Sweet and Sour Sauce
on Feb 07, 2024, Updated Mar 12, 2024
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Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce is better than anything you’ll be able to get at the store! Using a handful of easy-to-find ingredients, you can whip up this perfectly tangy and delightful sauce in just a few minutes.
A classic element of getting takeout is having some sweet and sour sauce on the side! This recipe is just as delicious as what you’ll find at your favorite take-out restaurant and can be made right at home in no time. You’ll only need a few ingredients, most of which you probably have on hand, and a few minutes to cook your sauce on the stove.
The unmistakable taste of sweet and sour sauce compliments a wide variety of dishes and sides! I can’t eat spring rolls without sweet and sour sauce, and this one is hands down my favorite. The bright and fresh flavor of this homemade sweet and sour sauce can’t be beat.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Is extremely easy to mix together in only 10 minutes if you are in a pinch!
- Has the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors that give you the signature taste.
- Is cheaper to make than buying it from the store and has a more fresh flavor!
- Can be used as a dip or glaze for any type of meat, vegetable, appetizer or on top of this delicious egg roll in a bowl.
Recipe Ingredients
- Pineapple Juice—Acts as the base of your sauce and adds a zesty element to the sauce.
- Rice Vinegar—The key ingredient to getting a sharp, sour flavor.
- Honey— Will bring sweetness to your sauce. You can also use brown sugar.
- Ketchup—Adds a nice tang to the sauce and gives it a rich red color.
- Soy Sauce—The salty and umami flavor of soy sauce will balance the tangy and sweet flavors in the sauce.
- Cornstarch—When mixed with water, this will help the sauce thicken a little bit.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce
Step #1. Measure and gather ingredients for sweet and sour sauce.
Step #2. Combine the pineapple juice, rice vinegar, honey, ketchup, and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Set aside.
Step #3. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan.
Step #4. Heat the mixture until the sauce has thickened. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
Sweet and sour sauce originated in China and started out as a mixture of only rice vinegar and sugar. The sweet component of sugar and the sour component of vinegar is where the sauce got its name. It was used exactly how it is today; as a condiment for fish, meat, and vegetables. This sauce has since evolved and additional ingredients have been included to make the flavor more complex and delightful.
The purpose of the cornstarch in sweet and sour sauce is to help it thicken up a little bit. The consistency should be on the thicker side, but still easy to pour. We like to cook our sauce until it coats the back of a metal spoon. If you want your sauce even thicker, you can add a little more of the cornstarch mixed with water at a time until it is your desired consistency. It is important to note that the longer the sauce cooks on the stove, the more liquid will evaporate making it naturally thicker.
There are many different ways to use sweet and sour sauce. You can serve it as a dip for appetizers such as wontons, egg rolls, or dumplings. This sauce also works great as a glaze for any vegetables or cooked meat like chicken, pork, fish, and shrimp. I love to flavor my egg roll in a bowl with this sauce. Lastly, you can use this sauce as a marinade before cooking your meat to allow the flavors to soak in. There is not one right way to use sweet and sour sauce, so try it out however you’d like!
Expert Tips
- Canned pineapple juice can be found on the juice aisle of your grocery store, not on the canned fruit aisle.
- You can add extra spice to your sauce by adding a pinch of sriracha sauce or red pepper flakes.
- Be sure to stir the sauce frequently on the stove to prevent it from burning or sticking to the pan.
- You can adjust the taste as needed. If you want the sauce more sour, add more vinegar and if you want it more sweet, add extra honey.
What can I eat sweet and sour sauce with?
There are many different ways to use sweet and sour sauce. You can serve it as a dip for appetizers such as wontons, egg rolls, or dumplings. This sauce also works great as a glaze for any vegetables or cooked meat like chicken, pork, fish, and shrimp. I love to flavor my egg roll in a bowl with this sauce. Lastly, you can use this sauce as a marinade before cooking your meat to allow the flavors to soak in. There is not one right way to use sweet and sour sauce, so try it out however you’d like!
How to Store Sweet and Sour Sauce
One of the best parts of sweet and sour sauce is that you can make it ahead of time, or keep it in the fridge for later use! Store the sauce in an airtight container or jar for up to 4 days. Remember that the sauce will thicken slightly as it cools, but you can heat it up again and stir it to make it easy to use. Once you are ready to serve this sweet and sour sauce, simply reheat it in the microwave for 20-30 seconds and you’re good to go!
More Condiment and Sauce Recipes
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Soups, Stews, & Chowders
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Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- ⅓ cup rice vinegar
- ⅓ cup honey
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Combine the pineapple juice, rice vinegar, honey, ketchup, and soy sauce in a small saucepan. Set aside.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and 3 tablespoons of cold water to create a slurry.
- Add the cornstarch slurry to the saucepan and heat the mixture over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- This makes about 1 cup of sauce.
- This sauce is great poured over chicken stir fry or served with appetizers like wontons and egg rolls.
- Canned pineapple juice can be found on the juice aisle of your grocery store, not on the canned fruit aisle.
- You can make this sauce and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days before using it. It is important to note that the sauce will continue to thicken slightly as it cools.
- You can add some extra spice to your sauce by adding a pinch of sriracha sauce or red pallet flakes.
- Reheat your sauce in the microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Okay, I am REALLY intrigued by this! I love sweet and sour sauce, and really had a discussion with someone about how every one we’ve tried has tasted different, but they’ve all been good in their own way – so making my own sounds like an interesting challenge, and I truly wonder how this one will taste! I am a huuuuuuge sauce lover, but sweet and sour is definitely up there with one of the best sauces out there in my books 😋🙌