Mar . 13, 2024 11:49 Back to list

GARLIC CHILI SAUCE

Quick and easy, homemade Garlic Chili Sauce ready in 15 minutes! With a perfect blend of garlic, spice, and a touch of smokey sweetness, Chinese food lovers, rejoice! You will find a lot of Huy Fong chili garlic sauce recipes on the internet; my version of this popular sauce blows them away!

Homemade chili garlic sauce is terrific on EVERYTHING, and I highly recommend you pair it with my 15-minute Garlic Chili Noodles and Spicy Cucumber Salad!

Chili Crushed — *It turns out homemade chili garlic sauce is SO MUCH better and EASY!*

WHY THIS RECIPE IS THE BEST

A staple in Asian countries, from street food vendors to home kitchens, no one is without chili garlic.sauce. For good reason, it’s delicious and will make any dish next level. If you want a few more reasons to make this homemade chili garlic sauce:

Simple to make: Ready in 15 minutes.
Perfect condiment: Pair it with noodles, dumplings, and even ice cream (Yes!). The sky is the limit!
Flavor explosion: Aromatic garlic and ginger combine with the perfect amount of heat, ensuring this chili-garlic sauce will make your taste buds scream!

INGREDIENTS

You may need to make a trip to your favorite Asian markets or source a few specialty online stores for chili garlic paste ingredients. Using fresh ingredients gives you the most garlicky smokey excellent Asian chili garlic paste imaginable.

The ingredients for chili paste sauce are grouped into 3 categories:

Aromatics: garlic cloves and ginger
Dry Spices: Gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes), toasted sesame seeds, and optional Sichuan peppercorn powder.
Seasonings: Coarse sea salt, coconut brown sugar, sesame oil, coconut aminos, aged balsamic vinegar, and avocado oil (or light olive oil).

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

This recipe for spicy garlic sauce is addicting as is, but if you want to experiment, I have listed a few ideas below to try.

Kick up the spice: Want a spicy chili garlic sauce? Use Chinese dried red chilis or Sichuan chili flakes for some extra heat.
Vinegar: Use Chinese black vinegar instead of balsamic for a more traditional flavor.
Keto sugar: Looking for a low-carb chili garlic sauce? Substitute your favorite keto brown sugar instead of the coconut variety.

A plate of Korean red pepper flakes gochugaru displayed on a small plate with a spoon on the side — *Korean red pepper flakes are a great substitute for Chinese dried red chilies. Less spicy with a hint of smokey sweet flavor*

WHAT TYPE OF CHILI PEPPER TO USE

You can buy chili garlic sauce; trader joe’s carries it, and the rooster garlic chili sauce (Huy Fong Foods) can be found in most stores. The problem is that they use red jalapenos, red chili peppers, or Thai chili peppers that can be so spicy they overpower the aromatic taste of the sauce.

I choose to use Gochuganu (Korean red pepper flakes) for a hint of sweet and smokey flavor that doesn’t upset the balance of flavor.

HOW TO MAKE CHILI GARLIC SAUCE

All you need is a heavy-bottomed saucepan, your collection of ingredients, and 15 minutes until this fantastic sauce is drizzled over everything in sight. Follow my simple step-by-step instructions below to become a master at making garlic chilli sauce!

Step-by-step photo shows how to make the chili paste sauce at home

Be sure to finely mince your garlic and grate your ginger (keep them separate)

Add to your cold saucepan: Avocado oil and minced garlic. Turn heat on to low to infuse the oil with garlic flavor. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
Continue to bloom your oil: Now add ginger and salt to the pan and gently stir; cook for 2 minutes.
Initial seasoning: Now it’s time to add your Chili flakes, sugar, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and 1Tbsp of avocado oil. Continue to stir and simmer for 3 more minutes.
Additional seasoning: Add the coconut aminos, vinegar, and Sichuan peppercorn powder (if you are using them) now. Gently stir everything together, bring the sauce back to a simmer and turn off the heat.
Cool to room temperature: Your chilly garlic sauce is now ready to be devoured. Grab some paleo egg rolls, and start dipping or pour your sauce into glass jars and seal. Store in the fridge for up to a month.

SLOW AND LOW HEAT

For outstanding flavor, it is essential to use slow and low heat to infuse (bloom) the oil with the flavor of garlic and ginger. High heat could burn the spices and result in an off taste.

VARIATIONS

Now that you can make chilly garlic sauce, you can start experimenting with your own homemade chili garlic sauce recipe ideas and variations.

Vietnamese chili garlic sauce: Add a small splash of fish sauce for a salty and umami kick.
Thai chili garlic paste: Adding extra spicy Thai chiles brings the heat. You should also try my Thai chili dipping sauce if spicy food is your thing.
Filipino chili oil: For an entirely different experience, infuse the oil with star anise and add some homemade hoisin sauce.

HOW TO USE THE SAUCE

Need to know how to use chili paste with garlic? Your gorgeous red chili garlic sauce pairs perfectly with Vietnamese cuisine, especially my Vietnamese pizza. It is also a perfect addition to Asian dishes such as my chili oil ramen or stir fry dishes. You can make a spicy dipping sauce for hot pot!

Amazing drizzled-over air fryer corn ribs or grab a big bowl for dipping gluten-free wontons or crispy rice sushi.

Finished chilly garlic sauce in a white color sauce pot with a wooden spoon to stir the sauce

HOW TO STORE THE SAUCE

This is a good sauce to keep on hand at all times! Below are some storage tips for keeping your sweet chili sauce fresh and delicious for future use.

Cool first: Ensure your sauce is at room temperature before storing it.
Refrigerate: Use an airtight container to store your sauce, and use a clean spoon each time you serve. Good for a month.

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