Chili Garlic Sauce is a popular and spicy Asian condiment that adds a fiery kick to any dish. This condiment is typically made by blending fresh red chilies, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and oil. This homemade Chili Garlic sauce is one of the best sauces that usually enhances the flavor of various dishes. It works well with soups, noodles, roasted or baked dishes, and more, adding a spicy flavor profile that is sure to impress.
The recipe shared here provides step-by-step instructions on how to make chili garlic sauce, making it easy to recreate at home. A detailed video is also provided to make the cooking process even more accessible and visually clear.
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What is Chili Garlic Sauce?
Chili Garlic Sauce is a versatile and flavorful Asian condiment that is easy to make and widely popular in many cuisines around the world. The sauce is made by blending basic pantry ingredients such as fresh red chili, garlic, vinegar, brown sugar, oil, salt, and water. The combination of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors in the sauce makes it a perfect accompaniment to a wide variety of dishes. It is a great addition to soups, stews, noodles, rice dishes, and even sandwiches.
Chili Garlic Sauce is popular street food in many Asian countries and is used in a variety of ways. It often pairs great with dumplings, spring rolls, or other fried foods. Its versatility makes it a must-have in any kitchen as you can use it as a marinade for meats, a seasoning for seafood dishes, or a dipping sauce for roasted vegetables. Despite the many brands available in stores, making Homemade Chili Garlic Sauce is always a great option. As it allows you to control the quality and freshness of the ingredients used.
Overall, Chili Garlic Sauce is one of the best sauces that can be a great addition to many dishes. Making homemade Chili Garlic Sauce allows you to customize the flavor and heat level to your liking. Whether you're looking to add some heat to your favorite dish or trying to spice up your next meal, Chili Garlic Sauce is a great choice.
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make chili garlic sauce, you will need basic pantry ingredients and some fresh aromatics, such as red chili and garlic. Below are the details of the ingredients required:
- Red Chili: Fresh red chilies are the best choice for making chili garlic sauce. Jalapeno red chilies are used in this recipe, but Fresno and Thai chilies work well too
- Garlic: Garlic adds a warm and garlicky flavor to your sauce
- Vinegar: Vinegar acts as a preservative and helps keep the sauce fresh for a longer duration
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a mild sweetness and helps balance the flavor of the sauce
- Oil: Canola oil is used in this recipe, but you can also use any other neutral-tasting vegetable oil of your choice
- Salt: Salt is used for seasoning, add it according to your taste
- Water: Water is required for blending the ingredients
For a detailed ingredients list, please check out the recipe card below.
How to Make Chili Garlic Sauce at Home?
The recipe I have shared here is Chili Garlic Sauce, a staple condiment in many Asian cuisines. It is usually made with fresh red chilies, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt. This homemade Chili Garlic Sauce adds a fiery kick and bold flavor to any dish. While you can buy pre-made sauce at most grocery stores, making your own at home is easy and allows you to customize the heat level and flavor to your liking.
Below are the high-level instructions for this recipe, but for detailed step-by-step instructions with photos and a video, please see the recipe card below.
- Gather the ingredients - To make chili garlic sauce, start by gathering your ingredients. You'll need red chilies garlic cloves, vinegar, brown sugar, water, and salt. Make sure to choose fresh, plump chilies that are free of blemishes or signs of mold
- Clean the chilies - Begin by washing the chilies thoroughly and patting them dry. Remove the green stems from the chilies and any seeds (if you prefer a milder sauce, you can leave some or all of the seeds in). Next, peel the garlic cloves and gather the other ingredients
- Blend - Add the chilies, garlic cloves, vinegar, brown sugar, water, and salt to a blender jar. Close the lid of the blender jar and secure it onto the blender. Blend the ingredients until everything turns smooth
- Simmer the sauce - Now remove the jar from the blender and open the lid. Pour the mixture into a medium-heat pan and let it simmer for 7 to 10 minutes. This will help to thicken the sauce and incorporate the flavors. You can adjust the heat level by simmering the sauce for a shorter or longer time, depending on your preference
- Remove and store - After simmering, remove the pan from the heat and let the sauce cool down. You can transfer the sauce to a jar or airtight container for storage once it has cooled. It's essential to use a clean, dry container to prevent spoilage. The sauce will keep in the refrigerator for up to 2 months
Tips
- Red Chilis - Choosing high-quality red chilies is crucial for creating a flavorful sauce. In this recipe, I have used jalapeno red chilies, but you can also use Fresno or Thai chilies to achieve a quality hot and spicy sauce. If you prefer using dried red chilies, I recommend soaking them in hot water until they turn soft
- Simmering - Simmering the sauce for a few minutes is essential as it helps to blend the flavors. Therefore, I highly recommend not skipping this particular step
- Cornstarch - While I have not used any thickening agent in this recipe, you can feel free to use 2 tbsp of the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce
- Vinegar - Regarding vinegar, I have used regular vinegar in this recipe, but you can also use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar for similar results. These kinds of vinegar act as preservatives and help in keeping the sauce a longer shelf life
- How to use - To use the Chili Garlic Sauce, you have many options. It's a great condiment for stir-fries, soups, noodle dishes, marinades, and more. Try it with chicken ramen, hot and sour soup, popcorn chicken, garlic chili chicken, honey garlic shrimp, or honey garlic chicken. You can adjust the amount of sauce you use to your desired heat level - a little goes a long way!
