Description
This BEST Sweet Chili Sauce recipe offers a perfect balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors that complement a variety of dishes. Made simple with pantry staples like rice vinegar, cane sugar, garlic, and chili, it’s easy to prepare and thickens to a luscious consistency. Ideal for dipping, drizzling, or marinating, this versatile sauce can be customized with your preferred level of heat and sweetness.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/3 cup water
- 1 tablespoon rice wine (or dry sherry as substitute)
- 1 teaspoon tamari or soy sauce (use tamari for gluten free)
Sweeteners
- 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons cane sugar (alternatively use granular sweetener like erythritol for sugar-free)
Spices & Flavorings
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (or 1-2 teaspoons dried red chili flakes, adjust to taste)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon finely minced ginger
- 1-2 drops natural red food coloring (optional)
Thickening Agent
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, add the rice vinegar, water, cane sugar, rice wine, sambal oelek (or dried chili flakes), minced garlic, minced ginger, tamari or soy sauce, and optional red food coloring. Stir to combine.
- Bring to Boil: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil while stirring regularly to dissolve the sugar completely.
- Add Cornstarch Mixture: Once boiling and sugar is dissolved, stir in the cornstarch dissolved in water. Continue stirring constantly for about 1 minute until the sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Cool the Sauce: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool completely. The sauce will thicken further as it cools.
- Store Properly: Once cooled, transfer the sauce into an airtight jar or container and refrigerate. The sweet chili sauce will keep fresh for up to one week.
Notes
- Adjust chili quantity according to your spice preference; dried chili flakes are much hotter than sambal oelek.
- For a sugar-free version, substitute cane sugar with erythritol or another granular sweetener of your choice.
- The sauce thickens upon cooling, so do not overcook when adding the cornstarch mixture.
- This sauce is perfect for dipping spring rolls, grilled meats, or as a marinade for stir-fries.
- Store in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to one week for best flavor and safety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
