How To Make Spicy Mayo Without Hot Sauce in 5 Ways (2023)

Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Shari Mason

Spicy mayo is the perfect addition to sushi, sandwiches, burgers, fries, and many more. It only requires two basic ingredients: mayonnaise and hot sauce. 

But what if you suddenly run out of hot sauce? 

How would you make spicy mayo without hot sauce? Here are some of our favorite substitutes. 

5 Ways To Make Spicy Mayo Without Hot Sauce

1. Add Horseradish to Taste

Horseradish is a white root that’s typically grated and stored in vinegar. It has a pungent taste and odor, closely related to wasabi and mustard. 

It is popularly mixed with mayonnaise or sour cream to make horseradish sauce [1]. When substituting horseradish for hot sauce in your spicy mayo recipe, use a 1:1 ratio. 

Choose a firm and unblemished root, and immediately use it for the hottest horseradish sauce. Storing the horseradish for a long time would cause its heat to fade naturally.

2. Mix In Sambal Oelek

Sambal oelek is composed of chili peppers, salt, and vinegar, but many recipes include ginger, garlic, shrimp paste, lemongrass, and sugar. 

Native to Indonesia, sambal oelek can give the same heat level to your spicy mayo, even without the hot sauce. 

You would want to go for a 1:1 ratio when using this condiment. But if there are too many hot peppers in your sambal oelek recipe, you would have to lessen the amount because it would be spicier.

3. Combine With Cayenne Pepper

Cayenne peppers are closely related to bell peppers and jalapeño and are a staple in Creole, Mexican, and Southwestern American cuisine [2].

Its spiciness comes from capsaicin, an active ingredient usually found in topical medications for muscle pains. 

Having a high rate on the Scoville scale, cayenne pepper is a super spicy substitute for hot sauce. Therefore, you should add it sparingly to your spicy mayo.

Start with ¼ tablespoon of cayenne pepper for every tablespoon of hot sauce. You can always add more later on.

Read: Is Yum-Yum Sauce Spicy Mayo?

4. Blend With Chili Paste

A chili paste is chili pepper, manually ground using a mortar and pestle. It can be thinned, flavored, or mixed and turned into a sauce base, a dipping sauce, or a flavoring agent. 

However, chili pastes have different varieties that incorporate different levels of spiciness and heat to your spicy mayo. 

For instance, Gochujang is a thick and spicy condiment with varying heat depending on the brand. You can start with a 1:1 ratio or add less if the packaging label indicates a high spice level.

5. Sprinkle Hot Chili Powder

Chili powder contains cayenne pepper, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, paprika, and other spices, giving it a mild to moderate spicy flavor.

The spiciness and heat of chili powder vary based on the ingredients. Most chili powder would have a mild spiciness, so you can do a 1:1 ratio when using it instead of hot sauce. 

“Though you can readily purchase jars of spicy mayo at any supermarket nowadays, making your own has the advantage of allowing you to create your own signature mixture.”

– Robin Groce, Food Writer

However, too much cayenne pepper in the mixture would also impart too much heat, so you would have to adjust accordingly.

How Long Will It Last In The Fridge?

Spicy mayo can last for around one month in the refrigerator. You can transfer it to a squeeze bottle or airtight container before storing it in the fridge.

Spicy Mayo Without Hot Sauce Recipe

Total time: 5 minutes 

Ingredients:

• ½ cup mayonnaise 
• 3 tbsp. sambal oelek 
• 1 tbsp. rice vinegar 
• Kosher salt 

Instructions:

Prepare a small bowl and pour ½ cup mayonnaise with sambal oelek and unseasoned rice vinegar. Taste and add more mayonnaise or sambal oelek based on your preference. Mix well, then season with salt. Refrigerate until it’s ready for use.

Servings: 1 serving

Tips & Tricks When Making Spicy Mayo Without Hot Sauce

• The level of spice and heat varies per substitute, so it would be better to start with a 1:1 ratio.
• Adjust the spicy mayo according to your preference. Increase the hot sauce substitute if it lacks that spicy kick, or add more mayonnaise if there is too much heat. 
• Make a big batch of spicy mayo and store it in a squeeze bottle for easier usage.
• You can add flavorings like lemon or lime juice to your spicy mayo. 
• Refrigerate the spicy mayo to make it last longer.

FAQs

Key Takeaways

Whether you’ve run out of hot sauce or wanted to experiment with other condiments, making a spicy mayo is only a matter of minutes.

Grab any of the substitutes we listed above and ensure that you check the level of spiciness or heat carefully before putting anything to your mayonnaise. 

Fortunately, you can always adjust it according to your preference and tolerance, then store it for about a month in the fridge. 

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/horseradish#what-it-is  
2. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/267248