Red Pepper Sweet Chilli Sauce

A simple red pepper sweet chilli sauce that has so many uses including a topping for veggie burgers, a drizzle for salad wraps and a marinade for tofu. Sweet, smoky and delicious! It's fat-free, very low in sodium and a good source of Vitamin A & C. Only 44 calories per tablespoon.

HOMEMADE CHILLI SAUCE

Do you ever make your own sauce? 

Too often we reach for the ready made versions in the supermarket, but it's actually easy to make sauce at home and you can tweak the flavour to suit yourself. 

My latest batch is a red pepper sweet chilli sauce. 

I've made a sweet chilli sauce before, but this time I decided to add red pepper for a fuller flavour and a pinch of paprika for a smoky edge.

BLEND IT

I usually chop my ingredients finely when I make sauce as I quite like some texture, but this time I decided my power blender would do all the work as I was going for a smoother sauce. 

It was wonderful. I just threw everything in and hit the button. Smooth sauce, ready to be heated and to thickened n in a pot before being jarred.

HOW TO STERILISE JAM JARS

The modern method

It's always best to sterilize jars before adding a freshly made sauce, chutney or jam. 

I sterilize my jam jars and lids in the dishwasher just before I'm about to use them and only take them out when I'm ready to pour, being careful not to touch the inside of the jar or lid. 

The jars should still be hot when you jar your sauce.

The traditional method

You can also sterilize them the traditional way by washing the jars and lids in hot soapy water then placing them on a baking sheet and popping them in a hot oven until they are completely dry. 

Once again carefully use the jars while still hot.

5 Uses for Red Pepper Sweet Chilli Sauce

1. Marinate pressed tofu in the sauce, grill it, then drizzle with more sauce.
2. Pour sauce over a veggie burger.
3. Use sauce as a dip with crunchy vegetables, nachos and breadsticks.
4. Fill a pitta with lots of salad and falafel and drizzle over some sauce.
5. Mix sauce through stir-fried vegetables and noodles.

MORE SAUCES TO TRY

1. Roast Vegetable Sauce - Tinned Tomatoes
2. Whizz Bang Pizza Sauce - Tinned Tomatoes
3. Beetroot and Chilli Ketchup - The Veg Space
4. Quick and Healthier Tartare Sauce - Fuss Free Flavours
5. Kebab Shop Chilli Sauce - Fuss Free Flavours
6. Fat-Free Onion Ranch Dressing - Fat Free Vegan
7. Wild Plum Sauce - Fat Free Vegan

Yield: 454g (1 lb) jam jar of sauceAuthor: Jacqueline Meldrum

Red Pepper Sweet Chilli Sauce

A simple red pepper sweet chilli sauce that has so many uses including a topping for veggie burgers, a tasty dip, a drizzle for salad wraps and a marinade for tofu. Sweet, smoky and delicious! It's fat-free, very low in sodium and a good source of Vitamin A & C. Only 28 calories per tablespoon.

prep time: 10 MINScook time: 30 MINStotal time: 40 mins

ingredients

• 1 red bell pepper
• 3-4 tsp chilli flakes
• 3 cloves garlic
• a chunk of fresh ginger (about 3 cm)
• 400g tin chopped tomatoes
• 200g caster sugar
• 50ml apple cider vinegar
• a generous pinch smoked paprika

instructions

1. Chop and remove the seeds from the pepper. 
2. Peel the garlic and ginger.
3. Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender and whizz until smooth. 
4. Pour into a pot, bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer and cook for 30-40 minutes until thickened. 
5. Pour into sterilized jars. 
6. Enjoy!

notes

Nutrition advice is per tablespoon

calories
44

fat (grams)
0.1

sat. fat (grams)
0

carbs (grams)
10.7

protein (grams)
0.3

sugar (grams)
9.8

Created using The Recipes Generator