This Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe is a sweet and spicy recipe, which is made with rice vinegar and sriracha. It’s a straightforward recipe, ready in about 15 minutes.
Jump to RecipeTrader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup rice vinegar
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoon water
How To Make Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
- Simmer the sauce base: In a saucepan, pour the vinegar and 1 cup of water and bring to a boil over high heat. Stir in the sugar, garlic, fish sauce, sriracha, ketchup, and ginger. Reduce the heat to medium and let the mixture reduce for 5 minutes.
- Thicken with slurry: In a small bowl, stir together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water to create a smooth slurry. Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce.
- Cool and store: Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes, or until the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat, let it cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate.
Recipe Tips
- How to adjust the spice level? The heat in this sauce comes from the Sriracha. For a milder sauce, start with just 1 teaspoon. For a spicier kick, feel free to add more.
- How to get a perfectly smooth sauce? The key is to make a proper cornstarch slurry. Make sure the cornstarch and cold water are mixed together until completely smooth before you whisk it into the hot liquid. This prevents any starchy lumps from forming.
- Can I use fresh garlic and ginger? Yes, fresh is best! Using freshly minced garlic and ginger will provide a much brighter and more potent flavor than the ground versions. Use about 1 tablespoon of each.
- What is fish sauce? Fish sauce is a staple condiment in Southeast Asian cooking. It’s made from fermented fish and adds a deep, savory, umami flavor to the sauce that is hard to replicate.
What To Serve With Sweet Chili Sauce
This versatile sauce is a fantastic condiment for a wide variety of dishes.
- As a dipping sauce for spring rolls, egg rolls, or chicken wings
- Tossed with crispy shrimp or fried tofu
- As a glaze for grilled salmon or pork chops
- Drizzled over a block of cream cheese and served with crackers
How To Store Sweet Chili Sauce
- Refrigerate: Store the cooled sauce in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator. The recipe notes it stays fresh for up to 2 months.
Sweet Chili Sauce Nutrition Facts
- Serving: (approx. 2 tbsp)
- Calories: 19kcal
Nutrition information is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.
FAQs
Yes, this is a classic recipe for the type of sauce often referred to as Thai sweet chili sauce (or Nam Chim Kai in Thai). It has that signature balance of sweet, sour, and spicy.
This can happen if the sauce wasn’t brought back to a simmer after the cornstarch slurry was added. The cornstarch needs heat to activate its thickening properties. If it’s still thin, you can let it simmer for another minute or two.
Yes. To make a vegetarian or vegan version, you can substitute the fish sauce with an equal amount of soy sauce or tamari.
Try More Recipes:
- Trader Joe’s Homemade Red Enchilada Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Alfredo Sauce Recipe
- Trader Joe’s Sweet Soy Sauce Recipe
Trader Joe’s Sweet Chili Sauce Recipe
Course: SauceCuisine: Asian-InspiredDifficulty: Easy19
servings5
minutes10
minutes19
kcalA quick and easy homemade sweet chili sauce that perfectly balances sweet, sour, and spicy flavors for a versatile dipping sauce and glaze.
Ingredients
1 cup water
1 cup rice vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp fish sauce
2 tsp sriracha
1 tsp ketchup
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
Directions
- Boil 1 cup of water and the vinegar. Stir in sugar, garlic, fish sauce, sriracha, ketchup, and ginger; reduce for 5 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch and 2 tbsp water into a smooth slurry.
- Whisk the slurry into the simmering sauce and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- For the smoothest sauce, ensure the cornstarch is fully dissolved in cold water before adding it to the hot liquid.
- The heat level can be easily adjusted by using more or less Sriracha.
- The sauce will thicken further as it cools in the refrigerator.
- This homemade version is a great way to control the sugar and spice level to your exact preference.
