Foodaciously

Asian Chilli Jam

Sweet & Spicy Chilli Garlic Jam

Allergen and Diet Summary

Vegan
Gluten-Free
Nuts-Free
Soy-Free

Recipe Categories

Prepared with peppers, hot chillies, rice vinegar, and garlic, this sweet and spicy Asian chilli jam is a must try. It’s not only perfect to add to stir-fries and to marinate chicken but also to use a salad dressing or as a spread on cheese. We have used maple and starch to thicken the sauce into a jam and to reduce the overall sugar content too.

Nutrients

NutrientGramsRDA
Carbs11.3g3.8%
of which Sugars8g8.8%
Fats1.5g2.3%
of which Saturates0.2g0.9%
Proteins0.9g1.9%
Fibers0.7g2.8%
* All data is per serving
Asian Chilli Jam Recipe

Info

Cost

Health

Time 40m

Table of Contents

Introduction

This Asian chilli jam is a delicious sweet and spicy sauce recipe prepared with tomatoes, garlic, ginger, hot chillies, and rice vinegar. We took inspiration from various Asian-style chilli sauces and jams. We combined them into something unique, easy to make and healthy.

We took some elements from the Thai chilli paste "Nam Prik Pao" and Thai sweet chilli sauce, from the sweet and sour Chinese sauce, and the Sriracha sauce.  

The result is a simple jam that effectively balances sweetness sourness and spiciness with the freshness of ginger and the fragrance of fresh garlic. 

To make this recipe healthy and low in calories, we have worked hard to reduce the amount of sugar required to get the right sweetness and thickness.

  • First, we have replaced white sugars with organic maple syrup. Not only maple syrup has a lower glycemic index and more vitamins and minerals than white sugar, but it helps give the perfect thickness and gloss to the jelly.

  • Second, we have used potato starch as an additional thickener, further reducing the need for white sugars and the number of calories. 

You may be wondering what to eat with Asian chilli jam. This recipe is perfect for stir-fries, to glaze pork, and as a tasty marinade for chicken. It's also great as a salad dressing mixed with vinegar and crunchy cashews, or as a spread on toasted bread. Finally, this spicy garlic jam works miracles on cheese: an excellent chutney for your cheeseboard!

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Ingredients

Allergens are marked in bold

  • Red Peppers
    300 g
  • Fresh Red Chillies
    10 g
  • Fresh Ginger Root
    5 g
  • Garlic Clove
    2
  • Maple Syrup
    50 g
  • Rice Vinegar
    50 mL
  • Canned Chopped Tomatoes
    100 g
  • Sesame Oil
    2 tsp
  • Salt
    to taste
  • Black Pepper
    to taste
  • Potato Starch
    8 g
  • Cold Water
    2 tbsp

Instructions

step 1

Let's start by blitzing the red peppers, red chillies, fresh ginger root, and garlic in a food processor.

For an extra spicy kick, try ghost chillies, they're one of the hottest chillies on earth! Careful though, they are devilishly hot and must be use in moderation.

You can use a garlic crusher to mash the garlic so you won't find nasty bits in your mixture.

Keep pulsing the ingredients in the processor until you get a creamy mix.

step 2

Next, transfer the blended ingredients into a medium pan and add maple syrup, rice vinegar, canned chopped tomatoes, and sesame oil.

Then season with salt and black pepper according to taste.

Bring the mixture to the boil and the then simmer at low heat for the 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

step 3

When the sauce has reduced, add the potato starch dissolved in cold water and stir until you have a jelly-like consistency.

Transfer the chilli jam into sterilised jars and store for one month. Once opened, consume within one week.

Use this delicious Asian sweet and spicy chilli jam on stir-fries, to glaze meat, or as a spread.

Tips

  • Instead of maple, you can use honey or agave nectar to prepare this garlic chilli jam.

  • If you don't have sesame oil, you can use other vegetable oils like sunflower or rapeseed oil.

  • You can sterilise the jam jar by dipping it in boiling water for at least 15 minutes, then allow to drain upside down on a towel and dry it in the oven.

FAQ

How long does this chilli jam last once opened?

If you seal the jam properly, using either the water-bath or the flip method, then the jam can keep quite well for months when stored in a cool and dry place.

But once you break the seal, or if you don't want to bother canning it, then you should put in the fridge and consume within a week.

If you are interested, check out the FAQ of our sugar-free plum jam recipe where we talk about how to seal and preserve homemade jam.

Are all Asian sweet and chilli sauces gluten-free?

Our Asian Chilli Jam is 100% gluten-free. Moreover, it's vegan (therefore dairy-free and egg-free), soy-free and nut-free.

You are right to ask yourself this question. Many Asian-styled sweet chilli sauces and jams use soy sauce as an ingredient. Although soy is itself gluten-free, traditional soy sauce is not, as it contains wheat.

There are gluten-free soy-sauces made without wheat, but you have to make sure you are buying or getting one of those. So if you are in a restaurant and your order includes sauces or jams, make sure to ask if the dish is gluten-free first, but also if it contains soy sauce. If it does and the staff cannot confirm whether the soy sauce is itself gluten-free, then it's probably wise to order something else!

What type of chillies can I use to make sweet chilli jam?

You could use so many different chillies to make this spicy jam. The possibilities are endless! The first thing you have to consider is how much hotness you can tolerate (we are talking about chillies here 😉).

If you are into super ultra hot food, then we suggest you try the hottest chillies in the world: the Ghost Chillies. For something just a bit milder, but still very spicy, you could give habaneros a try.

Otherwise, feel free to use whatever you fancy. For example, using jalapeños could add a bit of Mexican flavour to this jam, which works out great!