Description
Homemade sweet chili sauce delivers a perfect balance of heat and sweetness from classic Thai ingredients. Bold flavors blend seamlessly, creating a versatile condiment you’ll want to drizzle on everything from spring rolls to grilled meats.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 3–4 red chili peppers (chopped)
- 3–4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 tbsps fish sauce (or soy sauce for vegan version)
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 tbsps cold water
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients and prepare a medium saucepan for creating the sweet chili sauce.
- Combine chopped chili peppers, minced garlic, rice vinegar, water, sugar, fish sauce, and ketchup in the saucepan.
- Heat the mixture over medium temperature, stirring continuously until sugar completely dissolves and ingredients integrate.
- Allow the liquid to reach a rolling boil, then reduce heat to create a gentle simmer.
- Let the sauce bubble softly for 7-8 minutes, which helps develop deep, complex flavor profiles.
- Whisk cornstarch with cold water in a separate small bowl until creating a smooth, lump-free slurry.
- Slowly pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering sauce, stirring consistently to prevent clumping.
- Continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching the sauce transform and thicken to a glossy, rich consistency.
- Remove the saucepan from heat source and allow sauce to cool completely at room temperature.
- Transfer the finished sweet chili sauce into a clean glass jar with a tight-sealing lid for refrigeration and storage.
Notes
- Adjust spice levels by selecting different chili peppers, like jalapeños for milder heat or habaneros for intense kick.
- Create a vegetarian version by substituting fish sauce with soy sauce or tamari for deeper umami flavor.
- Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove pepper seeds if you prefer smoother, less textured sauce consistency.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, allowing flavors to develop and intensify over time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 54 kcal
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 380 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg