Make Sweet Thai Chilli Sauce at Home (WAY Better Than You Think!)

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt

Soy sauce is a vegetarian alternative, while salt can enhance flavor without added calories.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: brown sugar

Honey adds a unique flavor, while brown sugar is often less expensive.

cornstarch

🥗Healthier: arrowroot powder

💰Cheaper: flour

Arrowroot is a healthier thickening agent, while flour is a common pantry staple.

Start with about 100 g of fresh chillies, using a mix of varieties like bird's eye, Kashmir merch, and CC Piri Piri.

Add 4 g of citric acid to the chillies for preservation.

Blend the chillies with garlic until chunky, using a stick blender if necessary.

Add rice wine vinegar to the blended mixture, avoiding distilled vinegar for better flavor.

Pour in water, but reserve some for later to make a paste with the cornstarch.

Add 1 kg of sugar to the mixture and blend again to combine.

Heat the mixture over low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar completely, about 20 minutes for a liquid sauce or up to 45 minutes for a thicker sauce.

Monitor the heat to avoid burning the chillies during cooking.

Once the mixture simmers, add 15 g of cornstarch mixed with a bit of water to thicken the sauce, stirring continuously until thickened.

Remove from heat and stir in 1.5 g of xanthan gum for emulsification.

Let the sauce cool before transferring it to a jar for storage.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens