Description
This homemade Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce is a vibrant, tangy, and sweet condiment perfect for enhancing chicken, pork, or vegetable dishes. Made with simple pantry ingredients like rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice, this sauce balances sweet and tangy flavors with a glossy, thick texture. Quick and easy to prepare on the stovetop, it’s ideal as a dipping sauce or a flavorful glaze for your favorite stir-fries.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Base
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice
Thickener
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a small saucepan, whisk together the rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and pineapple juice until fully blended.
- Simmer Sauce: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Prepare Slurry: In a small separate bowl, mix the cornstarch and water to form a smooth slurry without any lumps.
- Thicken Sauce: Slowly pour the cornstarch slurry into the simmering sauce while whisking continuously to ensure even thickening and prevent clumps.
- Cook Until Glossy: Continue cooking and stirring the sauce for 2 to 3 minutes, until it thickens and achieves a glossy appearance.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool slightly before using. Serve immediately as a dipping sauce or pour over chicken, pork, or vegetables for extra flavor.
Notes
- Adjust sweetness by adding more or less brown sugar according to your taste preference.
- For a spicy kick, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a teaspoon of chili paste into the sauce while simmering.
- This sauce can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving to restore its smooth texture.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce, Condiment
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
