Thai Dipping Sauce for Chicken and Grilled Meat
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This Thai dipping sauce for chicken recipe is easy to make and boasts a perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors. It’s a homemade Asian condiment that pairs wonderfully with Thai chicken satay and all types of grilled meats, as well as your favorite appetizers. It’s the most versatile dip ever!
This chicken sauce was created to complement my recipe for Thai honey chicken. Another very popular dip sauce that pairs well with chicken is Thai sweet chili sauce. These are the best dipping sauces for chicken wings, air fryer chicken nuggets, and Thai fried chicken!
Thai dipping sauce for chicken
This easy Thai chicken dipping sauce recipe is perfect for making at home and pairing with your favorite chicken dishes. It’s sweet, spicy, and tangy all at once, and truly exceptionally delicious!
I’m absolutely not a fan of store-bought sauces, as they often tend to be overly sweet and unhealthy. Homemade dipping sauces are healthier, free of preservatives, and low in sugar. That’s one of the reasons why this Thai sauce for chicken is perfect for making at home.
You’ll love that it can be paired with just about anything, making it extremely versatile. Pair it with noodles, fried chicken drumsticks, and even grilled pork. It’s ready in less than 10 minutes, which means less time cooking and more time enjoying.
Once you try this homemade dipping sauce for chicken, you’ll never want store-bought again. It’s fresher, healthier, and you can easily adjust the spiciness to your liking.
The sauce is a bit sticky, making it perfect with skewers or to add just the right amount of heat to grilled meats. It’s even delicious with fresh vegetables, fresh spring rolls, or just plain steamed jasmine rice! It’s tasty with just about everything, promise!
Ingredients
Ingredients can be sourced at Asian grocery stores and Asian markets.
The exact measurements are in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Tamarind paste – Tamarind paste is a key ingredient of this chicken sauce recipe, essential for its sour, slightly sweet flavor.
- Palm sugar – Palm sugar is a popular sweetener of Thai cuisine that adds a rich, caramel-like sweetness. It’s a healthier alternative to white sugar and brown sugar.
- Fish sauce – Fish sauce is a savory, umami-rich sauce that’s a staple in Southeast Asian cooking.
- Thai chili flakes – Add red pepper flakes to taste for a spicy chicken dipping sauce.
- Culantro – Culantro, different from cilantro, is often referred to as “Mexican coriander”.
- Water – Binds the ingredients into one flavorful sauce.
How to make chicken dipping sauce
Step 1: Warm tamarind paste, palm sugar, fish sauce, and water in a sauce pan over medium heat.
Step 2: As the sugar dissolves, the ingredients transform into a thickened sauce. This is your cue to add the chili flakes, giving the sauce a good stir to spread that spicy kick.
Step 3: Remove your Thai chicken dipping sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Before you’re ready to serve, sprinkle over strips of freshly chopped culantro. Enjoy!
Kitchenware
- Measuring spoons and cups
- Small saucepan, wok, or large non-stick skillet
- Spoon or spatula for stirring
Thai sauce for chicken serving suggestions
Transfer the chicken dip to a sauce cup or dipping bowl. Add a sprinkle of chopped culantro leaves. Pair it with your favorite fast food or one of my many chicken dishes like kai tod or hat yai fried chicken. As mentioned earlier, you can also pair it with other proteins, like Thai shrimp rolls, Thai ribs, and tod mun pla.
How to store
Store any leftover spicy dipping sauce for chicken in the refrigerator. Pour it into an airtight container or a mason jar with a tight lid to keep it fresh. It’ll stay fresh for up to a week or two.
If the sauce has thickened, just reheat it gently on the stovetop over low heat.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make this recipe in advance?
Yes, you can make this sauce ahead of time and store it in your fridge in an airtight container. When you’re ready to serve, simply reheat it on the stovetop over low heat.
Can I make this into a vegetarian dipping sauce?
Yes, you can substitute the fish sauce with soy sauce or a vegetarian fish sauce alternative.
Is this dipping sauce spicy?
Yes, but you can alter the spiciness of the spicy chicken sauce by adjusting the amount of chili flakes in this recipe.
Authentic Thai dipping sauce recipes
- Authentic Thai peanut sauce recipe
- Thai green chili sauce
- Thai hot sauce recipe (homemade sriracha sauce)
- Tamarind sauce
- Nam jim jaew
- Take a look at my complete collection of Thai sauces.
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Thai Dipping Sauce For Chicken and Grilled Meat
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup tamarind paste
- 1/3 cup palm sugar
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1/2 cup water
- 0.5 tablespoon chili flakes
- 2 culantro leaves finely chopped
Instructions
- Warm tamarind paste, palm sugar, fish sauce, and water in a sauce pan over medium heat.1/3 cup tamarind paste, 1/3 cup palm sugar, 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 1/2 cup water
- As the sugar dissolves, the ingredients transform into a thickened sauce. This is your cue to add the chili flakes, giving the sauce a good stir to spread that spicy kick.0.5 tablespoon chili flakes
- Remove your Thai chicken dipping sauce from the heat and let it cool to room temperature. Before you’re ready to serve, sprinkle over strips of freshly chopped culantro. Enjoy!2 culantro leaves
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
- Adjust the spiciness by adding more or less Thai chili flakes.
