Chili Paste

This is an earthy, rich paste that adds a spicy aromatic depth to any dish. It’s more concentrated and hotter than chili garlic sauce. Whenever chili paste hit my mom’s wok when we were growing up, its distinct aroma would wend its way up to my bedroom, and I knew we’d be gobbling up one of her amazing spicy dishes before long (she sure knew how to get me to finish my algebra!). You can buy chili paste at Asian markets, but it’s easy-peasy to make, so I encourage you to try this at home.