Tex Mex Paste Substitute

Are you planning to serve “Tex Mex” dishes to your guests but find you don’t have a tex mex paste with you?

Do not worry. Here is how to look for some substitutes in your kitchen, such as Achiote Paste or Siren Spice Tex-Mex Seasoning.

These substitutes are great for when you do not want to use the real thing in your Mexican-inspired recipes.

They are close to the tex mex paste flavor, a combination of mixed spices and seasonings and tomato paste. With that, we also listed more alternatives below that you can choose today!

What are the Best Tex Mex Paste Substitutes

Tex-Mex food has become very popular over the years. The natural flavor and the ingredients are delicious, but sometimes they can be expensive and hard to find. If you want to save some cash, you should try using these substitutes for your tex-mex craving.

1. Achiote Paste

Achiote Paste is one of the best Tex-Mex paste substitutes because it comes from Mexico. It is made out of ground annatto seeds and other spices. This spice helps give the dish its color and taste. It is traditionally used to marinate meat, poultry, fish, and seafood in Mexico. You can buy this product at any grocery store.

When using this as a substitute, mix 1/4 teaspoon of the paste into 2 tablespoons of water. Stir well until the mixture becomes thick. Then add a tsp salt and black pepper to taste. Use this as a marinade for chicken, beef, pork, or shrimp.

Achiote Paste as a Tex mex Sauce or Paste
Achiote Paste as a Tex mex Sauce or Paste

2. Siren Spice Tex-Mex Seasoning

Another good option if you want to make tex-mex food without spending too much money is Siren Spice Tex-Mex Seasonings. It comprises chili powder, ground cumin, garlic, onion, oregano, paprika, salt, and sugar.

This seasoning can be found in most supermarkets. Mix together all the ingredients and then stir them well. Add a tsp salt and black pepper to taste before serving.

3. Mexican Chipotle Chili Paste

Mexican Chipotle Chili Paste is a type of Mexican chili paste that is made of chipotle and a Mexican chili blend. When mixed into the dishes, it gives a smoky flavor with a bit of sweetness due to the caramelized onions. This is one of the best Hello Fresh tex mex paste substitutes because of its similar flavor, which is a smoky and savory flavor.

The chipotle paste is somewhat similar to adobo sauce, but it is creamier in texture. The garlic powder and lime will make your Mexican recipes tastier. If you want to amp up the spicy flavor, you can easily add jalapenos, salt, and garlic. 

 Mexican Chipotle Chili Paste Is A Good Tex Mex Paste
Mexican Chipotle Chili Paste Is A Good Tex Mex Paste

4. Tomato Cooking Base

A tomato cooking base, such as the Goya Sofrito Tomato Cooking Base, is another option for a delicious Tex-Mex paste substitute. It is made up mostly of tomatoes, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, olive oil, citric acid, salt, and black pepper. Finely chopped jalapeños can be a good addition to this tomato paste since it has a spicy and smoky flavor. You can use this as a base for soups, stews, sauces, pasta dishes, rice dishes, salads, sandwiches, taco shells, Poblano enchiladas, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos, etc.

5. Sriracha

Sriracha is a famous type of hot chili sauce that originated in Thailand. It comprises white vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, sugar, ginger, chiles, sesame oil, and salt. The red jalapeño pepper makes the sauce extra spicy with a 2,200 level of Scoville scale. 

This is a great Tex-Mex paste alternative because it works well in many types of dishes. You can also use Sriracha (see alternatives) as an ingredient in salad dressings, dips, marinades, sauces, and even desserts. In order to balance the heat, you can add some honey to the recipe.

6. Homemade Tex Mex Paste

Homemade Tex Mex Paste is probably the easiest way to create your own homemade tex-mex paste. All you need are canned beans, salsa, and a blender. Blend everything until smooth. You can also add spices like cumin, coriander, chili powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper to kick it.

