Description
Zesty Sweet Chili Pineapple Sauce brings tropical heat to your culinary adventure. Pineapple’s natural sweetness mingles with spicy chili, creating a perfect balance that elevates grilled meats, seafood, and vegetable dishes in one delicious drizzle.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Sweet Base:
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, finely chopped
- ¼ cup honey
Liquids and Seasonings:
- ½ cup water
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons water (for cornstarch)
Aromatics and Thickeners:
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Gather fresh pineapple chunks, water, white vinegar, honey, soy sauce, minced ginger, and minced garlic in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
- Allow the mixture to gently simmer, stirring occasionally to blend flavors and prevent sticking, until pineapple becomes soft and slightly translucent (approximately 10 minutes).
- In a separate small mixing bowl, create a cornstarch slurry by thoroughly dissolving cornstarch with of cool water, whisking until completely smooth.
- Pour the cornstarch mixture into the simmering sauce, stirring continuously to prevent lumps and ensure even thickening.
- Sprinkle red chili flakes and fine sea salt into the sauce, maintaining a gentle simmer to activate spices and develop depth of flavor.
- Continue cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes, watching the consistency transform from liquid to a glossy, slightly thickened sauce.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sweet chili pineapple sauce rest at room temperature, allowing natural cooling to further enhance its texture and concentrate flavors.
- The sauce will continue to thicken as it cools, reaching an ideal serving consistency within 15-20 minutes.
Notes
- Sweet and spicy sauce perfect for dipping, glazing, or marinading various proteins and vegetables.
- Easily customizable heat level by adjusting chili flake quantity to personal preference.
- Preparation takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish, making it a quick and versatile condiment.
- Cornstarch slurry helps create a smooth, glossy texture while thickening the sauce naturally.
- Fresh ingredients like ginger and garlic provide depth and complex flavor profile beyond basic sweet chili sauce.
- Stores well in refrigerator for up to one week in an airtight container, allowing for multiple uses.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 85 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg