Sweet chilli sauce is a popular condiment that adds a nice blend of sweet and spicy flavor to many dishes. But what should you pair with sweet chilli sauce? What ingredients complement the sweet, tangy and slightly spicy taste? There are actually many delicious options! In this article, we’ll discuss what goes well with sweet chilli sauce and provide recipe ideas to inspire you.
Meats
Sweet chilli sauce pairs excellently with chicken, beef, pork and seafood. The sauce adds flavor and moisture to otherwise plain proteins. It also helps to counterbalance fatty meats with its vinegar tang.
Chicken is one of the most popular pairings. Sweet chilli chicken is a classic Thai dish of fried chicken tossed in sweet chilli sauce. You can also use the sauce as a marinade or dip for chicken wings, tenders or skewers. It adds sweetness and kick to grilled or baked chicken breasts too.
Sweet chilli beef makes for flavorful stir fries or fajitas. Toss cubed beef with sauce and veggies for a quick meal. The sauce is also great on burgers and sandwiches in place of ketchup. For a fun twist on tacos, drizzle sweet chilli sauce over beef instead of regular taco sauce.
Pork pairs wonderfully with sweet chilli too. Use it in stir fries, with lettuce wraps, in dumplings or spring rolls. You can also brush it on pork chops or roast before cooking for added flavor. Chili glazed ham or ribs with a sweet chilli coating are delicious too.
For seafood, sweet chilli sauce makes a great topping for grilled or sauteed shrimp, scallops, mahi mahi and more. Use it in shrimp skewers for the grill or add it to fish tacos. You can also use it as a dip for fried seafood like calamari or fish sticks in place of tartar sauce.
Rice, Noodles and Vegetables
Beyond meats, sweet chilli sauce also complements rice, noodles and vegetables wonderfully. It can transform a boring bowl of rice into something special and give veggies an addictive sweet-spicy flavor.
For easy meals, stir some sweet chilli sauce into fried rice or noodles. Add sliced veggies like cabbage, carrots, bell peppers or broccoli and protein if desired. The sauce evenly coats each component and brings the dish together.
Sweet chilli sauce is also excellent drizzled over plain white or brown rice. For a veggie bowl, serve chilli sauce over rice with sauteed or roasted vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, squash and asparagus. The sauce will liven up the vegetables.
If you enjoy salad, sweet chilli makes a tasty dressing when mixed with olive oil and lime juice. Toss the dressing with crunchy greens, shredded cabbage or carrots, chicken, beef or your other favorite salad toppings. It has less calories than creamier dressings but all the flavor.
You can also roast vegetables like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, beets or potatoes with a sweet chilli glaze. The sauce caramelizes nicely when roasted. For a veggie side dish, roast broccoli or green beans and drizzle with sweet chilli sauce after cooking. It’s a nice change from plain veggies.
Snacks and Appetizers
In addition to entrees, sweet chilli sauce is fantastic with snacks and appetizers. Its bold, complex flavor pairs well with poppable foods.
Here are some snack and appetizer ideas with sweet chilli sauce:
– Sweet chilli wings – deep fried chicken wings tossed in sweet chilli sauce
– Chilli chicken skewers – chicken and pineapple skewers glazed with sweet chilli sauce
– Sweet chilli spring rolls – spring rolls served with sweet chilli sauce for dipping
– Vegetarian lettuce wraps – tofu, mushrooms and veggies wrapped in lettuce and dipped in sweet chilli sauce
– Sweet chilli shrimp – fried shrimp tossed in sweet chilli
– Chilli beef nachos – nachos with sweet chilli braised beef, cheese, beans and toppings
– Chilli glazed meatballs – small beef or pork meatballs roasted with sweet chilli glaze
– Sweet potato fries – crisp sweet potato fries served with sweet chilli sauce for dipping
– Chilli grilled fruit – pineapple, peach or mango grilled and brushed with chilli sauce
So as you can see, sweet chilli sauce takes snacks and appetizers up a notch in terms of flavor. It’s a quick way to make anything from spring rolls to grilled fruit more exciting.
Simple Sweet Chilli Sauce Recipes
One of the great things about sweet chilli sauce is that it’s easy to make at home. Here are a couple straightforward recipes to try:
Simple 3 Ingredient Sweet Chilli Sauce
Ingredients:
– 1 cup sugar
– 1/2 cup white vinegar
– 2-3 Thai chilis, chopped
Instructions:
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, vinegar and chilis.
2. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently until sugar dissolves.
3. Reduce heat and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
4. Remove from heat and let cool. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
5. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate. Keeps for up to 2 weeks.
Easy Blender Sweet Chilli Sauce
Ingredients:
– 10 ounces tomato puree or tomato sauce
– 1/4 cup rice vinegar
– 1/4 cup water
– 2 tablespoons honey or sugar
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 tablespoon Sriracha sauce
– 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions:
1. Add all ingredients to blender and blend until smooth.
2. Transfer sauce to saucepan and bring to a gentle simmer over medium-low heat.
3. Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring often, until slightly thickened.
