Sweet Chili Sauce

Sweet Chili Sauce

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup rice vinegar (or substitute white vinegar)
• 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. white sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 Tbsp. fish sauce
• 2 Tbsp. sherry (or cooking sherry)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 to 1 Tbsp. dried crushed chili (1 Tbsp. makes spicy-hot sauce)
• 1+1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch dissolved in 3-4 Tbsp. cool water

Procedures

1. Place all ingredients - except the cornstarch-water mixture - in a sauce pan or pot. Bring to a rolling boil.
2. Reduce heat to medium and let boil for 10 minutes, or until reduced by half. (Note that the vinegar will be quite pungent as it burns off. Generally, the rice vinegar is less strong than regular white vinegar).
3. Reduce heat to low and add the cornstarch-water mixture. Stir to incorporate and continue stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens (about 2 minutes).
4. Remove from heat and taste-test. You should taste "sweet" first, followed by sour, then spicy and salty notes. If the sauce isn't sweet enough, add a little more sugar. If not spicy enough, add more chili.
5. Pour sauce into a small bowl or jar and serve as a condiment with chicken, fish, and seafood, or as a dip with finger foods such as chicken wings, shrimp, or spring rolls. Also makes an excellent marinade for grilled chicken, fish, or seafood.

Prep Time: 2 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 17 minutes Yield: Makes 1/2 Cup of Sauce