With the arrival of autumn, Ukrainian housewives traditionally turn to winter preserving, and one of the most in-demand dishes this season is the homemade sweet-and-sour "sweet chili" sauce. According to data published by the lifestyle project Styler (RBC-Ukraine), citing a video from the @ukrainska__hospodynia Instagram page, this versatile sauce made from bell and hot peppers with garlic is easy to prepare at home and stores well in sterilized jars. The finished product is bright, sweet-and-sour, and simultaneously spicy thanks to the red pepper with seeds, making it an ideal complement to meat dishes, potatoes, and a variety of appetizers.
Ingredients and Preparing the Base
Making the sauce requires a fairly sizable set of ingredients, yet the process itself is quite simple and does not demand any special culinary skills. The recipe is based on bell and hot peppers, garlic, sugar, salt, apple cider vinegar, cornstarch, and cold water. The first step is to grind the bell and hot peppers together with the garlic through a meat grinder. The resulting vegetable mass should be transferred to a pot, sugar and salt added, mixed thoroughly, and placed over medium heat. After boiling, the mixture is cooked for about 10 minutes, which allows the aromas of the peppers and garlic to develop and achieves the desired consistency.
Thickening and the Final Stage
The key point of the recipe is the correct introduction of the thickener. The cornstarch is separately diluted in 200 ml of cold water until a smooth, lump-free consistency is achieved. Into the boiling vegetable mass, the apple cider vinegar is first poured in, and then the diluted starch is gradually added while stirring constantly, so that the sauce does not curdle and acquires a smooth texture. It is at this stage that the characteristic thickness of "sweet chili" and the balance of flavors are formed: the sweetness of the sugar, the tang of the vinegar, and the heat of the pepper with seeds.
Jarring and the Volume of the Finished Product
The finished hot sauce is immediately poured into sterilized jars and sealed tightly. From the quantity of ingredients specified in the recipe, approximately 2.2 liters of sauce are obtained, which allows it to be prepared in sufficient volume for the entire winter period. The jars are best stored in a cool, dark place — in a cellar or pantry. Thanks to the combination of sugar, vinegar, and heat treatment, the sauce retains its flavor qualities and bright color for many months.
Versatility of Use
Homemade "sweet chili" is, in essence, a universal dressing that replaces store-bought Asian sauces. It pairs well with fried and stewed meat, French fries or baked potatoes, rolls, shrimp, as well as various appetizers and snacks. The sweet-and-sour profile with a note of heat makes it suitable both for everyday dishes and for a festive table. As the authors of the recipe note, in winter such a sauce becomes an indispensable addition that transforms a simple dish into a richer and more aromatic one in just seconds.
Context and Origin of the Recipe
The recipe was popularized by the Ukrainian food blog "Ukrainska Hospodynia" (@ukrainska__hospodynia), which regularly publishes videos with step-by-step instructions for winter preserving. The material was adapted and published by Styler — an entertainment project of RBC-Ukraine specializing in lifestyle content: trends, recipes, and home tips. Similar recipes for sweet-and-sour chili sauce from peppers for winter are also published on other culinary platforms, which confirms the audience's steady interest in homemade alternatives to store-bought sauces.