4. Remove from heat and let chill. Keep refrigerated.
Both recipes result in a tasty sweet chilli sauce you can use in all kinds of dishes. Adjust the amounts of sugar, vinegar and chili peppers to suit your preferences. Store bought sweet chilli sauce works too, but homemade has superior flavor.
Full Meal Ideas
Here are some full meal ideas that incorporate sweet chilli sauce for added flavor:
Sweet Chilli Shrimp Stir Fry
Saute shrimp, vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli and snap peas, and tamari or soy sauce. Add cooked rice and toss everything with sweet chilli sauce just before serving.
Thai Sweet Chilli Chicken Wraps
Wrap chicken breast seasoned with Thai spices, pickled vegetables, greens and a drizzle of sweet chilli sauce in a tortilla or lettuce leaf.
Chilli Glazed Salmon with Bok Choy
Roast salmon filets brushed with sweet chilli glaze. Saute baby bok choy in soy sauce and sesame oil. Serve salmon over bok choy.
Sweet Chilli Beef and Vegetable Skewers
Skewer cubed beef and vegetables like onions, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. Grill skewers and brush with sweet chilli sauce during last few minutes of cooking.
Chicken Zucchini Noodles with Chilli Peanut Sauce
Saute zucchini noodles, chicken breast, garlic and veggies like carrot and red pepper. Toss with a peanut sauce thinned with a bit of sweet chilli sauce to add flavor. Garnish with peanuts.
Chilli Tofu and Vegetable Rice Bowl
Saute tofu in sesame oil until crispy. Add vegetables like broccoli, snap peas and mushrooms and saute briefly. Serve over cooked rice and top with sweet chilli sauce.
So try out one of these tasty meals featuring everyone’s favorite sweet and spicy condiment. The sauce can make your cooking more exciting.
Complementary Flavors
Certain ingredients pair especially well with and enhance the flavors in sweet chilli sauce. Some complementary flavors to consider when cooking with sweet chilli include:
Ginger – Fresh ginger adds a little spicy kick that complements the chili peppers in sweet chilli sauce. Use grated ginger in stir fries, marinades and dressings.
Garlic – Garlic balances out the sweetness of the sauce and provides an earthy punch. Saute meats, seafood or vegetables with garlic and sweet chilli.
Lime – Lime juice helps to cut through the sweetness and thick texture of the sauce. Add some lime juice to your sweet chilli marinades, dips and dressings.
Fish sauce – The saltiness of fish sauce offsets the sweetness of chilli sauce and enhances umami flavors. Add a bit to Thai dishes like stir fries and rice bowls.
Soy sauce – Soy sauce adds a savory, salty flavor that goes well with sweet chilli’s flavor profile. Use it in Asian-inspired dishes with sweet chilli.
Peanuts – Peanuts contribute crunch and nutty flavor to balance out the sauce. Sprinkle chopped peanuts onto stir fries, bowls and salads with sweet chilli.
Cilantro – Fresh cilantro offers a cool, refreshing contrast to spicy sweet chilli sauce. Use it as a garnish or mix into sauces.
So remember to incorporate these ingredients into your cooking when using sweet chilli sauce. They’ll help the flavors of your dish really sing.
Drink Pairings
Sweet chilli sauce packs some sweet heat, so what drinks go well with it? Here are some tasty beverage pairings.
Thai Iced Tea – The creamy, sweet and slightly spicy flavors are a perfect match for sweet chilli sauce. Enjoy some with Thai food featuring the sauce.
Green or Jasmine Tea – The gentle grassy flavors won’t overpower dishes with sweet chilli but will aid digestion of spicy foods.
Ginger Beer – The zip of ginger beer cleanses the palate from the sauce’s spiciness and enhances the sweetness.
Fruit Juice – something like pineapple, mango, orange or apple juice tastes refreshing with spicy sweet dishes using the sauce.
Riesling – This sweet white wine balances sweet chilli’s sugar and chilis. Off-dry Riesling works best.
Beer – Pair the sauce with something crisp and refreshing like a pilsner, wheat beer or pale ale. IPAs may overwhelm the sauce’s nuanced flavors.
Moscow Mule – The ginger and lime notes in this vodka cocktail complement sweet chilli wonderfully.
Water is important too for hydration and to prevent overheating from the sauce’s spices. In general, opt for drink choices with some sweetness and acidity to counterbalance the flavors in sweet chilli sauce.
Conclusion
As we’ve discussed, sweet chilli sauce complements an array of ingredients. It can enhance the flavor of proteins like chicken, beef and shrimp. It also livens up plain rice, noodles and vegetables, providing a tasty sweet and spicy kick. The sauce shines in snacks and appetizers too, from wings to spring rolls. When cooking with sweet chilli sauce, complementary flavors like garlic, ginger and lime help make dishes pop. And beverages like iced tea, fruit juice and ginger beer make ideal pairings. With its versatility and crowd-pleasing flavor, sweet chilli sauce can upgrade many quick meals and snacking options. So grab a bottle and start experimenting with new recipes incorporating this dynamic condiment. Your cooking is sure to impress.