Mekhala Organic Roasted Red Chilli Paste

Yes. Mekhala Roasted Red Chilli Paste is the same product as the Mekhala Roasted Sweet Chilli Paste — it has been renamed. The formula, ingredients, and flavor profile are completely unchanged. The name change better reflects the product: the roasted, smoky depth of the dried red chillies is just as defining as the sweetness from coconut sugar. The new name also positions it more accurately for its full range of uses — including as a BBQ marinade, cooking base, and savory relish.

Sweet, smoky, and deeply savory — with a warm, building heat (2 out of 3 on the Mekhala scale) and a pleasant tartness from tamarind. The dominant flavor note is the richness of roasted dried red chillies — deeper and more complex than fresh chilli heat — balanced by coconut sugar, which adds a natural caramel sweetness, and tamarind, which provides a fruity, slightly sour counterpoint. The overall effect is closer to a high-quality chilli jam or Thai nam prik pao than a hot sauce.

Nam prik pao is a traditional Thai roasted chilli paste made by roasting dried red chillies, shallots, garlic, and tamarind together — a foundational ingredient in Thai cooking used as a condiment and stir-fry base. Mekhala Roasted Red Chilli Paste is directly inspired by this tradition, sharing the same core ingredients. The key differences: Mekhala uses organic ingredients, coconut sugar instead of palm sugar, and no shrimp paste — making it 100% vegan, fully organic, and gluten-free.

Yes. Mekhala Organic Roasted Red Chilli Paste contains soy in the gluten-free soy sauce component (made from brown rice, soybeans, salt, and water). If you have a soy allergy or intolerance, this product is not suitable. The paste is labelled gluten-free but is not soy-free. The soy sauce contributes background umami depth.

This paste contains a small amount of organic sunflower oil, which is traditional for roasted chilli condiment pastes. The oil helps integrate the roasted chilli with the other ingredients, provides a silky texture, and acts as a carrier for fat-soluble flavor compounds. The Thai and Southeast Asian curry pastes in the Mekhala range are dry-ground and don’t use oil. The total fat per teaspoon serving is only 1g.

Mekhala Roasted Red Chilli Paste is rated 2 out of 3 on the Mekhala spice scale — medium heat. The roasted dried red chilli delivers a warm, building heat that lingers pleasantly, but does not have the sharp intensity of fresh chilli or the sustained heat of Mekhala’s Green Curry Paste (rated 3/3). The coconut sugar and tamarind round the heat significantly, making it approachable for most adults with moderate spice tolerance.

Whole30: Not compliant. Whole30 prohibits all added sugars — including coconut sugar, which is the primary ingredient in this paste. It also contains soy, which Whole30 does not permit. Keto: With 3g total carbohydrates and 3g sugars (including 2g added sugars) per teaspoon, this paste is less compatible with strict ketogenic diets. Small amounts as a condiment drizzle may be workable within a flexible keto approach.

Refrigerate after opening and consume within 30 days. The natural acids from tamarind and soy sauce, the oil, and the coconut sugar all contribute to stability, but refrigeration is essential. The glass jar seals tightly for clean refrigerator storage. For longer storage, freeze tablespoon-sized portions for up to 3 months — frozen portions thaw quickly and work well as a BBQ marinade base.