Sweet Thai Chili Sauce
A homemade sweet chili sauce made from sugar, rice vinegar, garlic and sambal oelek, thickened with a little cornstarch. Sweet, tangy and mildly hot, it's made for egg rolls, spring rolls, wings and glazes.
Servings 24 tablespoons
Calories 38kcal
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup water plus 1 tablespoon for the cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons sambal oelek or another chili paste (see notes)
- 3 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1 carrot finely grated
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger finely grated (optional)
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, combine the sugar, rice vinegar, 1/2 cup water, garlic and carrot. Bring it to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves, then let it boil for 3 minutes.
- Stir the cornstarch into 1 tablespoon of cold water until smooth. Add it to the pan along with the sambal oelek and ginger, and boil for 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring often, until the sauce turns glossy and thickens slightly.
- Take the pan off the heat and let the sauce cool to room temperature. It will keep thickening as it cools.
- Serve it right away, or refrigerate it overnight so the flavors come together. Keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week.
Notes
Chili paste: Sambal oelek is a simple paste of red chilies, salt and vinegar, and most grocery stores stock it near the Sriracha. Any chili paste will work. If you have fresh red chilies, you can also make your own.
Heat: Two tablespoons of sambal oelek keep the sauce mild. For more heat, add another tablespoon, or stir a few finely chopped Thai chilies in with the garlic.
Salt: The sambal brings some salt of its own. Taste the sauce once it cools and add a pinch more if it tastes flat.
Storage: Keep it in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 38kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 3mg | Potassium: 15mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 427IU | Vitamin C: 0.5mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.03mg