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Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe Easy Homemade Chinese Essential

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This easy homemade sweet and sour sauce is a classic Chinese essential, made with simple pantry ingredients for a zesty, tangy, and perfectly balanced flavor. It’s quick to prepare and perfect for dipping, drizzling, or stirring into your favorite dishes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/3 cup pineapple juice (unsweetened, canned or fresh)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar as substitute)
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce (use tamari or coconut aminos for gluten-free)
  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or fresh minced garlic)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder (or fresh grated ginger)
  • Pinch red chili flakes (optional, for heat)

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup water and 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch until completely smooth. Set aside.
  2. In a small saucepan off the heat, combine ketchup, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar.
  3. Whisk in garlic powder, ginger powder, and red chili flakes if using. Mix well until combined.
  4. Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring frequently for about 2-3 minutes.
  5. Once small bubbles appear, reduce heat to low.
  6. Stir the cornstarch slurry again and slowly pour it into the simmering sauce, whisking constantly.
  7. Continue to cook, stirring, for 2-4 minutes until the sauce thickens and turns glossy.
  8. Remove from heat and taste. Adjust with more vinegar or sugar if desired. If too thick, whisk in a tablespoon of water at a time.
  9. Let the sauce cool for a few minutes before pouring into a jar or serving bowl. The sauce will thicken more as it cools.
  10. Store cooled sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.

Notes

For a gluten-free version, use tamari or coconut aminos and check your ketchup. Adjust sweetness or tanginess to taste. For a thicker sauce, add more cornstarch; for a thinner sauce, add water. Sauce can be blended for extra smoothness or strained if lumpy. Store in the fridge for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: sweet and sour sauce, homemade Chinese sauce, dipping sauce, easy sweet and sour, vegan sauce, gluten-free option, stir fry sauce, takeout sauce, pineapple sauce, Asian sauce

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