• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Foxy Folksy logo

  • ALL Recipes
    • COOKING + BAKING TIPS
  • RECIPE by Category
    • By Course/Meal:
      • Appetizers
      • Bread
      • Breakfast Ideas
      • Dessert + Sweets
      • Salad Recipes
      • Soup Recipes
      • Drinks
    • By Main Ingredient:
      • Beef Recipes
      • Chicken + Poultry
      • Pork Recipes
      • Fish + Seafood Recipes
      • Pasta + Noodle Recipes
      • Vegetable Recipes
    • By Cuisine:
      • Asian Dishes
      • Meditteranean/ Mid. Eastern
  • Filipino Dishes
  • ABOUT
    • About the Recipes
    • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • ALL RECIPES
  • BY COURSE/MEAL:
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
    • Breakfast Ideas
    • Dessert + Sweets
    • Side Dishes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Sandwiches/Light Meals
    • Drinks
    • Sauces and Condiments
  • BY MAIN INGREDIENT:
    • Beef Recipes
    • Chicken + Poultry Recipes
    • Fish + Seafood Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Pasta + Noodle Recipes
    • Rice and Grains Recipes
    • Fruits Recipes
    • Vegetable Recipes
  • BY CUISINE:
    • Asian Dishes
    • Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
    • Italian
  • FILIPINO RECIPES
  • ABOUT
    • About the Recipes
    • Contact
Ă—

Home > Sauces and Condiments

Sweet Chili Sauce

BY :Bebs | Published: 12/03/ 2021 | Updated:01/11/ 2022 | 2 Comments

RECIPE VIDEO PRINT
Share Pin It Email

This homemade Sweet Chili Sauce has a delicious balance of sweetness and tanginess with a spicy kick - a perfect dip to level up your favorite fried, grilled, and roasted dishes. Why buy one, when you can make it yourself?

Sweet Chili Sauce in jars.

Asians dipping sauces come in different varieties and a range of flavors. Sweet, savory, tangy, and some spicy hot! One thing is for sure, a great dip can make a world of difference to any dish. It can transform bland fried meat into an appetizing dish.

One of the most popular Asian dips is Sweet Chili Sauce. This is very simple and easy to prepare, and the ingredients are not hard to find at all! In fact, most of them might already be in your pantry right now. It is the perfect dip for Lumpiang Shanghai, Camaron Rebusado, and Kikiam, among other things!

  • What is Sweet Chili Sauce?
  • Why make it?
  • Ingredients Used
  • How to make Sweet Chili Sauce?
  • Foxy tips for you!
  • Shelf-life and Storage
  • Recipe Video
  • Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
  • More Sauces and Condiments Recipes

What is Sweet Chili Sauce?

Sweet Chili Sauce is a well-known condiment in South-East Asian Cuisine. It originated from Thailand and is called 'Nam Chim Kai' by the locals. It is simply made of peppers, vinegar, garlic, and sweeteners simmered in water until it turns into a thick sauce. Contrary to what many think, this dipping sauce is not overly spicy. Rather, it is comparable to a sweet and sour sauce but with a mild fieriness that makes it yummier and craveable!

Homemade Sweet Chili sauce in a jar.

Why make it?

We all know that sauces and condiments are readily available at various grocery stores or supermarkets. So why make it from scratch, right? Here are some of the best reasons:

  • It is made of fresh ingredients and is infinitely cheaper compared to buying ready-made brands.
  • Homemade condiments are free from preservatives or additives, making them safer and healthier to consume.
  • Lastly, you can tweak the recipe according to your preferred taste. Do you want lesser sweetness? Use less sugar. Not spicy enough? Drop some chilis for added zing! 

Ingredients Used

  • Bird’s Eye Chili - you can use chili flakes or milder chilis if you prefer it less spicy.
  • Red Bell Pepper - make sure to remove the seeds as they might add a bitter taste to the sauce.
  • Onion - is used in this recipe as it gives a mild sweet taste.
  • Garlic - it gives the sauce sharp and savory flavor.
  • Potato Starch or Corn Starch is used to thicken the sauce.
  • Vinegar for a little tanginess and acts also as natural preservative.
  • Sugar for sweetness!
  • Salt
  • Water
Ingredients for sweet chili sauce.

How to make Sweet Chili Sauce?

  1. Remove the tops and seeds of bell pepper and chili.
  2. Pulse bell pepper, chili, onion, garlic, and water until finely chopped.
  3. Transfer to a saucepan and add sugar, salt, and vinegar then simmer.
  4. Add the slurry to thicken. Serve or store.
Step by step photos in making sweet chili sauce.

Foxy tips for you!

  • To keep from making the sauce too spicy, slice the chilis open then scrape off the seeds before chopping. 
  • Pulse the ingredients in intervals until you have very small pieces that are still somewhat distinguishable. Do not blend them to a paste.
  • No food processor or blender, no problem! You can just chop the ingredients manually with your sharp knife or use a mortar and pestle. Just make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after.
  • You can use any vinegar available, but if you prefer a milder one, you can use cane or rice vinegar to make the sauce tangy without being excessively acidic.
  • Maintain a  gentle simmer and continuously stir the mixture as it is cooking to avoid burning the sauce.
Sweet Chili Sauce in a jar made from scratch.

