Sweet & Sour Chili Sauce

Name: Sweet & Sour Chili Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 13 min
Ingredients: 1 tsp oil; 1 clove of garlic (minced); 2 tsp finely chopped ginger; 1/2 Thai chili (minced); 2/3 cup water; 1/3 cup white vinegar; 1 tbsp sriracha (or sweet chili sauce); 1/3 cup sugar; 1/4 and 1/8 tsp salt; 1 tbsp cornstarch (diluted in 2 tbsp water)

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This homemade sweet, sour, and spicy chili sauce is perfect for egg rolls, fried dumplings, samosas, or nuggets! It is infused with garlic, ginger, and chili for the perfect balance of flavor!

The sweet and sour sauce is one of my favorite dipping sauces when it comes to fried finger food, like vegan egg rolls, samosas, or even chick’n nuggets! This 8-ingredient sauce comes together in less than 15 minutes and tastes better than the store-bought version!

📘 What is a Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce

A sweet & sour sauce is a type of sauce very popular in Asian countries. There are many different types of sweet and sour sauces, each country having its own.

This recipe is based on the Vietnamese one, called “Tương ớt chua ngọt.” It is spicy, garlicky, and has a fresh ginger flavor. It is also thicker than the Chinese version, making it perfect for dipping!

Ingredients like ginger, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and chili.

🥣 How to Make Sweet & Sour Chili Sauce

You are just 15 minutes away from this delicious chili sauce! Here is what you will need:

Garlic – Use fresh garlic for the best flavor.
Ginger – Ginger brings freshness and a zesty flavor.
Chili – For spiciness. I went with half of a Thai chili and found the sauce to be spicy enough. Use a full chili for an extra spicy version.
Sugar – White sugar works best here. Coconut sugar is too strong and covers the ginger and garlic flavor, so I recommend staying away from it.
White vinegar – For the sourness. I went with rice vinegar, but any white vinegar will work.
Water – To dilute the sauce.
Sriracha – Or your favorite chili sauce. This will not only bring more heat but also add an orange hue to the sauce.
Cornstarch – The cornstarch will help thicken the sauce.

The process of preparing this sauce is super easy and requires just one pot:

Sauté the aromatics: garlic, ginger, and chili for 1-2 minutes.
Add the sugar, white vinegar, chili sauce, and water.
Let simmer for 3-5 minutes over low-medium heat.
Dilute the cornstarch in two tablespoons of water and add it to the sauce.
Cook for one more minute or until the sauce has thickened.

Finally, remove from heat and let cool completely before enjoying! The sauce can be served at room temperature or chilled.

Cooking sweet and sour sauce in a saucepan.

🌶 Where to Use it

This sweet and sour sauce is versatile and can be used:

As a dipping sauce: with vegan egg rolls, vegan chicken nuggets, samosas, fried dumplings, baked tofu, onion rings, or tempura!
As a stir-fry sauce: perfect to make a sweet and sour veggie stir-fry, or to coat tofu or tempeh!

💬 FAQ

Can I reduce the amount of sugar?

Yes, feel free to adjust the sweetness to your liking. If you are familiar with the store-bought version, this one has about the same amount of sugar.

Can I use ground ginger instead of fresh ginger?

Fresh ginger is essential to this recipe.

How long does this dipping sauce keep?

This sweet and sour sauce will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.

Sweet and sour sauce with garlic and ginger.

If you ever wondered how to make sweet and sour sauce at home, look no further! This recipe has the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy, with a fresh ginger flavor. You are going to love this dipping sauce!

🥫 More Sauce Recipes

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About the Author

Thomas Pagot is the founder, photographer, and recipe developer behind Full of Plants. He created the blog in 2016 as a personal cookbook for vegan recipes. Through years of recipe development, Thomas has successfully grown Full of Plants into a trusted resource for plant-based recipes.

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