From the Sichuan Province of China, Szechuan sauce is a sweet and spicy combination of soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic, and spiciness!
Gather This
You may already have most of these szechuan sauce ingredients in your pantry, which means you can easily whip this sauce up whenever you want! A full list of ingredients with measurements for this recipe is available in the printable recipe card below.
- Low-Sodium Soy Sauce – Using a low-sodium sauce lets you better control the saltiness of the Szechuan sauce. If you prefer for it to be more salty, you can add more salt after combining the ingredients. Be sure to check the label if you’re trying to make your sauce gluten-free.
- Black Vinegar or Rice Vinegar – Either of these types of vinegar will balance the sauce with its acidity. Black vinegar adds another layer of umami flavor, but since it can be challenging to find sometimes, you can substitute rice vinegar instead.
- Brown sugar
- Fresh garlic
- Crushed red pepper flakes
- Sichuan peppercorns
- Cornstarch
- Water
What To Serve Szechuan Sauce With
While it is often used as a spicy stir-fry sauce, this Szechuan sauce can add a pop of flavor to tons of dishes. Use it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, crab rangoons, Chinese dumplings, and even chicken nuggets. Or, spoon it over steamed veggies, shrimp, beef, chicken, or pork.
You can also stir it into rice bowls, use it to jazz up cauliflower rice, or take sandwiches or pizza to the next level with it. And, don’t sleep on using it as a tasty marinade for proteins.
- Salt – I like to use low sodium soy sauce to control the salt content. If you feel it needs more, try adding fine sea salt.
- Seasonings – Increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes to taste or add additional hot sauce for extra heat. You can also add fresh ginger for a little heat, too. Infuse the sauce with fresh cilantro, green onions, or Thai basil for a herbal touch.
- Sauces – Stir in sesame oil, peanut butter, or sesame paste for a nutty richness. Add a splash of fresh lime or orange juice for a citrusy undertone.
- Swaps – Substitute the soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for a soy-free version. Experiment with different types of vinegar, such as balsamic or apple cider vinegar, for a unique twist.
- Senses – Fiery and bold, Szechuan sauce tingles with spicy heat, bursts with garlicky depth, and leaves a lingering balance of sweet, savory, and numbing flavors on the tongue.
Common Questions About Szechuan Sauce
Szechuan sauce has ingredients that add layers of flavor from acidic vinegar and sweet brown sugar to spicy pepper and umami-laden soy sauce. Sichuan peppercorns are used to add heat to an authentic Szechuan sauce, but red pepper flakes can be used too.
Szechuan sauce is both sweet and spicy, making it a great sauce for adding tons of flavor to vegetables, proteins, and starches.
Sichuan peppers are typically very spicy but the spiciness of the sauce can be adjusted by using more or fewer peppercorns in the sauce.
Other Savory Sauces
A simple sauce is a great way to elevate any meal. Here are a few of our favorites that you will love too.
Homemade Szechuan Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons black vinegar or rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 clove garlic , minced or grated
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sichuan peppercorns , optional and ground
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, whisk together the 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons black vinegar or rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, minced or grated 1 clove garlic and 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes. Heat over low heat until small bubbles form. If using 1 teaspoon sichuan peppercorns, add them now.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the 1 tablespoon cornstarch and 1/4 cup water. Whisk into the hot sauce until fully combined and no lumps remain (except for the pepper flakes).
- Continue to heat for another 2-3 minutes or until the sauce starts to thicken and becomes glossy.
- Remove from the heat until ready to use or pulse in a blender to make smooth.
- If you've tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or star ratings.
Notes
Nutrition
This Szechuan sauce is versatile and easy to make. I really like that you gave us some variation suggestions. I can’t wait to use this fabulous sauce.
I love making sauces like this at home, rather than buying store-bought ones that have heaven-knows-what in them! The variations are an added bonus – thanks for another great recipe!
I absolutely love szechuan sauce, and yours really hit the mark. I took a little trip down McDonald’s memory lane and made this to go with some frozen chicken nuggets. YUM!
I love being able to make this flavorful Szechuan sauce fresh whenever we want to make our favorite Szechuan Beef. Love your recipes!
We loved the big bold flavors in this sauce!
Awesome sichuan sauce. Now I can stop buying those expensive jar sauces and make this sauce ahead of time for a quick after work meal. And it tastes authentic, like when we lived in China