Shelf-life and Storage

Once the Sweet Chili Sauce is done, you can transfer it into a lidded jar and store it in the fridge for up to four weeks. The sugar and vinegar content in the sauce helps it last longer, but make sure you are not contaminating it with other food particles or it will lead to spoilage. Make sure to use clean utensils when getting the sauce from the jar. It is also ideal to sterilize the jars by boiling them in water before putting the sauce into the container.

Recipe Video

Easy Sweet Chili Sauce recipe.
Print Review

Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe

This Homemade Sweet Chili Sauce has a delicious balance of sweetness and tanginess with a spicy kick - a perfect dip to level up your favorite fried, grilled, and roasted dishes. Why buy one, when you can make it yourself?
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Course :Condiment
Servings =24 servings
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients
 

  • 1 big red bell pepper or any mild/sweet red pepper seeds removed, chopped coarsely
  • 1-2 pc Bird’s eye chili chopped coarsely, or chili flakes
  • 1 small yellow onion chopped coarsely
  • 6 cloves garlic chopped coarsely
  • 2 cups water
  • ½ cup vinegar
  • 1 tbsp Salt
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 Tbsp potato starch/ corn starch
  • 2 Tbsp water

Instructions
 

  • 1 big red bell pepper or any mild/sweet red pepper, 1-2 pc Bird’s eye chili
    Cut out the top parts of the chilis.
  • 1 big red bell pepper or any mild/sweet red pepper, 1-2 pc Bird’s eye chili, 1 small yellow onion, 6 cloves garlic, 2 cups water
    Put the bell pepper, bird’s eye, onion, garlic, and water in a blender or food processor. Pulse several times to cut the spices in to tiny pieces but do not let it turn into paste.
  • 1 tbsp Salt, 1 cup sugar, ½ cup vinegar
    Transfer content to a pan. Add sugar, salt, and vinegar. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until sugar and salt are dissolved. Turn the heat to low.
  • 2 Tbsp potato starch/ corn starch, 2 Tbsp water
    Dissolve potato starch in water and add this to the pan. Cook while stirring constantly until sauce thicken a bit. Turn heat off, remove from heat and let it cool down. Do not over cook as it will go on to thicken as it cools down.
  • Serve as dip or transfer to a jar and refrigerate for up to 4 weeks.

Notes

This recipe makes 3 cups or about 48 Tablespoons of Sweet Chili Sauce. Each serving is equivalent to 2 Tablespoons. 

Nutrition

Serving: 2TbspCalories: 40kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 297mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

More Sauces and Condiments Recipes

  • Homemade Gravy Recipe- It never gets easier than this. | www.foxyfolksy.com
    How to make Gravy
  • Homemade Chili Garlic Sauce
    Chili Garlic Sauce
  • Cajun Seasoning in a jar.
    Cajun Seasoning
  • homemade pickling spice
    Homemade Pickling Spice
  • homemade_mayonnaise
    How to make Mayonnaise
  • Sweet and Spicy Fishball Sauce
    Fishball Sauce Recipe
« Lasagna Rolls
Puto Recipe »

Latest Recipes

Pesang Isda or Fish in Ginger Broth is a healthy and delicious Filipino dish that is easy to make and budget-friendly as well.

Pesang Isda

Chicken halang halang made creamy with coconut milk and flavored with lemongrass, ginger and chilis.

Chicken Halang-halang

Crunchy and flavorful homemade Prawn crackers on a serving bowl with spiced vinegar on the side.

Prawn Crackers

Creamy Peanut Butter with both smooth and chunky versions.

Homemade Peanut Butter

Tuna Sisig on a sizzling plate topped with chicharon and chilis.

Tuna Sisig

Soft, fluffy Choco butternut donuts with a silky vanilla glaze and coated with sweet orange butternut streus

Choco Butternut Donuts

Freshly cooked Java rice on a plate with grilled meat and atchara on the side.

Java Rice

Smooth and creamy whole egg leche flan.

Whole Egg Leche Flan

Reader Interactions

Comments

    What do you think? Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this Recipe




  1. Joyce says

    June 04, 2022 at 1:42 am

    Can your sweet chili sauce be water-bath canned . for long term storage

    Reply
    • Bebs says

      June 25, 2022 at 6:07 pm

      Hi Joyce, This recipe is actually for home use and I haven't really tried canning it for commercial purposes (or even just to test) but I know that the commercially sold ones are with a preservative called sodium benzoate.

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Author photo

Good food does not have to be expensive or difficult to make. With our recipes, you can make budget-friendly and restaurant-worthy dishes in no time!

Learn more→

  • Pesang Isda
  • Chicken Halang-halang
  • Prawn Crackers
  • Homemade Peanut Butter

Subscribe

Ebook
Receive new posts directly delivered to your inbox As a bonus, a FREE eCookbook and printable Recipe Cards upon subscription
  • Pan Roasted Garlic Mushroom and Baby Potatoes

  • Easy Pork Hamonado Recipe using Pork Belly

  • How to take care of orchids?

  • Easy Chop Suey Recipe

  • How to make Black Tapioca Pearls for Bubble Tea (Milk Tea)

  • Fall-off-the-bone Baby Back Ribs in Oven

Footer

  • Filipino Spanish Bread Recipe
  • Chicken Sotanghon Soup
  • Coffee Jelly
  • Pichi Pichi Recipe
  • Japanese Cheesecake
  • Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Footer

↑ back to top

FEATURE ICONS

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2014 - 2021 Foxy Folksy All Rights Reserved

HOME | ABOUT | CONTACT | RECIPE INDEX

PRIVACY POLICY| DISCLOSURE|COPYRIGHT POLICY