Chili garlic sauce is a popular condiment used in many Asian cuisines. It consists of chilies, garlic, vinegar, salt, and sugar. The sauce provides a spicy, pungent kick to dishes along with a touch of sweetness. Chili garlic sauce is extremely versatile and can be used in a variety of ways to add flavor to many types of foods.
Uses for Chili Garlic Sauce
Here are some of the most common uses for chili garlic sauce:
Marinades and Dips
Chili garlic sauce makes an excellent addition to marinades for meats, seafood, and vegetables. The sauce helps add flavor and can tenderize meats. For example, you can marinate chicken wings or thighs in a mix of chili garlic sauce, soy sauce, shaoxing wine, sesame oil, and other aromatics. Chili garlic sauce also works well blended into dips and sauces for appetizers. Try mixing it into hummus, tzatziki, or aioli.
Stir Fries and Sautés
When stir-frying or sautéing proteins and vegetables, add a spoonful of chili garlic sauce to add a touch of heat and depth of flavor. This works especially well in beef, chicken, shrimp or tofu stir fries. The sauce goes nicely with classic Asian flavor combinations like ginger, garlic, scallions, soy sauce, etc. Add the chili garlic sauce near the end of cooking so it doesn’t burn.
Noodles and Rice Dishes
Chili garlic sauce can spice up various Asian noodle and rice dishes. Toss it into pad Thai, lo mein, fried rice, or bibimbap. The sauce will give a punch of flavor that complements the savory, salty flavors in those dishes. You can also add some to congee or fried rice for breakfast.
Soups and Hot Pot
Add a spoonful of chili garlic sauce to soups for extra heat and tang. It’s delicious in wonton soup, ramen, pho, and congee. The sauce also makes a flavorful dipping condiment for hot pot. Swirl some into the hot pot broth and dip cooked meats and vegetables into the chili garlic mixture.
Salads and Vegetables
Brighten up vegetable side dishes by tossing them with some chili garlic sauce. It gives blanched greens, sauteed broccoli, roasted carrots, or pan-fried brussels sprouts a punch of flavor. You can also dress up leafy salads with a chili garlic dressing made with oil, vinegar, soy sauce, and a bit of the sauce.
Sandwiches and Burgers
Spread or drizzle some chili garlic sauce on sandwiches and burgers to add spice and flavor. It’s delicious on pulled pork, turkey, or beef sandwiches. The sauce also pairs well with cheese, avocado, caramelized onions, and other toppings.
Eggs and Breakfast
Wake up your breakfast by adding chili garlic sauce to eggs. Scramble some into fried eggs or omelets, or top your soft or hard-boiled eggs with a dash of the sauce. You can also add it to Egg Foo Young or congee.
Dumplings
Chili garlic sauce is a perfect dipping condiment for dumplings, especially pan-fried potstickers. The tangy heat complements the savory pork or veggie filling. It’s also tasty drizzled over steamed dumplings and dim sum.
Pizza
Add some chili garlic sauce on pizza to give it a flavorful kick. Use it to top white pizza, veggie pizza, or alongside spicy meats like sausage or pepperoni. The sauce also pairs well with unconventional pizza toppings like egg, potatoes, or corn.
Spring Rolls
Drizzle chili garlic sauce over fresh or fried spring rolls for extra flavor. The heat and vinegar notes in the sauce offset the rich fillings like pork, shrimp, herbs, noodles, and vegetables.
Fried Chicken
Fry up some chicken wings, drumsticks, or boneless chunks, then toss them in chili garlic sauce. The sauce adds delicious sticky heat and clings nicely to the crispy fried exterior.
Grilled Meat and Seafood
Brush or sprinkle chili garlic sauce over meat and seafood before or after grilling. It’s fantastic on chicken, pork chops, ribs, shrimp, salmon, and steak. The char from grilling enhances the sauce’s flavors.
Roasting and Basting
When roasting meat or vegetables, coat them with some chili garlic sauce for caramelized spicy flavor. You can also frequently baste roasting chicken or pork with a sauce mixture including chili garlic sauce.
Dipping Sauce
Thin out chili garlic sauce with a splash of vinegar, water, or soy sauce to make a quick dipping sauce. Use it for dumplings, spring rolls, grilled skewers, chicken strips, or fresh vegetables.
How to Add Chili Garlic Sauce
When cooking with chili garlic sauce, moderation is key as it’s very spicy. Here are some tips for incorporating it into recipes:
- Start with 1/2 to 1 teaspoon chili garlic sauce per 1 pound of protein or vegetable. Adjust to taste.
- Add the sauce near the end of cooking so it retains its fresh flavor and doesn’t burn.
- Mix the sauce into marinades, stir fries, and sautés for evenly distributed flavor.
- Drizzle or sprinkle the sauce after cooking for concentrated hits of heat.
- Dilute with other liquids like vinegar or soy sauce if the heat level is too high.
- Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container up to several weeks.
Popular Brands
There are many excellent chili garlic sauce brands available at Asian grocery stores and online. Here are some popular options:
| Brand | Description |
|---|---|
| Huy Fong | Known for its rooster logo. Thick consistency and pronounced garlic flavor. |
| Lee Kum Kee | Smooth, ketchup-like texture. Solid balance of chili and garlic. |
| Tao Ren | Runnier sauce with intense garlicky heat. |
| Luau | Chunky, robust sauce with visible chili seeds. |
| Dynasty | Savory notes and medium spiciness. Good all-purpose sauce. |
Within these brands, there are also variations like chili only, hot pot style, and versions infused with other ingredients like ginger.
Other Chili-Based Sauces
While true chili garlic sauce has a specific chile-garlic profile, you can substitute other chili-based condiments in cooking. Some examples include:
- Sriracha – thicker consistency with some garlic and sweetness
- Sambal oelek – pure chiles without garlic or vinegar
- Harissa paste – North African spice paste with chiles
- Gochujang – Korean fermented chili paste
- Sichuan chili oil – infused with dried chiles in oil
The sauces all have different flavor profiles, but can work in many of the same applications as chili garlic sauce. Adjust the amount used based on the heat level.
How to Make Your Own
You can also easily make chili garlic sauce at home with just a few ingredients:
Ingredients
- 1⁄4 cup red chili flakes
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp sugar
- 2 Tbsp distilled white vinegar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1⁄4 tsp salt
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, combine the chili flakes, garlic, sugar, vinegar, sesame oil and salt. Pulse to break down garlic into a paste.
- Transfer mixture to a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for 2-3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool. The sauce will thicken up as it cools.
- Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.
Feel free to adjust the amounts of chili flakes and garlic to your desired spice and garlicky levels. Adding extra sugar helps temper the heat.
Conclusion
Chili garlic sauce is a versatile condiment that can add a spicy, garlicky kick to many types of savory foods. It’s commonly used in marinades, stir fries, noodles, dips, and more in Asian cooking. When using chili garlic sauce, a little goes a long way due to its bold heat. Popular brand options include Huy Fong, Lee Kum Kee, and Tao Ren. You can also easily make fresh chili garlic sauce at home by blending chilies, garlic, sugar, vinegar, and some aromatics. With its tangy, fiery punch of flavor, chili garlic sauce is a bottle that no cook should be without.