Schezwan Sauce / Szechuan Sauce

Ingredients:

30 kashmiri dried red chillies

20 big garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 inch ginger, finely chopped

2 tsp vinegar

1/4 cup oil

6 tbsp tomato sauce / ketchup

1/4 tsp pepper powder

salt to taste

1/4 tsp sugar

Preparation:

1. Slit the red chillies lengthwise and remove the seeds. Then soak them in hot water for 30 minutes.
2. Add the chillies in a blender and grind to a fine paste adding little water.
3. Heat oil in a pan and add chopped garlic and ginger and cook at low flame for about a minute till the raw smell leaves.
4. Add 2 tbsp chopped celery to this and cook for 1-2 minutes. ( optional - add only if you get celery )..
5. Then add the red chilli paste, vinegar and 1/4 cup of water and cook for 2 minutes till the raw chilli flavour leaves.
6. Now add the tomato sauce, pepper powder, salt and sugar and mix well.
7. Remove from the flame and allow to cool to room temperature.
8. Transfer into an air tight bottle and refrigerate....

• Instead of soaking dried red chillies, you can also boil the chillies for 5-7 minutes.

Recipe Source: lincyscookart.com