the size or a small jar of marinated artickoke hearts) and the garlic chili sauce comes in taller bottles that range from the size of a specialty vinegar to liters). The Lee Kum Kee garlic chili sauce seems to be hotter than the other brand I bought before (can't remember the name), so it may be hot enough for you. I would try it as an equal substitute, but if you like really spicy food, you may want to add more.

[Jessica]

I just wanted to say that we LOVED this dish. Peanut sauce is always a hit with the DH and he never even mentioned that I sneaked broccoli into the pasta. Neither of us like broccoli, but he thinks that means we should never eat it and I think it means we should keep trying new ways to prepare it. I also added red pepper, omitted the carrot and used soba noodles.

I will make this again. Soon. Very very very soon.