Lauren Hayes 5h ago

laurensflavorlab #sauces

Chinese chili sauce, or 辣椒醬 (là jiāo jiàng), is a cooked chili condiment made with fresh peppers, garlic, oil, vinegar, sugar, salt, and fermented ground bean sauce. This homemade Chinese chili sauce combines Fresno peppers with Chao Tian Jiao peppers to create a balance of fruity red pepper flavor and sharper heat. Gently frying the garlic and peppers in oil develops aroma, while ground bean sauce adds fermented soybean flavor and savory umami depth. Unlike simple chili-garlic sauces, this version has a chunky texture and richer savory profile that works as both a cooking ingredient and table condiment. The recipe takes about 12 minutes, including 5 minutes of preparation and 7 minutes of cooking. One batch produces approximately 1 cup (240 ml) of Chinese chili sauce. Serve it with fried rice, noodles, dumplings, egg rolls, congee, mapo tofu, steamed fish, tofu, stir-fries, and other savory dishes.