Garlic sauce or chilli garlic is a fairly simple recipe anyone can make at home. The ingredients are easy to find, and the dish is relatively quick and easy to make. This dipping sauce is great for people who like a kick of spice, as it has a lot of pepper. It has the same flavour and taste as the siomai sauce famous in Filipino, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine.
The benefits of this chilli garlic sauce are endless! It can be used as a dipping sauce for siomai or dimsum sauce. It can also be paired with toasted sesame seeds and used as a topping for dishes like fried rice or noodles. This recipe will make enough to store in a glass jar at room temperature and use throughout the week. It has a long shelf life if stored correctly.
Homemade Chili Garlic Paste Ingredients
This recipe is a staple ingredient in many Asian cuisines and has many variations. Here, you can start by using ingredients that are easy to find and readily available in most grocery stores. This chili paste is made of chilli and garlic, the two basic ingredients.
The most popular pepper used for this paste is the Siling Labuyo. This pepper has a unique flavour that is tangy, sweet and spicy. The crispy garlic adds a mellow flavour to the paste and balances out the heat from the chili pepper. The cooking oil helps with the emulsification of the ingredients and gives it a nice sheen when you’re done making it.
To give it a more fragrant finish, you can add ground black pepper, depending on your preference. Add sugar, salt, and around three cups of vinegar for your first homemade batch to balance the flavour. This paste can be paired with other condiments like oyster or soy sauce.
Directions on How to Make Homemade Siomai Sauce
The first step in preparing your homemade chili paste is to wash the chilies thoroughly in cold water. Then, remove the stalks and seeds. Wear your gloves to avoid burning your hand. Chop them into small pieces and set them aside in a bowl or container while you prepare the other ingredients for the sauce. You can also opt to use a blender to grind the chilies.
Peel your garlic heads carefully. You can use any type of garlic, but some prefer Asian garlic to capture the flavour of pastes, like Vietnamese or Thai chili garlic sauce. Toast your peeled Stir garlic in a pan and stir continuously to avoid burning. You can cook the garlic until they have turned golden brown, especially if you want crispy garlic. Once done, you can now cook the chilies and garlic. First, add half the amount of garlic to the peppers, then add the garlic to taste.
Place all of your ingredients into a saucepan and bring it to a boil over medium-low heat. Make sure to stir constantly to prevent burning or sticking to the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for around 20 minutes until you can spoon it up like pudding from a cup. Other herbs and aromatics are optional.
Storing the Chili Garlic Sauce
The chili garlic can be stored in the pantry or fridge, depending on the recipe. Store the chili garlic sauce in a jar if you have any leftovers from the last time you made it. This way, you can shake it up when you need more and pour it out of the jar again after the meal. The jars that come with lids work best for this purpose.
If you don’t have any leftovers, store your chili garlic sauce in a bottle container like those used for ketchup or mustard bottles (or anything similar). Ensure that the cap is tight and that there is no air inside when storing your condiment in these containers. Keep it at room temperature for at least 3 hours before refrigerating.
Some believe that the fridge is not an appropriate place to store this condiment because it will affect the taste of the sauce. But this will not be a problem as long as you followed the recipe. The chili garlic sauce will stay best if it is stored at room temperature. Although the chili garlic sauce is best when it is fresh, it can last up to a year in a cool, dry place.
How to Enjoy your Chili Garlic Sauce
A good chili garlic sauce is a great way to spice up your dish. It can be used in various dishes and adds flavour to any dish. There are many different types of chili garlic sauces, so it is important to know what type you are going for.
Chili garlic sauce improves as it sits in the same oil, and garlic can make the sauce tasty. You can also mix Chili Garlic Sauce with soy sauce and sesame oil for a dipping sauce for egg rolls or spring rolls. Some people like to mix their chili garlic sauce with rice or noodles for an extra kick of flavour. Others like to stir-fry their veggies in the sauce before adding them to their dishes.
Conclusion
Chili garlic is a popular ingredient in various Asian dishes. Making homemade chili has the following benefits:
- You can use either fresh or frozen ingredients.
- The recipe is easy to make and only takes about 30 minutes, including prep time.
- It is the perfect way to add some spice to your meal.
- It will last longer over store-bought chili paste in smaller containers.
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FAQs
Can I boil siomai instead of steaming it?
Siomai is a dumpling made from ground pork, wrapped in wonton wrappers. It is often steamed or deep-fried. Boiling siomai is not advisable. The dough will get too soft, and the meatballs will fall apart. The taste will also change, and the dish may become too salty. Boiling the siomai will result in a softer texture which may not be as desirable as steamed siomai. It will also cause the wrapper to become soft and mushy.
Is fish sauce the same as nam pla?
Fish sauce is a popular condiment in many Southeast Asian countries. It is made from fish, salt and water and is often called nam pla in Thai. It is a fermented fish that has been used as a food ingredient for centuries. The taste of the sauce can vary depending on the type of fish and how long it was fermented. It’s commonly used as a dipping sauce or condiment for dishes like pad thai or spring rolls.
What ingredient makes chili better?
Chili is a spicy dish with meat and beans that is often served over rice. There are many variations of chili recipes, but the one ingredient that makes them all better is the paste. The main ingredient in chili is meat, like ground beef or shredded chicken. But many other ingredients can be added to the dish to make it taste better. For example, some people add beans and tomatoes to the mix, while others might add jalapenos for a spicy kick.
