Hot + Sweet Dipping Sauce
You will typically find this Hot + Sweet Dipping Sauce at most Thai restaurants. The spiciness can be controlled by how much red pepper you use, but you can start with this recipe and adjust it to your liking. It's a great dipping sauce for fried spring rolls, egg rolls, fried shrimp... um, just about anything fried, but it also goes well with grilled foods. Hot and sweet dipping sauce can be found at most grocery stores, but this homemade version is delicious and so simple to make!
Yield: makes 1 1/2 cups
Prep Time: 5-7 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
INGREDIENTS
1 cup water
¾ cup white vinegar
¾ cup sugar
2 tablespoons fresh red jalapeno, seeded and minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
½ teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cornstarch
METHOD
- In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring water, vinegar, sugar, jalapeno, garlic, dried crushed red pepper and salt to a simmer and cook for about 8-10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, stir cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of water together.
- After simmering and sugar and salt have dissolved, stir in cornstarch and water slurry to sauce, and cook until it thickens a little, about 30 seconds. Remember that sauce will continue to thicken after cooking.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
TIPS
- This sauce can be kept in an airtight container the refrigerator for a few weeks up to a month.