Name: Authentic Szechuan Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: ½ cup
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: ½ -1 teaspoon Szechuan Peppercorns (or sub black peppercorns); 1/4 cup soy sauce ( of Gluten-Free Liquid Aminos) see notes.; 3 tablespoons honey (or sub maple syrup, coconut sugar, brown sugar or sugar alternative); 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar (or black vinegar); 1 tablespoon Chinese cooking wine (shaoxing) or mirin (both optional); 3 garlic cloves, finely minced (use a garlic press); 2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely minced ( or use ginger paste); 1 tablespoon garlic chili paste (or sambal oelek) more for more spicy or sub 1 teaspoon chili flakes; ½ teaspoon Chinese Five Spice; optional- 2-3 teaspoons corn starch, to thicken

This Szechuan Sauce recipe is punchy, flavorful, and authentic. It’s the perfect combination of spicy, savory and subtly sweet with lots of umami depth and flavor! Use it in stir-fry recipes, as a flavorful marinade, or as a delicious dipping sauce – it’s easy to make at home in just five minutes. Watch the video!

Amazing and Authentic Szechuan Sauce! Use as a flavorful stir-fry sauce for veggies or noodles, or use it as a marinade for tofu, chicken, shrimp or beef! Healthier than store-bought versions with no preservatives or msg, It is gluten-free adaptable and vegan! Can be made in 5 minutes flat and keeps for 10 days in the fridge!

Here’s an amazingly delicious, authentic recipe for Szechuan Sauce (or Sichuan sauce) that we learned how to make in Shanghai. After taking a few cooking classes there, I’ve become a little obsessed with Szechuan recipes. This Szechuan Chicken is one of my favorites! Turns out, homemade schezwan is easy to make at home, from scratch without all the preservatives!

But first, what is Szechuan Sauce?

Szechuan Sauce (or Sichuan sauce) is a bold and flavorful sauce originating from the Sichuan province of China. It is known for its spicy and complex flavors: spicy elements from red chili peppers, savory notes from garlic and ginger, a touch of sweetness, and the distinct numbing sensation from Szechuan peppercorns. A beautiful balance of flavors perfect for stir-fry recipes, as a marinade for meat or tofu, or as a dipping sauce.

Our version of Szechuan Sauce is FULL of flavor and can be made spicy or mild. It has a multitude of uses!

Szechuan Sauce Ingredients

Szechuan Peppercorns: These peppercorns are a key ingredient in Szechuan sauce, known for their zingy and numbing effect on the tongue. If unavailable, substitute black peppercorns.
Chinese Five Spice: Chinese five spice blend aromatic spices like star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It adds depth and complexity to the Szechuan sauce, elevating its flavor profile. Buy it or make your own Chinese Five Spice.
Soy Sauce (or Gluten-Free Liquid Aminos): Soy sauce adds a savory and umami flavor to the Szechuan sauce. You can use regular soy sauce or opt for a gluten-free version like liquid aminos.
Honey (or Maple Syrup, Coconut Sugar, Brown Sugar, or other sweetener): The sweetness of honey balances the spiciness and tanginess of the sauce. You can choose your preferred sweetener to add a touch of sweetness.
Sesame Oil: Sesame oil imparts a toasty, nutty and aromatic flavor to the Szechuan sauce, enhancing its overall taste profile.
Rice Vinegar (or Black Vinegar): Rice vinegar gives a tangy and slightly acidic taste, adding a refreshing element to the sauce. If you prefer a deeper flavor, you can substitute it with black vinegar.
Chinese Cooking Wine (Shaoxing) or Mirin (Optional): Chinese cooking wine or mirin can be added to the sauce for an extra layer of complexity and depth. This is optional but can enhance the overall flavor.
Garlic Cloves: Minced garlic brings a pungent and aromatic element to the sauce. You can use fresh garlic cloves or substitute with garlic powder or granulated garlic if needed.
Fresh Ginger: Finely minced ginger adds a hint of warmth and brightness to the Szechuan sauce, complementing the other flavors. Alternatively, you can use ginger paste as a substitute.
Chili Garlic Sauce (or Sambal Oelek, Sriracha): Chili garlic sauce provides the signature spiciness to the Szechuan sauce. You can use chili garlic sauce directly or opt for substitutes like cayenne, red pepper flakes, or dried red pepper. Sambal oelek or sriracha also work.

Note: Cornstarch can also be optionally added to thicken the sauce, depending on your desired consistency.

How to make Szechuan Sauce

Toast szechuan peppercorns in a hot dry skillet over medium heat, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Crush.
Place all ingredients in a medium bowl or small jar and whisk until well combined. It is ready to use as a stir-fry sauce or marinade.
If using this as dipping sauce, place it in a small pot over medium-low heat and simmer for just a few minutes. Feel free to add cornstarch to thicken.

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The Szechuan peppercorns give the sauce a really authentic “zingy-ness” that is hard to replicate, but it also tastes just fine without!

TIP: Always remember to go lightly at first with Szechuan peppercorns they are definitely an acquired taste, perfumy and complex, while having an unusual numbing effect on the tongue.

Some people looooooove this. Some do not. The best thing to do is just try one! We all taste things differently!

Spicy Szechuan Sauce -an easy delicious stir-fry sauce and flavorful marinade, infused with the flavors of China! #stirfrysauce #szechuan #sauce #stirfry #chinese #recipe #marinade #szechuansauce

How to use Szechuan Sauce

Wonderful for meal prep, you can use this scratch-made sauce in this flavorful stir-fry as well!

Use as a spicy stir-fry sauce: whisk in 2 teaspoons of cornstarch to thicken it. try adding a few dry Chinese or Arbol chilies (5-10) to the stir-fry, right before adding the Szechuan Sauce. Do not eat the chilis. 😉
Use as a marinade; forgo the cornstarch and make sure to season what you are marinating (chicken, tofu, beef) with salt. The marinade alone will probably not be salty enough.
Use as a dipping sauce. Simmer it on the stovetop and whisk a little cornstarch to thicken it. My husband loves this with breaded chicken or shrimp.

Authentic Szechuan Sauce! Use as easy delicious stir-fry sauce or flavorful marinade - preservative-free, msg free, gluten-free adaptable, vegan and full of amazing flavor! Can be made in 5 minutes! #stirfrysauce #szechuan #sauce #stirfry #chinese #recipe #marinade #szechuansauce #szechuanrecipe

Storage

Szechuan Sauce will keep up to 7 days in the fridge or can be frozen.

Ways to use Szechuan Sauce

Use szechuan sauce as a flavorful marinade for sheet pan dinners, or as a flavorful stir fry sauce!

Sylvia