Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

Discover the perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavors with the Best Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe. This versatile sauce is a staple in many Asian-inspired dishes, adding a burst of flavor to stir-fries, chicken, pork, and more.

Why Make This Recipe

Making your own sweet and sour sauce at home allows you to control the quality of ingredients and customize the flavor to suit your preferences. This recipe is quick, easy, and requires basic pantry staples, offering a fresher and more delicious alternative to store-bought options.

How to Make Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Directions:

1. Combine Base Ingredients: In a saucepan over medium heat, mix together the sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce.
2. Prepare Cornstarch Mixture: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth.
3. Thicken the Sauce: Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the saucepan, stirring continuously.
4. Cook and Stir: Continue to cook and stir until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
5. Cool and Store: Allow the sauce to cool before transferring it to a container. Refrigerate for up to a week.

How to Serve Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

Serve this delicious sauce drizzled over your favorite stir-fry, as a dipping sauce for appetizers, or as a glaze for meats such as chicken or pork. It adds a delightful zing to any dish!

How to Store Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

Store the sweet and sour sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. Make sure it is completely cooled before refrigerating to maintain freshness and flavor.

Tips to Make Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

• Customize Sweetness and Tanginess: Adjust the sugar and vinegar ratio to customize the sauce’s sweetness and tanginess to your liking.
• Thicker Sauce: For a thicker sauce, increase the amount of cornstarch slightly.
• Add Extra Flavor: Experiment with adding additional seasonings like ginger or red pepper flakes for extra flavor dimensions.

Variation

For a spicy kick, add a dash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the sauce. This will elevate the heat level and add depth to the sweet and sour flavor profile.

Best Sweet and Sour Sauce

Author: Maria Courses: Dinner, Lunch

Difficulty: Beginner Prep Time

Servings: 8 Calories: 100

Best Season: All year

Description

Create your own flavorful and versatile sweet and sour sauce at home with this easy recipe. Perfect for enhancing Asian-inspired dishes or as a dipping sauce for appetizers.

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

• ¹⁄₂ cup white sugar
• ¹⁄₃ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¹⁄₄ cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• ¹⁄₄ cup water

Instructions

How to Make Sweet and Sour Sauce

1. Step 1

   Mix sugar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a saucepan over medium heat.
   Mark as complete

2. Step 2

   Whisk cornstarch and water in a separate bowl until smooth.
   Mark as complete

3. Step 3

   Slowly add the cornstarch mixture to the base ingredients, stirring continuously.
   Mark as complete

4. Step 4

   Cook and stir until the sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
   Mark as complete

5. Step 5

   Allow the sauce to cool before transferring to a container. Refrigerate for up to a week.
   Mark as complete

Nutrition Facts

Servings 8

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Amount Per Serving

Calories 60kcal

% Daily Value *

Sodium 200mg9%

Total Carbohydrate 15g5%

Sugars 15g

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Vitamin A 2 IU

Calcium 1 mg

Iron 1 mg

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Keywords: Sweet and sour sauce, homemade sauce, Asian-inspired, dipping sauce, condiment