Sweet Chili Sauce

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Perfect for dipping your spring rolls or coconut shrimp in, this sweet chili sauce is easy to make and easy to customize to your liking! Use it as a dipping sauce for basically anything, or even use it as a condiment in sandwiches!

Learn how to make some Popcorn Shrimp that are perfect for dipping in your Sweet Chili Sauce. Or try making these Parmesan Crisps to dip in instead?

Sweet Chili Sauce

Simple, sweet, and just spicy enough to be noticeable, this sweet chili sauce should be incredibly versatile in all kinds of dips or just eaten straight.

A good sweet chili sauce is equal parts spicy and sweet, capable of leaving your mouth just a little bit tingly but also refreshing it with sweetness and a touch of acidity.

Use this sauce as a dip for all kinds of food, or mix it with mayonnaise or other sauces to make a spicy, sweet, and rich sauce that goes perfectly with anything!              

Just How Spicy Is This Sweet Chili Sauce?

One of the first things people worry about when it comes to eating anything spicy is just how spicy it is actually going to be.

There is always the worry that, despite what the ingredients imply, the sauce will be mind-meltingly spicy and make you chug a liter of milk to be able to cope.

Well, don’t worry – this sweet chili sauce really is not that bad.

The key quality of a sweet chili sauce is that it should be just as spicy and as it is sweet, so the sweetness works to help cancel out some of the spiciness.

It is the kind of sweetness that, if you tried to eat it entirely on its own, you would probably find it a little bit spicy. However, if you enjoyed it with another food, or mixed it into another sauce like mayo, then you would barely notice its spice at all.

What Should You Do If You Don’t Have Sambal Oelek?

Sambal Oelek can usually be found in the specialty section of supermarkets, but if you can’t find it, don’t worry, as it can easily be replaced with another spicy sauce.

To keep the spiciness of your sweet chili sauce close to the original recipe, try to find an alternative sauce that is not too hot. Look for a sauce that is made from chopped chilies, like samba oelek.

If you are someone who enjoys especially spicy food, you could use this as an opportunity to spice up your sweet chili sauce as well.

A Few Options To Use as Alternatives

• Lee Kum Kee Chin Chow Chilli Oil

Lee Kum Kee is always dependable, and this chili oil is decently spicy, though it is mostly flavored with garlic.

This is perfect for the garlic lovers out there, though it might be hard to use it as a dip.

• Lee Kum Kee Spicy Chili Crisp

Another great product from Lee Kum Kee, this one is a lot more texturally interesting, with crispy bits and not a lot of liquid being the aim of the game. Don’t expect a lot of liquid here, but instead, a lot more spice and a whole lot more flavor.

• Sriracha

Incredibly versatile and perfect for those with a preference for a bit more spice, Sriracha is great when mixed into mayonnaise or just as a dipping sauce all on its own!

How To Use Cornstarch To Thicken Everything

Before adding your cornstarch to your sauce, you are going to want to make a slurry to stop it from turning into a gross mush. By making a cornstarch slurry, you prevent your sauce from clumping when the cornstarch is added to the liquid, allowing for much better thickening power from the cornstarch.

Start by grabbing a small bowl and mixing together equal parts water and cornstarch. You can use a little tiny whisk, which is the best thing.

Once the mixture has come together, you can add it to the rest of your sauce whisking lightly.

The slurry helps to ensure that the cornstarch is dispersed properly throughout the sauce, keeping a smooth and consistent texture.

Looking for more delicious Salsa, Guacamole, and Dip recipes? Try these out:

• Tzatziki Sauce

• Garlic Aioli

• Fry Sauce

Happy Cooking

Love,

Karlynn

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