Discover the art of Thai cuisine with this easy homemade Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, also known as Nam Chim Kai. This sauce masterfully combines sweet, savory, and spicy flavors to enhance a variety of dishes. Perfect for transforming grilled meats, seafood, and as a dipping sauce for appetizers, it's a versatile condiment that adds authentic Thai flair to your meals.
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By choosing to make this sauce at home, you embrace a healthier approach, using low sodium soy sauce and avoiding artificial additives, which enhances the fresh, authentic flavors.
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Ingredients and Substitutions Overview
To make Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, you'll need some common Asian pantry ingredients. These are usually available in Asian grocery stores. Let's take a look at what you'll need:
- Ginger and Garlic: These essentials add a fresh aroma and distinct taste to your sauce. Always opt for fresh ginger and garlic for the best flavor.
- Brown Sugar: This adds a deep, rich sweetness to the sauce. If you don't have it, white sugar is a fine substitute.
- Tamari Sauce: It brings depth to the sauce. If unavailable, soy sauce can be used as a replacement.
- Cooking Wine: Mirin, a sweet cooking rice wine, is my choice to enhance the sauce's flavor. If you don't have Mirin, dry sherry or Chinese shaoxing wine are great alternatives.
- Fish Sauce: It's used in traditional Thai dishes for that unique umami flavor, without imparting a fishy smell. For a vegan version, you can omit this ingredient.
- Vinegar: Rice vinegar is preferred for its milder taste, but any standard vinegar will also work, adding the necessary acidity to the sauce.
- Chili Flakes and Paste: Using both provides a balanced heat. If one isn't available, sambal oelek is a good substitute, offering a similar spicy flavor.
- Cornstarch: This helps to thicken the sauce to the right consistency.
How to make Thai Sweet Chili Sauce?
Delight your taste buds with our Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, brought to life through easy-to-follow steps. Below, you'll find detailed instructions, accompanied by photos and a video, to guide you every step of the way. Let's begin!
Discover More Delectable Asian Sauces:
- Sweet and Sour Sauce
- Stir Fry Sauce
- Kung Pao Sauce
- General Tso Sauce
- Orange Sauce
- Teriyaki Sauce
- Szechuan Sauce
- Tamarind Sauce
Sweet Chili Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ cup Brown Sugar
- 1 cup Water
- 1 tbsp Garlic
- 1 tbsp Ginger
- 2 tbsp Rice Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Tamari, or low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Cooking Wine, mirin, shaoxing wine or dry sherry
- 1 tsp Fish Sauce, skip for vegan option
- 2 tsp Chili Flakes
- 1 tsp Chili Paste, or sambal oelek
- 1 tbsp Cornstarch, diluted in 3 tbsp water
Instructions
To Make Thai Sweet Chili Sauce
- Combine brown sugar, water, garlic, ginger, rice vinegar, Tamari, cooking wine, fish sauce, chili flakes, and chili paste in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir well.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and let it cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to a simmer and stir in the cornstarch slurry.
- Continue to simmer until the sauce becomes glossy and reaches a slightly thick consistency.
- Once thickened, remove from heat. Your Thai Sweet Chili Sauce is now ready to be used in various recipes or as a dip for your favorite dishes.
To Serve
- Serve up this Thai Sweet Chili Sauce as a delicious dipping sauce for chicken wings, fried chicken, wraps, or burgers. It's also perfect for adding a flavorful twist to a variety of Thai dishes.
Recipe Video
Chef's Notes and Tips
- Fish Sauce: Fish sauce is a key ingredient in authentic Thai dishes, adding unparalleled umami flavor without any fishy odor. For those following a vegan or vegetarian diet, feel free to omit it from the recipe.
- Adjusting Heat: The spice level of this Sweet Chili Sauce is designed to be moderate, complementing the brown sugar's sweetness. For those who enjoy a bit more heat, feel free to increase the chili flakes or chili paste to suit your preference.
- Quick Substitution: For a simplified version of Thai Sweet Chili Sauce, mix hot sauce with honey or brown sugar. Add minced red chilies or chili paste for heat, and a dash of vinegar for sourness. This blend mimics the authentic sauce's flavor.
Nutrition Info
Disclaimer
We're not nutrition experts, and the nutritional information provided is an estimate. Please use it as a guide. For precise details, it's best to consult a professional. To learn more, please view our Detailed Disclaimers.
Discover our selection of Asian stir-fry sauces, blending traditional flavors with contemporary culinary craft. Perfect for stir-fries and curries, our range caters to various tastes!
Serving and Storage Suggestions
Serving: Enjoy this Thai Sweet Chili Sauce as a versatile dip with Thai fish cakes, chicken wings, fried chicken dishes, and spring rolls, or use it to elevate your stir-fries with chicken, shrimp, or vegetable.
Storage: Keep your homemade Sweet Chili Sauce fresh in the fridge. Stored in an airtight container, it will last for up to 2 weeks.
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