Sesame Chili Sauce

Sweet, spicy, and just a bit nutty, this Sesame Chili Sauce is a simple yet delicious addition to everything from noodles to salmon to sliced veggies. It serves perfectly as a dip or condiment for dumplings, spring rolls, or fried tofu. Conversely, you can also top it over things like ramen or rice noodles, or use it as a marinade fish such as salmon or shark. It can also serve as a light salad dressing for mixed greens.

Best of all, however, is that this delightful little sauce mixes up in just minutes flat. This sauce uses just six simple, easy-to-find ingredients- all affordable, and readily available at your local supermarket. We’re combining soy sauce, chili garlic sauce (similar to sambal chili paste), sugar, sesame oil, vinegar, and a pinch of sesame seeds. Mix it together, and you're done.

Honestly, this recipe couldn’t be simpler. Read on for a recipe overview, an ingredient checklist, suggested uses, and a printable recipe card.

Now, without further delay, let’s mix some sauce.

What to Expect – Recipe Overview

Taste and Texture

This sauce features a delightful combination of spicy, savory umami, and just a hint of sweetness. The sauce’s umami base comes courtesy of the soy sauce, while the chili garlic sauce provides both a touch of heat and a bit of background chili flavor. Meanwhile, the sesame oil brings a nutty richness that binds the sauce together. Sesame seeds provide a bit of texture and garnish. The vinegar brings acidity that helps to balance the flavors, aided by the sugar, which also brings some balancing sweetness to the sauce. That said, this sauce is ‘not’ particularly spicy. If you’re looking for a spicier version of this sauce, see my Chili Crisp Sauce.

Difficulty Level

Couldn’t be simpler. This sauce is perfect for novice cooks looking for easy recipes, as well as experienced chefs looking to save time. Using only six ingredients, with no cooking required, this recipe can – literally – be prepared in just a few minutes. Gather the ingredients, measure them out into a bowl, and whisk. It’s that simple.

Pairings

Any of a variety of dishes that you might want to add a combination of umami sweet and spicy flavors to, such as:

• Dumplings and Rolls: This sauce pairs especially well with things like kimbap, dumplings, spring rolls, or egg rolls.
• Marinade: Great for marinating chicken, beef, pork, or tofu before grilling or baking. I personally used the sauce to marinade salmon prior to slow baking.
• Stir-Fry: Add to stir-fried vegetables, noodles, or rice for a burst of flavor.
• Salad Dressing: Mix with additional oil and vinegar to create a spicy salad dressing. Dark leafy greens are what pairs best such as spinach or romaine.
• Topping: Drizzle over rice bowls, bibimbap, salads, roasted vegetables, or grilled meats for an extra layer of taste.

Sesame Chili Sauce – Ingredient List

• 3 tablespoons Soy Sauce
  • Notes: Soy sauce forms the base of this recipe, imparting it with a savory umami flavor.
  • Tip: Yes, low-sodium soy sauce can be used.
  • Substitutions: Tamari is my preferred soy sauce substitute or teriyaki can be used if you're out of soy sauce. But bear in mind that there really isn’t a good to soy sauce, as it’s one of those ‘foundational ingredients.’ And to reiterate, it’s very much the base of this particular recipe.
• 2 tablespoons Chili Garlic Sauce or Chili Paste
  • Notes: Adjust the amount based on your preferred spice level.
  • Tip: I’m using a basic, store-bought chili garlic sauce. There really is no advantage to making your own or using a fancier, pricier variation.
  • Substitutions: Sambal would be my go-to replacement. You might also consider sriracha, chili crisp, or really any other chili paste or sauce.
• 2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
  • Notes: I’m using toasted sesame oil.
  • Tip: You use slightly more or less depending on your preference. As always, taste as you go. However, do be aware that the nutty sesame flavor is key here.
• 1 teaspoon Vinegar
  • Notes: I actually used apple cider vinegar because that’s what I had on hand, but I’ll say that rice wine vinegar is probably ideal for this recipe.
  • Substitutions: Almost any white vinegar will work, such as white wine vinegar. Again, I used apple cider vinegar, but I actually recommend using rice wine vinegar.
• 1 teaspoon Sesame Seeds
  • Tip: No need to toast the sesame seeds, just drop them in as is.
  • Substitutions: You can actually leave the sesame seeds out if you prefer or if they aren’t available.
• 1 teaspoon Sugar
  • Notes: Works to bind and balance the flavors of the sauce, while toning down the heat from the chili paste.
  • Substitutions: A teaspoon of honey would work just fine, preferably raw honey.

Potential Uses for Sesame Chili Sauce

1. Stir-Fry
   • As mentioned above, this sauce absolutely loves stir-fried food. Just drizzle it over vegetable, chicken, or beef stir-fries for an added kick of flavor.
2. Noodles and Rice
   • Once again, just toss with noodles or rice dishes for a quick and delicious seasoning.
3. Dipping Sauce
   • Pairs especially well with sliced veggies, dumplings, spring rolls, or potstickers.
4. Marinade
   • Use as a quick marinade for chicken, beef, pork, or tofu before grilling or baking. You’ll want to marinade for a minimum of three hours to allow the sesame oil to properly seep into the meat.
5. Glaze
   • Brush onto grilled meats or vegetables as a glaze during the last few minutes of cooking.
6. Tacos and Wraps
   • Drizzle over Asian-inspired tacos or wraps for extra flavor.
7. Rice Bowls
   • Add to your favorite rice bowl bibimbap, Buddha bowls, or grain bowls for added flavor.
8. Seafood
   • Works especially well with fattier, hardier fish such as salmon or shark.
9. Roasted Vegetables
   • Toss with roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or sweet potatoes for a delicious finish.

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And that’s our Sesame Chili Sauce. If you enjoyed today’s recipe or have any questions or suggestions, be sure to let us know in the comments below. We always love hearing from you!