published Oct 10, 2022, updated Aug 21, 2023 There are some people who like eating their food as is, and there are others who can’t have enough condiments and dipping sauces. I belong to the second group: I love to slather certain foods with my favorite saucy add-ons. There’s also something so special about making condiments from scratch. Japanese steakhouse ginger sauce, gochujang sauce, Vietnamese fish sauce… the list goes on! I’ve had my eye on today’s recipe, Thai sweet chili sauce, for a while now. It’s absolutely perfect with crispy coconut shrimp, and I also love it as a glaze for meatloaf and chicken wings. It’s a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and a little bit sour. It’s also tangy thanks to the added vinegar, and there’s plenty of heat from the bird’s eye chilis and fresh ginger. Its sweetness comes from the addition of sugar and red bell pepper. But, I’m getting ahead of myself. You’ll learn all about the ingredients and how to prepare this special condiment below!
INGREDIENT NOTES AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Red Bell Pepper – Bell peppers have a certain sweetness that I just can’t resist. You can also use any type of sweet red pepper — just make sure that you remove the seeds first. Bird’s Eye Chili – This type of chili is often seen in Thai cooking. It is quite spicy and a little bit fruity. It packs an enormous punch! Substitute a red fresno or jalapeno if needed.Onion – I typically opt for yellow onion for this recipe.Garlic – I love adding garlic to almost everything, and this condiment recipe is no different!Ginger – Grated ginger comes together with the rest of the ingredients to form a wonderful peppery, sweet, and spicy flavor.Vinegar – Use white vinegar for some extra tang.Sugar – Yes, this condiment calls for sugar. That’s where much of the sweetness comes from!Corn Starch – This ingredient works to thicken the sauce.Salt – Use just a bit to round out the flavor profile.Water – You’ll need to use quite a bit of water in order to create a saucy texture.
HOW TO MAKE SWEET CHILI SAUCE
What Does Thai Sweet Chili Sauce Taste Like?
This condiment boasts sweet, savory, tangy, and spicy flavors. Thanks to ingredients like vinegar, ginger, spicy peppers, and sugar, the flavor profile is complex and simply delish!
What Is Similar To Sweet Chili Sauce?
If you’re really short on time and are unable to make this recipe from top to bottom, here’s a hack: mix your favorite hot sauce and a bit of honey. The flavors aren’t as pronounced as my recipe, but it works in a pinch!
What Is the Difference Between A Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe And Regular Chili Sauce?
These two condiments are different in terms of both flavor and ingredients. My Thai sweet chili sauce recipe is sweeter and tangier thanks to the addition of sugar and vinegar. Regular chili sauce isn’t as sweet and is usually made with tomato sauce. Its taste is comparable to ketchup.
How Hot Is Sweet Chili Sauce?
The sweetened version of this sauce isn’t as spicy as some of its other chili sauce counterparts. This is due to the addition of sugar. That said, bird’s eye chilis are quite spicy, so there is definitely a heat factor in there. If you really don’t like spicy foods, you may want to try adding just a little bit to determine whether or not it’s too hot for you.
