Description
This Sweet Chili Sauce is a perfect blend of sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy flavors a versatile condiment that complements everything from spring rolls to grilled meats. Homemade and easy to prepare, it’s balanced, glossy, and packed with fresh flavor. Ideal for dipping, glazing, or drizzling, this sauce proves that restaurant-quality taste can be achieved right in your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup rice vinegar
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons finely diced habanero pepper (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon water (for slurry)
Optional Add-ins:
- Red pepper flakes
- Lime juice
- Honey
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine water and rice vinegar.
- Stir in sugar, tomato paste, habanero, ginger, and garlic. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes, stirring often until sugar dissolves.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and water to form a slurry.
- Pour slurry into the saucepan, stirring to combine.
- Cook for another 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- If too thick, whisk in ½ teaspoon of water or reheat gently before serving.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
- Use fresh habanero for the best heat and flavor.
- To make it milder, replace habanero with jalapeño or omit entirely.
- For a vegan or low-sugar option, use monk fruit or stevia as a sweetener.
- Great as a dip for spring rolls, glaze for chicken, or drizzle over roasted veggies.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Sauce / Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tbsp
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 20mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg