From Pantry to Table

This Thai Sweet Chili Sauce is a vibrant fusion of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors that dance on your tastebuds. Crafted with pantry-friendly and freeze-dried ingredients, it delivers the authentic warmth of chili, the mellow punch of garlic, and a balanced sweetness that clings perfectly to whatever it touches. Whether you’re dipping, drizzling, or glazing, this sauce is the perfect pantry staple to add a burst of bold flavor to any meal—without the need for refrigeration or perishables. It’s sweet with a gentle heat—just enough to wake up your dish without overwhelming it.

Recipe Ideas Using Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

Here are some tasty and practical ways to use your homemade sweet chili sauce:

1. Sweet Chili Shrimp Stir-Fry
   Toss shrimp and freeze-dried vegetables in a skillet and glaze with sweet chili sauce for a fast, flavorful meal over rice or noodles.
2. Pantry Thai Chicken Wraps
   Rehydrate freeze-dried chicken and veggies, wrap in a tortilla, and drizzle with sweet chili sauce for a quick lunch or dinner.
3. Sweet Chili Glazed Meatballs
   Coat homemade or freeze-dried rehydrated meatballs in sweet chili sauce and bake or simmer until sticky and golden.
4. Crispy Chickpea Snack Mix
   Roast chickpeas (or rehydrate and crisp in a toaster oven) and toss with a light coating of sweet chili sauce for a tangy-spicy snack.
5. Sweet Chili Tofu Bowl
   Rehydrate tofu cubes, pan-sear, then toss with the sauce and serve over jasmine rice with freeze-dried veggies for a balanced bowl.
6. Thai Chili Chicken Pizza
   Use the sauce in place of traditional tomato sauce and top with shredded chicken, mozzarella, scallions, and freeze-dried bell peppers.
7. Egg Roll in a Bowl
   Cook ground pork or chicken with cabbage and carrots, then drizzle with sweet chili sauce for an egg roll–inspired one-pan meal.
8. Sweet Chili Salmon (or Tuna)
   Brush freeze-dried or canned salmon/tuna patties with sweet chili sauce before broiling or air-frying.
9. Veggie Spring Rolls Dip
   Rehydrate veggies, roll in rice paper, and dip into your sauce for a fresh and flavorful appetizer or lunch.
10. Asian Slaw with Sweet Chili Vinaigrette
    Whisk sweet chili sauce with vinegar and a dash of sesame oil for a crunchy slaw dressing that’s bold and crave-worthy.

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Freeze-Dried Sweet Thai Chili Sauce (Pantry-to-Table Style) Recipe

Yields: ~1 cup

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:   

 •   1 cup water    

•   2 tbsp freeze-dried garlic    

•   1 tbsp freeze-dried minced onion   

 •   1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to heat preference)   

 •   1/4 tsp ground ginger or 1/2 tsp freeze-dried ginger   

 •   1/2 tsp salt    

•   1/2 cup cane sugar or honey granules   

 •   1/4 cup white vinegar (or freeze-dried vinegar powder + water to reconstitute)   

 •   2 tsp freeze-dried red bell peppers (optional, for color and flavor)    

•   1 1/2 tsp cornstarch + 1 tbsp cool water (slurry)

Optional:    

•   1/2 tsp freeze-dried lime juice powder for added tang    

•   1/4 tsp soy sauce powder for umami depth ⸻

Instructions:

1. Rehydrate: In a saucepan, add water, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, and ginger. Let sit 3–5 minutes for freeze-dried ingredients to rehydrate.

2. Simmer: Stir in sugar (or granules), vinegar, red pepper flakes, and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

3. Thicken: Stir in cornstarch slurry and continue to simmer, stirring, until sauce thickens slightly (about 2–3 minutes).

4. Cool & Store: Let cool. Store in a sanitized jar in the fridge up to 2 weeks or dehydrate and powder for long-term dry storage.

Honey Crystals: https://frompantrytotable.thrivelife.com/honey-crystals.html

Freeze Dried Chopped Onions: https://frompantrytotable.thrivelife.com/freeze-dried-chopped-onions-694.html

https://frompantrytotable.thrivelife.com/red-bell-peppers-freeze-dried.html