7. Creamy Guacamole

Creamy guacamole is a versatile and easy tex-mex paste replacement. It only requires avocados, lemon juice, and mayonnaise. For a creamy texture, you can add avocado or sour cream. You can add fresh minced garlic, green onions, cilantro, and jalapeño peppers to the mixture to spice things up.

What Does Tex Mex Paste Consist of

What Is TexMex Paste?

The TexMex paste is a mixture of ground chile peppers, garlic, onion, salt, cumin, oregano, and paprika and many other ingredients – everyone has their own secret recipe.

It is used as a seasoning in many Mexican dishes, including tacos, burritos, enchiladas, tamales, and tortas.

You might wonder what exactly does tex-mex paste consist of? Here’s a list of the common ingredients:

1. Beans

Black beans are usually used in tex-mex paste recipes. They have a very rich and hearty flavor profile that goes well with other common ingredients. Some common beans include pinto, kidney, black, and refried.

2. Tomato Paste

Tomato paste is a thick and concentrated form of tomato puree. It has a deep red color and a sweet taste. Adding tomato paste to your dish adds a lot of flavor without adding many calories.

3. Salsa

Salsa is a popular condiment that has become synonymous with Mexican cuisine. There are hundreds of different kinds of salsa available today. Some examples include chimichurri, mango habanero, tomatillo, and pineapple habañero.

Also, See Rotel Tomato Substitutes

4. Onion Powder

Onion powder is often added to tex-mex paste to give it a sweet taste. It is commonly found in grocery stores and comes in various flavors such as garlic, smoked, and herb.

5. Garlic Powder

Garlic powder is one of the most important ingredients in tex-mex pastes. It gives the dish a distinct natural flavor and aroma. If you don’t want to buy garlic powder, you can easily make a tsp garlic powder on your own by crushing several cloves of garlic into a fine powder using a mortar and pestle.

What Food Goes Well with Tex Mex

If you’re wondering what foods go well with tex-mex paste, here are some ideas:

1. Tacos

Any style tacos are a classic combination of beef, lettuce, cheese, and salsa. This is one of the best foods to go with tex-mex. See How Many Tacos per Person.

2. Burritos

Burritos are another favorite food for people who love tex-mex. A burrito consists of rice, ground meat, beans, cheese, and salsa wrapped inside a flour tortilla.

3. Enchiladas

Enchiladas are a type of Mexican food consisting of corn tortillas filled with shredded chicken, cheese, and enchilada sauce. The dish originated from Mexico but has gained popularity all over the world.

4. Fajitas

Fajitas are a popular dish in many parts of the United States. They are made with grilled steak, onions, peppers, and tomatoes. See How Much Meat per Person for Fajitas for A Big Crowd.

5. Quesadillas

Quesadillas are similar to fajitas. However, they use flour tortillas instead of corn ones. Quesadillas are typically stuffed with cheese dip, vegetables, and meats.

What Are Common Tex Mex Seasonings?

Common seasonings used in tex-mex dishes include chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, garlic salt, tsp onion powder, lime juice, and hot sauce. These spices help bring out the authentic flavor of the dish.

What Kind of Sauce to Use for Tex Mex Paste?

There are two types of sauces commonly used for tex-mex paste: sour cream and mayonnaise. Both are delicious and both work well with the dish. You can also try combining them together or mixing them up depending on how spicy your dish tastes.

Can I use adobo sauce as an alternative for tex mex?

Adobo sauce is a traditional seasoning that’s commonly used in Mexican cooking. It contains vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and spices like bay leaf, cinnamon, and clove. Adobo sauce works great as an alternative to tex-mex because it doesn’t contain any additional ingredients besides these four basic spices: onion powder, garlic powder, ground black pepper, chili powder.

How do I cook my tex mex paste dupe? Can I add more spice?

You can cook your tex-mex paste either by baking it or boiling it over medium heat. Baking will take longer than boiling, so choose boiling if you want a quicker result. To increase the spiciness of your paste, add more jalapenos or other spicy dry ingredients.