| WASABI | Hot paste used to be a bit lacking in temperature |
| HARISSA | Hot paste used in North African cuisine - ass hair (anag) (7) |
| ILEFTTHEMARY | With 28 Across, tuneful reason why this year's Nativity display will be a bit lacking? |
| FRACTION | A bit lacking in guts, fear combat |
| LANGUID | Milan guide a bit lacking in energy |
| WHITLOWWORT | Plant a bit lacking in vitality, warranting being cut |
| INCAS | Old people a bit lacking in cash? |
| INEPT | Popular record by top tenor is a bit lacking in finesse |
| MARZIPAN | Name, derived from a Burmese port once famed for glazed jars used to export candied fruits, confections, preserves and spices, for a sugary almond paste used to coat cakes (8) |
| GRANADA | Spanish city a little bit lacking in Latin love? |
| BREADSTICK | Dough - paste used to produce something to nibble |
| TOMATO | Red male, little bit lacking in tail (6) |
| RISETOTHEBAIT | React or hesitate a bit, lacking answer, perhaps (4,2,3,4) |
| HUNK | Macho man - a bit lacking up top (4) |
| CHOUXPASTRY | Paste used to make profiteroles and eclairs (5,6) |
| MISO | Japanese fermented soy paste used to make soup (4) |
| TAHINI | Sesame paste used to make hummus |
| STRASS | Paste used to make diamante (6) |
| COCONUTBUTTER | White creamy paste used to enrich curries and sauces (7,6) |
| PUTTY | Paste used to seal window glass (5) |
