My girls are obsessed with strawberries at the moment so I decided to grab some freshly picked strawberries from my friend’s family-owned strawberry farm. I picked up several kilos of them, giving a few kilos to my parents and in-laws and, for me to go on a bit of a cooking adventure.
When you think of sweet chilli sauce, strawberries aren’t the first ingredient that comes to mind. But, why not?! Traditional sweet chilli sauce relies on sugar for sweetness, but using fresh, juicy strawberries instead takes it to a whole new level. Not only does it add a natural fruity depth of flavour, but it also creates a beautifully smooth, glossy sauce with just the right balance of sweetness and heat.
Being able to control the amount of heat you put into it, it’s perfect for dipping, drizzling, or glazing. Whether you’re pairing it with crispy wedges and sour cream, brushing it over grilled chicken or adding a touch of spice to a cheese board, this strawberry-infused twist will have you rethinking everything you know about sweet chilli sauce. And the best part? You also know exactly what’s going into it, with no additives or preservatives – just real, fresh ingredients.
Key Ingredients & Their Benefits
Every ingredient in this sauce plays a crucial role in creating the perfect balance of sweetness, tang and heat. Here’s why they are so special;
Strawberries – The Natural Sweetener
This recipe uses fresh strawberries for their natural sweetness and flavour. Strawberries also bring a beautiful depth and colour to the sauce, while adding a dose of vitamin C and antioxidants. You can leave the leaves on as these will cook down and be blitzed at the end providing even more nutrients and minimising waste. You still need quite a bit of sugar to bring out the strawberry sweetness, here are some alternatives if you want to cut on the refined sugar content;
- Coconut sugar (1:1 replacement); please note as a result, the sauce will be darker in colour and will lose that rich beautiful red tone.
- Honey or maple syrup (1.5 cups rather than 2 cups); there may be a slightly thinner consistency, so you may need to increase the cornflour slurry to compensate.
- Apple or orange juice (1 cups rather juice + 1 cup sugar); a great way to add natural sweetness while keeping some of the bulk of sugar.
Red chillies – Control the Heat
You have control on how “chilli” you want to make this sauce, you can pack an intense punch or keep things mild and approachable. We love chilli in our household, but I like to add a milder chilli for gentle warmth that enhances the other flavours without overpowering them. For a milder chilli flavour, use the red mild cayenne pepper chillies, if you wanted to add a bit more spice, in addition to the cayenne pepper, add some red birdseye.
Garlic & Ginger – Bold & Aromatic
These two ingredients are the backbone of many great sauces. Garlic adds a savoury depth, while ginger brings a slight zing and freshness that rounds out the sweetness of the strawberries.
Bonus – both have natural antibacterial properties and can aid digestion. This dynamic duo brings another layer of flavour to the sauce.
Rice Vinegar – The Essential Tang
Rice vinegar gives this sauce its signature tang, helping to balance the sweetness of the strawberries. It’s milder than white vinegar, making it perfect for achieving smooth, well-rounded flavour. Did you know rice vinegar has several health benefits; supports digestion, helps regulate blood sugar, contains antioxidants, can support heart health and enhances nutrient absorption!
You can substitute with white vinegar if you don’t have or can’t source rice vinegar.
Fish Sauce – The Umami Kick
A small amount of fish sauce enhances the overall depth of flavour, adding a subtle umami richness. I love when ingredients surprise you with health benefits. Did you know, being high in natural umami (glutamates) fish sauce will enhance flavour without the need for excessive salt, helping you cut down on sodium in other areas of your diet. If you prefer a vegetarian option, you can substitute it with soy sauce.
Together, these ingredients create a perfectly balanced, homemade sweet chilli sauce that’s free from artificial additives and bursting with fresh flavour.
Ready to shake up your condiment game? Let’s dive into this simple yet impressive recipe! You’ll find the conventional and Thermomix methods below.
Strawberry Sweet Chilli Sauce
Ingredients
Strawberry Sweet Chilli Sauce
- 2 Red long red chillies mild cayenne pepper
- 2 Red birdseye chillies reduce to 1 for mild or omit for extra mild
- 8 garlic cloves
- 1 tbsp ginger paste
- 500 g fresh strawberries you can leave the leaves on
- 250 g filtered water
- 250 g rice wine vinegar can substitute with white vinegar
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 2 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp corn flour
- 2 tbsp fish sauce
- 2 tbsp lime juice
Instructions
Conventional Method
- Finely chop the chillies, garlic and strawberries.
- In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine chillies, garlic, ginger, strawberries, sugar, water, vinegar, paprika and salt.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly and the strawberries break down.Note: If you prefer a completely smooth sauce, blend with an immersion blender at this stage.
- Add the cornflour slurry, mix in well and simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes until thickened.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the fish sauce and lime juice.
- Pour into sterilised jars/bottles while hot and let cool to room temperature before sealing.
Thermomix Method
- Place chillies, garlic, ginger and strawberries into bowl. Chop 5 sec / speed 6. Scrape down bowl.
- Add sugar, water, vinegar, paprika and salt to bowl. Cook 25 min / 100C / speed 2. Take MC off and place simmering basket on top of lid.
- Mix cornflour with cold water to make a slurry and add to the bowl. Cook for a further 5 min / 100C / speed 2.
- Optional: blend 20 sec / speed 8 for a smoother texture.
- Add fish sauce and lime juice. Mix 10 sec / speed 3.
- Pour into sterilised jars/bottles while hot and let cool to room temperature before sealing.
Notes
- Can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 weeks in sterilised air tight jar.
- Can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months in a freezer-safe container.
- Can have 6+ months shelf life is you do canning process (in boiling water bath for 10 minutes).
- If you’d like a quick easy import to Cookidoo, you can find this recipe on Thermomix Recipe Community here.
I’d love to hear what you think if you give this Strawberry Sweet Chilli Sauce a try! Leave a comment below or tag me @_thefoodiemama when you share your creation on socials!