Sweet, smoky, and deeply savory — built on stone-ground organic roasted dried red chillies, coconut sugar, and tamarind. This is Mekhala’s most versatile condiment paste: equally at home as a burger sauce, a chilli jam on a cheese board, a grill marinade for fish and meat, or a stir-fry flavor base. No refined sugar. No fish sauce. No artificial additives. Contains soy. Medium heat — warm and building, not sharp.
Free from: Fish sauce · Shrimp paste · Gluten · MSG · Artificial additives · Refined sugar · Dairy · Eggs
ABOUT THIS PRODUCT
Mekhala’s Organic Roasted Red Chilli Paste occupies a unique position in the range: it is as much a table condiment as it is a cooking paste. The foundation is roasted dried red chillies — the slow-roasting process transforms raw chilli heat into a deeper, more complex, smoke-tinged warmth that builds gradually and lingers pleasantly, rather than hitting sharply. That roasted chilli character is what defines this paste and what makes it so compelling across so many different applications.
The flavor architecture is sweet-savory-smoky-tart: coconut sugar brings a natural caramel sweetness that rounds the chilli without masking it; tamarind provides a fruity, slightly sour counterpoint; shallots and garlic add aromatic depth; and a small amount of gluten-free soy sauce contributes background umami. The result is a paste that is somewhere between a Thai nam prik pao (roasted chilli paste), a Southeast Asian chilli jam, and a sophisticated smoky condiment sauce.
SIMPLE TO MAKE
Spoon 2 heaped teaspoons of Mekhala Roasted Red Chilli Paste into a bowl. Add your protein: whole fish (sea bass, red snapper, or mackerel), chicken thighs, pork ribs, or vegetables. Turn to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes — overnight in the refrigerator for the deepest flavor and most dramatic results.
2 heaped tsp paste • 30 min minimum marinatePlace marinated protein on a hot grill or BBQ over medium-high heat. The coconut sugar caramelizes quickly — watch carefully. For whole fish: grill 5–6 minutes per side. For chicken thighs: 7–8 minutes per side. For vegetables: 4–5 minutes per side. The paste creates a deep mahogany crust when properly caramelized.
Medium-high heat • Watch for caramelisationServe with steamed jasmine rice, a fresh herb salad, or sliced cucumber and tomato. Bring extra paste to the table as a dipping sauce — a small ramekin alongside grilled fish or chicken is the perfect condiment. Garnish with lime wedges and fresh coriander. The paste’s sweetness pairs naturally with the brightness of lime.
Paste as table condiment • Lime + coriander to finishWHAT’s INSIDE
✓ No fish sauce. ✓ No shrimp paste. ✓ No MSG. ✓ No refined sugar. ✓ No artificial coloring or preservatives. ✓ Gluten-free.
Please verify the current label for the most accurate and up-to-date ingredient information.
NUTRITION FACTS
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 teaspoon (6g)
Servings per container: 17
VERSATILITY
Marinate whole fish, chicken thighs, pork ribs, or vegetables for 30 minutes to overnight. The coconut sugar caramelises into a deep, dark crust on the grill — stunning visual and flavour results.
Spread directly on burger buns, wraps, or sandwiches. Replaces ketchup, sriracha, and chilli sauce with something far more complex — sweet, smoky, and lightly tart.
Serve in a small dish alongside aged cheddar, brie, manchego, or gouda. Sweet-smoky chilli paste with mature cheese is exceptional — more interesting than chutney or fig jam.
Add 1–2 tsp to a hot wok with tofu, prawns, or beef strips. The sugars caramelise into a sticky glaze. Toss with rice noodles or serve over rice for a quick weeknight flavour hit.
Stir 1 tsp into fried rice at the end of cooking for a deep, smoky-sweet background note. The tamarind adds a dimension no soy sauce can match — transforms a simple fried rice.
A small spoonful alongside scrambled eggs, fried eggs, or a shakshuka base. Also excellent stirred into egg-fried rice or served with a frittata as a table condiment.
Serve straight from the jar for spring rolls, dumplings, grilled satay, or prawn crackers. Thin with lime juice and a splash of water for a pourable consistency.
COMPLETE YOUR DISH
EXPLORE THE RANGE
| 🔥Roasted Red Chilli ← You are here | 🌶️Thai Red Curry | 🌿Lemongrass Turmeric | 🫚Miso Ginger | 🍋Tom Yum | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Thai Pastes | Thai Pastes | South East Asian Pastes | East Asian Pastes | Thai Pastes |
| Flavor Profile | Sweet, Smoky & Jammy | Smoky & Savory with Dried Red Chillies | Vietnamese Inspired with a Hint of Citrus | Earthy & Savory with a Touch of Sweetness | Spicy & Tangy with Fresh Lime |
| Best With | Chicken, Pork, Prawns, Fried Rice | Chicken, Shrimp, Vegetables, Duck | Tofu, Chicken, Vegetables, Pork | Mushrooms, Pork, Tofu, Fish | Mushrooms, Tofu, Seafood (use with stock) |
| Spice Level | 🌶️🌶️Medium | 🌶️🌶️Medium | ⭕No Heat | ⭕No Heat | 🌶️🌶️Medium |
| Vegan | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDA Organic | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gluten-Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Non-GMO | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No Refined Sugar | ✓ Coconut sugar only | ✓ No added sugar | ✓ No added sugar | ✓ Coconut sugar only | ✓ Coconut sugar only |
| Oil-Free | ✗ Contains sunflower oil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| No Nasties, Fillers or Preservatives | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contains Soy | ⚠ Yes (soy sauce) | ✓ Soy-free | May contain | ⚠ Yes (miso + soy sauce) | ✓ Soy-free |
Note: Mekhala Roasted Red Chilli Paste and Miso Ginger Paste both contain soy and are not suitable for those with soy allergies.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
The only chilli sauce I’ll ever buy again
I put this on absolutely everything — eggs in the morning, sandwiches at lunch, fish on the grill. The balance of sweet and smoky is absolutely perfect and it has just enough heat without overpowering. The best organic chilli condiment I’ve ever found.
Incredible BBQ marinade
I marinated a whole side of salmon in two teaspoons of this paste overnight and grilled it. The coconut sugar caramelises into a dark crust, the tamarind adds depth, the chilli gives warmth. My guests demanded the recipe.
Finally a clean chilli jam without the junk
I’ve been searching for an organic chilli condiment without refined sugar and artificial preservatives. This is it. Coconut sugar, real chilli, tamarind — that’s the foundation. It tastes so much better than the commercial chilli jams.
Brilliant on a cheese board
I brought this to a dinner party as the cheese board condiment instead of fig jam and it became the talking point of the evening. The combination of sweet, smoky, slightly tart chilli with aged cheddar is exceptional.
Best condiment for grilled meats and burgers
I use this as the sauce on all my burgers now. Sweet, smoky, with a real chilli warmth that builds slowly. Far more interesting than ketchup or sriracha. The coconut sugar caramelises beautifully on the grill.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
RETAIL
Mekhala is available at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, H-E-B, Giant, and select specialty grocery stores across the US. Use the store finder to locate your nearest stockist.
At Mekhala, we believe in making great products that we want to use for ourselves and our families. And that means doing the very best we can with what is available.
We ask – what is this going to cost? Our health? Our planet? Our viability?
More often than not, it is immensely challenging to find the best balance. Read on here to find out how we’re doing it!
