Description
This Homemade Chili Sauce is a vibrant, spicy condiment perfect for adding bold flavors to your dishes. Made from a simple combination of water, sugar, vinegar, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, soy sauce, and garlic, it’s thickened with a cornstarch slurry for a smooth texture. Ready in just 20 minutes, this sauce balances heat and sweetness beautifully and can be used as a dipping sauce, marinade, or cooking ingredient.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Dry and Spices
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Fresh Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
Instructions
- Make simple syrup: In a saucepan, combine 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the water is clear and the sugar is completely dissolved, creating a sweet syrup base.
- Add spices: To the simple syrup, add 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Stir thoroughly to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Add garlic: Mix in 2 tablespoons minced garlic to infuse the sauce with a robust garlic aroma and depth of flavor.
- Make cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons cornstarch with 3 tablespoons water until smooth, forming a slurry that will be used to thicken the sauce.
- Thicken sauce: Gradually pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan while continuously stirring the sauce over low heat. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency.
- Cool: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the chili sauce cool completely before serving or storing it. Cooling helps the flavors meld and the sauce to set properly.
Notes
- For a milder sauce, reduce the quantity of red pepper flakes.
- The sauce can be refrigerated for up to two weeks in an airtight container.
- Use this chili sauce as a dipping sauce, marinade, or to spice up stir-fries and grilled dishes.
- Adjust the sweetness or acidity by tweaking the sugar and vinegar amounts to suit your taste.
- Ensure constant stirring when adding the cornstarch slurry to avoid lumps.
