Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe • easy recipe! (2024)

ingredients you’ll need for this Thai sweet chili sauce recipe

• rice wine vinegar
  • this Asian vinegar is super mellow, I love to use it for salad dressings, too.
• sugar
  • sugar of course gives the sweet in the sweet and spicy flavor profile.
• chili flakes
• chili paste
  • I used Sambal Olek.
• fresh garlic
• fresh ginger
• soy sauce
• fish sauce
  • for vegan use a vegan fish sauce.
• cornstarch

how to make homemade Thai sweet chili sauce

This process is so easy there’s no reason to ever buy the stuff in the bottle again. And since it only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish, you can make it while you wait for Doordash delivery. Better yet? Make your own easy Thai food, I’ve got lots of easy recipes to choose from.

step 1. combine ingredients in a pan and bring to a boil

Everything but the cornstarch goes into a pan. Stir to combine and bring it to a boil.

step 2. cook for about 5-6 minutes

You are reducing the liquid and blooming the flavors.

step 3. add cornstarch slurry to thicken

Stir cornstarch together with a little water and add to the sauce. Boil for a few minutes longer to thicken. Note that Thai sweet chili sauce is not meant to be super thick. It should be glossy and slightly thickened, but still drip easily off a spoon. The consistency, after chilling, is like maple syrup.

variations and substitutions

You can use a granulated sugar substitute.

Arrowroot powder can be used instead of cornstarch.

White vinegar or cider vinegar can sub for rice wine vinegar.

You can use honey instead of sugar, but use less: honey is actually sweeter than sugar.

Fresh red peppers can be used in place of the chili flakes…you can use Thai peppers or red jalapeño peppers.

There are vegan fish sauce substitutes if needed.

how you’ll use your chili sauce

It’s commonly used as a dipping sauce for fried foods such as summer rolls, spring rolls, chicken wings, and shrimp. Here are some other ways that Thai sweet chili sauce can be used:

1. As a marinade: Thai sweet chili sauce can be used as a marinade for chicken, pork, beef, or fish. Simply coat the protein with the sauce and let it marinate in the refrigerator for several hours before grilling or baking.
2. As a glaze: brush Thai sweet chili sauce onto grilled or roasted meats, fish, or vegetables for added flavor and a touch of sweetness. Try it over cream cheese with crackers as an appetizer, or use it to top some gooey baked Brie!
3. As a dressing: Thai sweet chili sauce can be used in salad dressings ~ how about an easy Thai inspired slaw?
4. As a dip: dip summer rolls, lettuce wraps, spring rolls, potstickers, chicken tenders, or raw veggies!
5. As a condiment: use Thai sweet chili sauce as a condiment for burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. It adds a sweet and spicy kick to any dish, even scrambled eggs. Add it to your next cheese platter, too.
6. As a stir-fry sauce: stir-fry vegetables or protein with Thai sweet chili sauce for a quick and easy weeknight meal.

Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

Every fridge should have a jar (and a spare) of this sweet/sour/spicy/umami sauce on hand at all times.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 Tbsp · Calories: 55 kcal · Carbohydrates: 14 g · Protein: 0.2 g · Fat: 0.1 g · Saturated Fat: 0.01 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02 g · Sodium: 60 mg · Potassium: 19 mg · Fiber: 0.2 g · Sugar: 13 g · Vitamin A: 150 IU · Vitamin C: 0.4 mg · Calcium: 4 mg · Iron: 0.1 mg

Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.

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