I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that nothing beats a classic chili sauce. It’s just a delicious sauce to tie up your meals with. There are many variations of it, but among the different types are two of the most popular and recognizable ones. Chili garlic sauce and sweet chili sauce.
Understanding what comprises the two will save you a lot of culinary trouble down the road. So, here is every little detail you need to know about, including putting them head to head with each other. Chili garlic sauce vs sweet chili sauce! Which will come out on top?
Jump To
What Is Chili Garlic Sauce?
Chili garlic sauce origins can be traced to Southeast Asia, particularly Thailand and Vietnam, with a combination of chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, and salt, giving it its iconic spicy taste.
You can make it by stemming, seeding, and chopping fresh red chili peppers and garlic. These can then be blended or pounded using a mortar and pestle until they form a thick paste. The paste is then cooked over low heat and cooled before being ready to serve.
How Is It Used?
It’s mainly used in Southeast Asian cuisines, particularly Thai and Vietnamese, with it harmonizing with various dishes thanks to its robust and fiery flavor.
It can be used as a dipping sauce for fried foods or as a seasoning for stir-fries. Even adding a dollop of chili garlic sauce during cooking gives stir-fries a nice spicy twist. You can also use it as a base for marinades for meats like chicken, beef, or pork and even as a condiment for sandwiches, burgers, and hot dogs.
How to Store It
First, make sure it’s completely cooled down to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container, such as a glass jar or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid.
The sauce has to be stored in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage and to maintain its freshness. There, it can last for up to a month, but it’s best to consume it within two weeks for optimal flavor. You can also label the container with the date to keep track of its freshness.
What Is Sweet Chili Sauce?
Sweet chili sauce’s origins are the same as chili garlic sauce in that it originated from Thailand and is commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. It’s a thick, sweet, and spicy sauce made from chili peppers, sugar, vinegar, garlic, and sometimes fish sauce. Unlike its counterpart, the sauce has a unique flavor that’s sweet and tangy, with a moderate spiciness.
How Is It Used?
It’s commonly used as a dipping sauce for appetizers such as spring rolls, chicken wings, and vegetable fritters, with its sweet and spicy flavor enhancing the taste and texture of these dishes. It can also be used as a marinade for grilled meats, like chicken, beef, or pork, providing a sweet and tangy flavor that helps tenderize the meat.
The sauce is just perfect for stir-fry dishes, adding a sweet and spicy flavor to the vegetables and proteins, and finds use as a condiment for sandwiches, burgers, or hot dogs, giving them a unique and delicious twist.
How to Store It
If you wanna ensure that it lasts for the longest amount of time, you’d best store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator once opened. The sauce can last for several months in the fridge, but it’s crucial to regularly check for signs of spoilage.
Similarities and Differences Between Sweet Chili Sauce and Garlic Chili Sauce
Ingredients and Base
While both sauces are made with chili peppers, chili garlic sauce does contain garlic and vinegar, whereas sweet chili sauce is made with sugar, vinegar, and occasionally tomato paste. These variations in ingredients and base give each sauce a separate, unique taste and texture.
Flavor Profile and Heat Level
Chili garlic sauce is characterized by a spicy and tangy flavor profile with a more robust garlic flavor and pungent aroma. It does have a higher heat level than its counter, which can leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Sweet chili sauce, though, is known for its sweet, tangy, and mildly spicy taste with a more subtle flavor profile. The sweetness of the sauce is its dominant feature, with a hint of spiciness that adds a little kick to the dish.
Culinary Uses
Culinary uses for chili garlic sauce include using it as a dipping sauce for dumplings or as a marinade for meats, while sweet chili sauce is commonly used as a dipping sauce for spring rolls or as a glaze for chicken wings. Both sauces can be used in stir-fry dishes, noodle dishes, and as a condiment for grilled meats, which is a big plus.
Cultural Significance
Both chili garlic sauce and sweet chili sauce have somewhat similar cultural significance in Asian cuisine. Chili garlic sauce is a staple in Vietnamese and Thai cooking, while sweet chili sauce is popular in Thai and Indonesian cuisine. Both play a huge part in their traditional cuisines.
Comparison Table
Here’s a chili garlic sauce vs sweet chili sauce rundown of the similarities and differences:
| Sweet Chili Sauce | Garlic Chili Sauce | |
| Flavor | Sweet and spicy | Spicy and savory |
| Texture | Smooth and liquid | Thick and chunky |
| Heat Level | Mild to medium | Medium to hot |
| Key Ingredients | Chili peppers, sugar, vinegar | Chili peppers, garlic, vinegar |
| Common Uses | Dipping sauce, condiment | Dipping sauce, marinade, condiment |
Can I Interchange Sweet Chili Sauce for Garlic Chili Sauce?
Although they have distinct flavors, they can still be used interchangeably in some recipes. However, it’s not really advised as it’ll alter the dish’s taste significantly if you do substitute one for the other. It’s best to use the sauce specified in the recipe, but you can always adjust the amount of spice and sweetness to your liking if you do decide to make a substitution.
Tips for Using Sweet Chili Sauce and Garlic Chili Sauce in Cooking
Experiment with Different Combinations
One of the great things about either of them is that no matter what dish you throw at them, they’ll always end up being a delicious addition. Whether that be a stir fry, a marinade, or a dipping sauce, these sauces can add a delightful kick of flavor.
When deciding which one to use and experiment with, consider the flavor profile of your dish. Sweet chili sauce is best paired with sweet or savory dishes, such as chicken, shrimp, or tofu, while garlic chili sauce complements spicy dishes and can add a bold flavor to soups, stews, and curries.
Use Them as Marinades
Though you wouldn’t really use sweet chili sauce as a marinade, it still makes for an excellent one at that. Simply mix either sauce with a little oil and your choice of seasonings, then let the food marinate in the mixture for at least an hour before cooking.
Add Them to Dipping Sauces
Both sweet chili sauce and garlic chili sauce can be used as dipping sauces. From spring rolls to chicken nuggets, there’s just no end to the dishes you can add them with. You can even mix the sauces with a little soy sauce and rice vinegar for a more complex flavor.
Use Them as Condiments
Both sauces can be used as condiments for that added splash of flavor to grilled meats, seafood, vegetables, and more, but keep an eye out for their flavors, as sweet chili sauce may not be a taste for everyone.
Be Mindful of Heat Levels
Either can be quite spicy, depending on the brand and recipe. So, if you’re sensitive to heat, start with a small amount and add more as needed. You can also mix the sauce with a little honey or sugar to cut down on the spiciness and level it out more.