Storage Suggestions
You can store this Homemade Chili Garlic Sauce in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. It's important to use a clean, dry container to prevent spoilage and to ensure that the sauce stays fresh.
If you want to store the sauce for longer, you can freeze it for up to 6 months. Simply transfer the sauce to a freezer-safe container or resealable bag, and freeze it until you're ready to use it again. When you're ready to use the sauce, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and use it as desired.
Serving Suggestions
Chili Garlic Sauce is a versatile condiment that can be used in a variety of dishes to add heat and flavor. Here are some suggestions for what to serve with chili garlic sauce:
- Asian-style noodles: Serve the sauce with stir-fried noodles or cold noodles for a spicy kick
- Grilled, roasted & baked meat: Use it as a marinade or glaze for grilled or roasted meat such as chicken, beef, or pork
- Vegetables: Add the sauce to stir-fried dishes or roasted vegetables for a spicy twist
- Rice dishes: Mix it into rice dishes such as fried rice or rice bowls for extra flavor
- Dim sum: Use chili garlic sauce as a dipping sauce for steamed or fried dumplings
- Seafood: Add the sauce to shrimp, crab, or other seafood dishes for a spicy and savory flavor
- Sandwiches and wraps: Use it as a spread or dipping sauce for sandwiches or wraps
- Soups and stews: Add it to soups and stews for a spicy kick and added depth of flavor
Related Recipes
You could also find similar sauce recipes below and more at dips & condiment recipes, Asian recipes, and Chinese recipes.
- Chili Sauce
- Sweet Chili Sauce
- Chili Oil
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Stir Fry Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Orange Sauce
- Kung Pao Sauce
- General Tso's Sauce
- Szechuan Sauce
- Garlic Butter Sauce
- Tartar Sauce
Chili Garlic Sauce Recipe Video
I have also shared a detailed video of this Chili Garlic Sauce recipe below that I hope will help you make a flavorful condiment at home. You can also find this recipe in a story format.
📖 Recipe
Chili Garlic Sauce
Ingredients
- 0.7 lb Red Chili, jalapeno, fresno or Thai chilies
- 2 heads Garlic
- 1 tbsp Brown Sugar
- 3 tbsp Vinegar
- 3 tbsp Water
- 1 tsp Salt
- 2 tbsp Oil
Instructions
To make Chili Garlic Sauce
- Start by washing the red chilies and patting them dry. Remove the green stalk or stem part. Then add them to a blender jar along with garlic, vinegar, brown sugar, water, oil, and salt
- Close the lid of the jar and secure it to the blender. Blend the ingredients until everything turns smooth
- Remove the jar from the blender, open the lid, and pour the chili garlic mixture into a medium-heat pan
- Allow the mixture to simmer for 7 to 10 minutes or until the flavors are incorporated well. Remove from the heat and let it cool down. It is now ready to use in your recipes or can be stored for later use
To Use or Store
- You can use this chili garlic sauce for a variety of Asian dishes, such as chicken ramen, hot and sour soup, popcorn chicken, garlic chili chicken, honey garlic shrimp, and honey garlic chicken. You can also store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months
Video
Notes
- Red Chilis - Choosing high-quality red chilies is crucial for creating a flavorful sauce. In this recipe, I have used jalapeno red chilies, but you can also use Fresno or Thai chilies to achieve a quality hot and spicy sauce. If you prefer using dried red chilies, I recommend soaking them in hot water until they turn soft
- Simmering - Simmering the sauce for a few minutes is essential as it helps to blend the flavors. Therefore, I highly recommend not skipping this particular step
- Cornstarch - While I have not used any thickening agent in this recipe, you can feel free to use 2 tbsp of the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce
- Vinegar - Regarding vinegar, I have used regular vinegar in this recipe, but you can also use rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar for similar results. These kinds of vinegar act as preservatives and help in keeping the sauce a longer shelf life
- How to use - To use the Chili Garlic Sauce, you have many options. It's a great condiment for stir-fries, soups, noodle dishes, marinades, and more. Try it with chicken ramen, hot and sour soup, popcorn chicken, garlic chili chicken, honey garlic shrimp, or honey garlic chicken. You can adjust the amount of sauce you use to your desired heat level - a little goes a long way!
Nutrition
FAQ
Chili Garlic Sauce is a zesty and flexible Asian condiment that is celebrated for its ease of preparation and widespread appeal in numerous global cuisines. By simply blending pantry staples such as fresh red chili, garlic, vinegar, brown sugar, oil, salt, and water, one can create a flavorful sauce that pairs perfectly with a variety of dishes. Its unique blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors makes it an ideal accompaniment to soups, stews, noodles, rice dishes, sandwiches, and many more.
If you don't have the ingredients to make Chili Garlic Sauce or you need a quick and easy substitute, you can use other hot sauces like sriracha sauce or sambal oelek. These sauces have a similar spicy flavor and can be a substitute in recipes that call for Chili Garlic Sauce.
Chili garlic Sauce is a versatile condiment that can pair with a variety of dishes to add heat, flavor, and complexity. One way to use chili garlic sauce is as a marinade for meats such as chicken, pork, and beef. You can also add a spoonful to stir-fries. The sauce pairs well with vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, and bell peppers and can help elevate the dish's overall flavor.
I hope you found the recipe enjoyable and I would appreciate hearing about your experience with it.
If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to leave a comment and I will do my best to respond promptly. Thank you for reading and happy cooking!
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