Why do people love Thai sweet chilli sauce so much?
There are many different types of Thai chili sauce, but one type that is particularly popular is the sweet chili sauce. The sauce, commonly known as Nam Jim Kai in Thailand, is a sweet and spicy thick condiment that is often used as a dip or dressing on many dishes, including deep fries, stir-fries, marinades, and starters. It is probably the most loved dipping sauce in Thailand with its spicy, sweet and just irresistible taste. Any meal can be enhanced with this unique condiment.
What's so special about Sweet chili sauce?
There are many reasons why people, not only Thais but around the world, love Thai sweet chilli sauce. It is a delicious and refreshing sauce that goes great with rice, noodles, burgers and even tacos.
This sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy and has an exotic flavor using red chillies and garlic. The sauce is incredibly versatile, as it can be used on its own or as an ingredient to add to your cooking. It is a great way to add some kick to your food without overpowering it. It is called Nam Jim Kai in Thailand which literally translated as ‘a dip sauce for chicken’ because it is usually served with grilled or deep-fried chicken.
But the sauce’s medium spicy and sweetness also make it a perfect partner for so many different dishes, from stir-fries, marinades to salad dressing. However, the most popular dishes are fried and grilled foods such as chicken wings, roasted pork, deep fried or fresh spring rolls, and deep-fried meatballs or crispy pork wontons.
Use as a dip.It goes perfectly with any grilled or deep fried foods such as Chicken Satay, Thai Shrimp Cakes, Spring Rolls, fried chicken or even nachos. Or you can pair it with fresh vegetables like cucumber, celery, or carrots.
Add Thai flavors to your chicken wings by glazing them with the sauce. See how to make easy Sweet Chili Chicken Wings here.
Spread on burger patty to add some tanginess to the burger. See how to create a juicy Panang Burger with sweet chili sauce here.
Use as a marinade for meat like salmon filet to make it taste extra good. Get some ideas on how to cook Thai Sweet Chilli Salmon at home.
Pour over cooked vegetables for the last couple of minutes when stir-frying to add extra spicy flavor.
Add lemon juice to the sauce with olive oil, rice vinegar, and a few basil leaves for a refreshing dip or Summer Salad Dressing.
Spread the sauce on sandwiches or hashbrowns, its tangy and sweet tastes add great flavor to cheese, ham, or chicken.
Add sweet chili sauce with chopped garlic and corianders, tamarind juice, fish sauce or salt, coconut sugar and water. Mix well and bring to a boil. Deep fry the fish until crispy and top it with this extra sweet chili sauce.
What is sweet chilli sauce made of?
The sweet chilli sace can be prepared using a number of different ingredients, but the basic recipe remains the same.
It is commonly made with red chili peppers (traditionally, spur chilies or Prik Chee Fa are used), vinegar, garlic, sugar and tapioca starch (to make the sauce thicker).
Is sweet chili sauce as spicy as sriracha?
Thai sweet chili sauce is quite mild and sweeter than spicy, it is kid-friendly!
Thai sweet chili sauce is different from Sriracha sauce in terms of ingredients and flavors. Thai sweet chili sauce is made by using red chili flakes and primarily has a sweet taste with sour and spicy notes. While Sriracha is a spicy, bright red chili sauce made with peppers, vinegar, garlic, and a few other ingredients. Generally, Sriracha sauce has a spicier and sourer taste, with a thicker and creamier texture than sweet chilli sauce.
The sauces have different flavor profiles, so they shouldn't be used interchangeably in recipes.
Is Thai sweet chili sauce healthy?
Sweet chilli sauce contains a range of health-activating ingredients that are easily detectable by regular consumption. Red chilies are rich in antioxidants, have an excellent metabolic activity, and are high in nutritional value. Some benefits of consuming it in moderate amounts are that it may help reduce pain and inflammation, improve blood circulation, regulate blood pressure, and burn calories.
However, whilst it offers some health benefits, keep in mind that the sweet chili sauce may still contain high volumes of sugar and have a high calory count.
It is a delicious and refreshing sauce that goes great with rice, noodles, burgers and even tacos. This sauce is the perfect balance of sweet, sour, and spicy and has an exotic flavor using red chillies and garlic.
When your brain detects the burning sensations of capsaicin, it triggers a defensive response– you may start to sweat, your eyes may water, and your skin may flush in an effort to cool down! Your brain also releases the wonderful chemicals called endorphins which the body's natural painkillers.
It actually triggers the body into thinking it's in danger, and releases endorphins as a way to fight the 'threat' that is spice. Yep, that's the hormone that promotes feelings of relaxation and pleasure, which is why some people love chilli so much!
Endorphins are the body's natural pain reliever and dopamine produces a sense of reward and pleasure. This is why some people describe eating hot sauce as a “rush” and people who are sensitive to rewards (the rush) keep coming back for more.
As its name implies, sweet chilli sauce is packed with sugar – around two teaspoons per tablespoon of sauce. Make your own by blending together a deseeded red chilli, two chopped red peppers, 1cm fresh grated ginger, four dates (stones removed), the juice of one lime and a generous pinch of black pepper.
It's sweet and tangy. And it's a little bit spicy—just a touch on the back of your tongue. That said, there aren't many rules when it comes to sweet red chili sauce—it's a mix of chili peppers, vinegar, sugar, and garlic, but that doesn't mean a brand can't put their own stamp on it.
As our body responds to the burn of capsaicin, it releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This surge of dopamine contributes to the pleasurable sensations we experience while eating spicy food, further cementing our craving for that unique heat.
Eating chili peppers offers many health benefits, including improving your heart health, metabolism, and immune system. They also add spiciness, warmth, color, and flavor to your food. Experiment with different types of chilis to find the ones you enjoy eating and cooking with.
Eating too spicy food causes stomach pain When eating too spicy will make the stomach affected. The signs of the disease are easily recognized such as: Vomiting, heartburn, stomach burning or may cause gastroesophageal reflux. In addition, the stronger the spicy level, the more severe the stomach and duodenal ulcer.
The spicy taste has been related to multiple personality traits, and to psychological states, including sensation seeking; risk taking; and sensitivity to reward, aggression, and anger, and could thus produce relevant consequential behaviors.
Capsaicin tastes hot because it activates certain biological pathways in mammals – the same pathways activated by hot temperatures. The pain produced by spicy food can provoke the body to release endorphins and dopamine. This release can prompt a sense of relief or even a degree of euphoria.
Whether sweet or hot, peppers have high amounts of vitamin C and other antioxidants that stave off oxidative stress in the body and help to prevent and manage chronic disease. You can use sweet and hot peppers in a variety of savory and spicy dishes to add color and heat.
What makes Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos taste so good? The secret's out: Soy sauce is what makes these Doritos great. Yep, these Doritos list soy sauce in the ingredients label, and once you know that's what you're tasting, you won't be able to think of anything else.
Love Spicy Food? In response, the body releases endorphins, which are pleasure causing hormones, this is the body's way of trying to eliminate the “threat” it feels when you eat spicy food.
In response, our brains release pleasure-hormone called endorphins. This, paradoxically, makes spicy food taste good to us. The “sweet” part of “sweet and spicy” comes in here. Sugary foods help tame the heat of spicy foods, and also further encourage the release of endorphins.
Introduction: My name is Chrissy Homenick, I am a tender, funny, determined, tender, glorious, fancy, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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