How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet chili sauce in a bowl scooped by a spoon.

How to Make Sweet Chili Sauce

Learn how to make homemade sweet chili sauce using fresh red chili peppers.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Asian, Filipino, Thai

Diet Gluten Free

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 8

Total Time 13

Servings

Calories 43kcal

Author Nora Rey

Cost $3-$5

Equipment

Blender or food processor (optional)
Saucepan

Ingredients

1 cup red chili peppers minced (see note)
6 garlic cloves minced
¾ cup granulated sugar
½ cup vinegar
¾ cup water
½ teaspoon kosher salt (use half for table salt) adjust to taste
1 tablespoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 tablespoons of water

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Combine red chilies, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and water in a saucepan. Stir to combine.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer for 5 minutes, occasionally stirring.
In a separate bowl, dissolve the cornstarch in 2 tablespoons of water, and add it in.
Let the sauce thicken slightly for about a minute, then turn off the heat. Taste the sauce and adjust as needed.

Notes

I prefer to use mild peppers such as red bell peppers or red Korean chili peppers for flavor and color, and add a touch of heat from red bird's eye chilies, red Fresno peppers or red jalapeño peppers.

Choose the type of pepper based on your personal preference. Mince the peppers almost to a paste. You can also use a blender or food processor. Dried red pepper flakes, gochugaru (Korean chili powder), sambal oelek, or chili garlic paste can also be used.

Nutrition