Description
This Homemade Chili Sauce is a spicy, smoky condiment made from a blend of red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, garlic, and soy sauce, thickened to perfection with cornstarch. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s an ideal addition to elevate your dishes with a deep, bold flavor and a balanced heat.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons water (for slurry)
Dry Ingredients & 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 of water with 1 cup of sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, then reduce the heat and let it simmer until the water turns clear and the sugar has completely dissolved, forming a simple syrup base for your chili sauce.
- Add spices: Stir in 1 tablespoon of red pepper flakes, 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika, 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, and 1/4 cup of vinegar into the simple syrup. Mix thoroughly to combine all the flavors evenly.
- Add garlic: Incorporate 2 tablespoons of minced garlic into the sauce mixture, stirring well to distribute the garlic flavor throughout the sauce.
- Make cornstarch slurry: In a small bowl, whisk together 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water to create a smooth slurry. This will be used to thicken the sauce.
- Thicken sauce: Gradually pour the cornstarch slurry into the saucepan while stirring constantly. Continue to cook the sauce over medium heat, stirring until it thickens nicely to your desired consistency.
- Cool: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the chili sauce cool completely before serving or storing. The cooling allows the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken further.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes quantity according to desired spice level.
- Use smoked paprika for a subtle smoky depth; regular paprika can be substituted but will change flavor profile.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
- Use as a dipping sauce, marinade, or condiment with your favorite dishes.
- To make the sauce gluten-free, ensure soy sauce used is gluten-free.
