Description
This Easy Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce is a quick and versatile condiment that perfectly balances sweetness, tanginess, and spiciness. Made from simple pantry staples, it’s ideal for dipping, drizzling, glazing, and adding a zesty kick to your favorite dishes. Ready in under 15 minutes, it’s a flavorful, natural, and preservative-free sauce that keeps well refrigerated for up to two weeks.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup sugar or honey (or preferred sweetener)
- 1–2 teaspoons red chili flakes or fresh chopped chilies (adjust to heat preference)
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Thickening Agent
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons cold water (for slurry)
Instructions
- Gather Ingredients: Assemble all ingredients beforehand to ensure a smooth and efficient cooking process without last-minute scrambling.
- Mix Base Ingredients: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine water, rice vinegar, sugar (or your chosen sweetener), and chili flakes. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture begins to simmer.
- Add Garlic and Simmer: Once simmering, add the minced garlic and continue heating for a few minutes to allow the garlic to infuse the sauce with its aroma and flavor.
- Thicken with Cornstarch Slurry: Mix cornstarch with cold water to create a slurry, then slowly pour it into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. This thickens the sauce to a syrupy consistency that clings perfectly to food.
- Cool and Store: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. Transfer to a clean jar or bottle and store in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
Notes
- Adjust the amount of chili flakes or fresh chili to control the spiciness.
- Add the cornstarch slurry gradually to avoid making the sauce too thick.
- Use quality rice vinegar for a mild, fragrant acidity to avoid overpowering the flavor.
- Finely mince the garlic to evenly distribute its flavor throughout the sauce.
- Store the sauce in a sealed container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness and flavor.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 50
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: sweet chili sauce, homemade chili sauce, sweet and spicy sauce, dipping sauce, Asian sauce