Sweet and Sour Sauce
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Sweet and Sour Sauce. Just 6 common ingredients are required to make this easy tangy sauce with just the right balance of sweet fruity flavour.
It suddenly occurred to me last week, as I was preparing a Chinese take-out inspired meal, that in almost 20 years, I had never posted this simple recipe.
I'm not sure why that is. Perhaps I thought it was too common a recipe, that everyone had their own favourite version of in their recipe repertoire.
On that evening a friend joined us for dinner. We served Sweet and Sour Chicken Balls and Shrimp, along with one if our favourite noodle recipes.
Upon dipping his shrimp into the sauce, he immediately asked "What's different about this sauce? It's really good!"
I replied that it's a pretty standard recipe and probably one he'd made before himself. He had indeed made a very similar sauce before using most of the ingredients in this sauce.
A couple of questions later and we honed in on the answer. Pineapple juice.
The base of Sweet and Sour Sauce.
Many people start almost the exact same sauce with a simple water base. I remember years ago when I first started cooking I did exactly the same.
I don't recall where but at some point along the way, I saw a quick and easy chicken and vegetable stir fry recipe made by an Asian chef on TV. He said it was essential to start the sauce with pineapple juice for a little fruity background flavour.
He was not wrong, and I've been making it that way ever since.
So, I thought I'd share this simple recipe today, as a reminder to myself that even little things can make big improvements to a recipe. It's something I'll keep in mind going forward.
Who knows what else I've been holding out on without intending to! 😉
Want more Chinese Take-Out inspired recipes?
Ypu're sure to find many favourites in this fantastic collection of Chinese Take-Out Recipes at Home! I'll bet you'll be ordering less delivery from now on!
BONUS INFO! MY TOP TEN Asian Cooking Ingredients to keep on hand.
These recipes also make use of some basic Asian cooking ingredients that I always keep in the fridge or cupboard. My TOP TEN Asian cooking ingredients that I always try to have on hand are:
- Hoisin sauce
- Fish sauce
- Toasted sesame oil
- Ginger root. ( I keep mine in the freezer and then easily grate it frozen)
- Rice wine vinegar.
- Five Spice powder.
- Low sodium soy sauce (recommended for all my recipes that call for it)
- Oyster Sauce
- Sesame seeds
- Crushed chili paste ( sambal oelek or similar)
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Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweet and Sour Sauce. Just 6 common ingredients are required to make this easy tangy sauce with just the right balance of sweet fruity flavour.
Ingredients
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- ⅔ cup ketchup
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup rice vinegar (see notes)
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup water
- 3 slightly round tablespoon corn starch
Instructions
- In a small saucepan, bring the pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar rice vinegar and soy sauce to a gentle boil for just a few minutes.
- Dissolve the corn starch in the water to create a slurry.
- Slowly add the slurry to the boiling sauce, a little at a time, whisking constantly.
- Remove from heat and use as desired.
- This recipe can easily be halved if you need less sauce, or can keep in the fridge for about 2 weeks.
- Additions may include, sesame oil, ginger, sautéed garlic, or chilli flakes, to create your own unique version.
Notes
Re; Rice vinegar in this recipe. White wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar will also work well if you don't have rice vinegar on hand.
Also, it should be noted that I like a particularly zingy sweet and sour sauce. If you like less of that tangy flavour, then the amount of vinegar is easily adjustable to your taste.
If you are concerned that it may be too tart the first time you make it, just use half the amount of vinegar, and judge if you want to to use more or even less next time.
Practically any amount, even a few tablespoons will work. It's all a matter of personal preference. Have it the way you like it!
Nutrition Information
Yield
9Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 291Total Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 0gSodium 551mgCarbohydrates 69gFiber 1gSugar 28gProtein 1g
The nutritional information provided is automatically calculated by third party software and is meant as a guideline only. Exact accuracy is not guaranteed. For recipes where all ingredients may not be used entirely, such as those with coatings on meats, or with sauces or dressings for example, calorie & nutritional values per serving will likely be somewhat lower than indicated.
