Szechuan Sauce
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Once you experience the rich flavors of homemade Szechuan sauce, you won’t know how you ever lived without it! This versatile sauce is super easy to whip up and works perfectly as both a dip and a marinade. Elevate your favorite Chinese-inspired dishes to new heights, and get ready for your family to lick their plates clean!
Let’s explore the irresistible allure of Szechuan sauce! Originating from the vibrant Sichuan province of China, this bold condiment is a flavor explosion waiting to happen. Imagine a perfect blend of spicy chili peppers, flavorful Chinese five spice, aromatic garlic, zesty ginger, rich soy sauce, tangy vinegar, and a hint of sweetness from brown sugar, all harmonizing beautifully in one jar.
When homemade, each ingredient is skillfully balanced to create a sauce that’s not just delicious, but downright addictive. Whether you’re drizzling it over stir-fry, dipping crispy snacks, or spicing up your favorite dishes, Szechuan sauce will have your taste buds dancing with delight!
Ingredients
For the ingredient measurements and the entire recipe, be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the blog post where the recipe card is located.
- Soy sauce: This is the base of the sauce. It adds umami flavor. I recommend using low sodium so it doesn’t taste too salty.
- Sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness to the sauce. Light or dark brown sugar will work for this recipe.
- Garlic: Freshly minced garlic adds a strong garlic flavor.
- Ginger: Fresh ginger adds warm flavor to the sauce.
- Chili garlic sauce: This adds a spicy garlic flavor to the sauce.
- Vinegar: Rice vinegar gives the sauce a slight tang.
- Crushed red pepper: This enhances the spice for a nice, bold kick.
- Chinese five spice powder: This adds rich aromatic flavor to the sauce.
Step by Step Directions
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the bottom of the blog post to the recipe card.
- Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce the heat to medium and continue to boil for 1 minute.
- Use immediately, or let cool, then refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Ways to Use Szechuan Sauce
Wondering what to do with that delicious Szechuan sauce you just whipped up? Get ready for a flavor explosion! This sauce is a culinary superstar, perfect for enhancing all your favorite Chinese dishes!
Use it as a zesty dipping sauce for potstickers, egg rolls, or wontons, your taste buds will thank you! Or, elevate your proteins by marinating or glazing chicken, pork, or beef for a savory kick.
But that’s not all! Drizzle it over your stir-fry or noodle bowl to take your meal to the next level with an extra burst of flavor.
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Szechuan Sauce
Ingredients
- ¼ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
- ½ teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium and continue to boil for 1 minute.
- Use immediately, or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Notes
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided is for convenience and as a courtesy only. It is not guaranteed to be accurate because nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator and input the exact ingredients and brands you used in the recipe.