Chili Sauce Use Cases

Heat Level: Hot

First, I should say that recipes for Chiu Chow chili sauce are rather limited. A quick Google search rendered relatively few findings—just a handful of variations that left me less than satisfied. So, I turned to a key source in any home cook’s arsenal—the label on the store-bought version.

WHAT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR PAPRIKA

You can buy chili garlic sauce; trader joe’s carries it, and the rooster garlic chili sauce (Huy Fong Foods) can be found in most stores. The problem is that they use red jalapenos, red chili peppers, or Thai chili peppers that can be so spicy they overpower the aromatic taste of the sauce.

Even though it's easily available in stores and online, I prefer to make my Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce at home. I know that sounds like one extra thing to do - but hear me out. Making this Asian sauce at home is insanely easy. It requires minimal prep, most of the ingredients are pantry staples, and the cooking process is mostly hands free.

However, all cayennes have one thing in common: They’re spicy.

For dishes needing that punch of heat from red pepper flakes:

The flavor and heat level of paprika can vary depending on the type of pepper used. Sweet paprika is made from sweet red peppers, such as bell peppers, and has a mild, sweet flavor with little to no heat. On the other hand, hot paprika is made from hotter varieties of red peppers, such as cayenne or chili peppers, and has a spicier, more intense flavor.

I choose to use Gochuganu (Korean red pepper flakes) for a hint of sweet and smokey flavor that doesn’t upset the balance of flavor.

Using a dehydrator is a fantastic way to dry peppers. It gives you control over the temperature and airflow, making sure the peppers dry perfectly. Just set the dehydrator to around 130°F (54°C) for thorough drying while keeping the peppers’ flavor and color intact.