This Homemade Chili Garlic Sauce is spicy, garlicky, and packed with bold flavors! It’s perfect as a dipping sauce, marinade, or for adding heat to your favorite dishes like stir-fries, noodles, and soups. Plus, it’s super easy to make with just a few ingredients!
Ingredients
1 cup red chili peppers (Thai chilies for extra heat or Fresno for milder spice)
6 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup rice vinegar
2 tbsp soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
1 tbsp sugar
½ tsp salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil (or sesame oil for extra flavor)
1 tbsp water, as needed
Instructions
Step 1: Prep the Peppers
Remove stems from the chili peppers and roughly chop them. If you prefer a milder sauce, remove some of the seeds.
Step 2: Sauté the Garlic and Peppers
Heat vegetable oil in a small pan over medium heat.
Add garlic and chopped chilies, sautéing for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
Step 3: Blend the Sauce
Transfer the sautéed mixture to a blender or food processor.
Add rice vinegar, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Blend until smooth.
If the sauce is too thick, add 1 tbsp of water to adjust consistency.
Step 4: Simmer for Flavor
Pour the blended sauce back into the pan and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Taste and adjust seasoning—add more sugar for sweetness, more vinegar for tanginess, or more chilies for heat.
Step 5: Cool and Store
Let the sauce cool completely, then transfer it to a sterilized glass jar.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
Pro Tips:
Make it smokier: Add a dash of smoked paprika for a deeper flavor.
Extra umami: Stir in 1 tsp fish sauce for an umami boost.
Sweeter version: Replace sugar with honey for a natural sweetness.
Use this Chili Garlic Sauce to spice up everything from dumplings to stir-fries!
