Quick and Easy Mango Chili Sauce (6 ingredients)

Why this Asian mango sauce is a winner

Mangoes are always loved in my home, whether unripe, partially ripe or well ripened and sweet. Unripe or partially ripened ones taste great in Indian recipes like green mango chutney and sprouted mung bean salad. I use ripe ones in recipes like mango pomegranate salad and this spicy mango sauce recipe.

It is one of my favorites because

• It’s made with fresh mangoes and simple pantry ingredients — nothing artificial, nothing fussy.
• It is sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy, adding instant flavor to almost anything
• Comes together quickly and can be customized to your taste preference
• Versatile Asian mango sauce for dipping, drizzling, or glazing

Here’s how you make this easy sauce:

Ingredients and substitutions

(You can find the exact measurements and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this page. Here are step-by-step instructions with pictures to help you easily understand the recipe.)

• Mangoes: I’ve used Thai mangoes here. Any variety of mangoes can be used, so long as they are fresh, ripe and sweet.
• Fresh chilies: in my opinion, serrano chiles give the right amount of spice. You can remove the seeds and veins if you don’t want too much heat in your sauce. You can also use milder chilies, if you prefer. I wouldn’t recommend red pepper flakes for this sauce recipe.
• Palm sugar gives a unique texture and flavor to the sauce. The closest substitute would be brown sugar.
• Other flavor makers: grated ginger, lime juice, coriander leaves and pink salt (or regular salt).

How to make sweet chili mango sauce

Peel and chop the mangoes. Grate the ginger and chop the chilies and coriander leaves.

Place them in a food processor with the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth.

You’ll be left with a silky sauce with tiny specks of red chilies and herbs.

Transfer it to a saucepan. Cover and cook on low flame for 10 to 12 minutes until the sauce thickens to your satisfaction.

Serve as a dipping sauce with protein of your choice, or swirled into bowls and salads.

Creative ways to use mango chili dipping sauce

Use it as a dipping sauce for appetizers:

1. Quick and easy chickpea patties
2. Baked beetroot cutlets
3. Fluffy quinoa patties
4. Easy shrimp fritters
5. Golden fried prawns
6. Fish cakes without potato

Drizzle this sweet and spicy mango sauce on salads and roasted vegetables:

1. Quinoa edamame salad
2. Asian carrot cucumber salad
3. Chicken tikka salad
4. Chickpea salad
5. Honey roasted sweet potatoes and carrots
6. Balsamic roasted brussels sprouts with carrots

Swirl it into soups:

1. Pumpkin carrot ginger soup
2. Spicy cauliflower soup
3. Creamy almond broccoli soup