Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (2024)

Sweet and Sour Sauce is a perfect blend of yin yang flavors! It is great to use on various dishes, as it balances the tanginess of the fruit juice and the sweetness of sugar!

If you are craving some other Chinese flavors, go ahead and make some of our favorite dishes like the Hunan beef, Szechuan chicken, and Moo Goo Gai Pan along with this dip.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (1)

Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and Sour Sauce is a versatile dip reminiscent of Chinese takeout! It has a fruity acidic base that is in perfect harmony with sugar. It is so versatile that you can use it in a wide array of dishes, such as chicken, pork, shrimp, or fish. You name it!

Learn how you can make this right in your kitchen for a healthier homemade version of those that are commercially available. Also, it will be much cheaper and healthier than the store-bought version.

Did you know that it only takes about 5 minutes to make this? You only need a few ingredients and then utilize this dish in a ton of other recipes. This is how efficient this recipe is!

What is sweet and sour sauce?

This is an Asian inspired dish, that is commonly used in many Asian dishes. It is made with pineapple and orange juice sweetened with sugar, with tanginess enhanced by adding in vinegar. The soy sauce adds depth to it, while the ketchup adds that hint of Western flavor.

You can also add some spices to this recipe to make it more savory.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (3)

How to make the sweet and sour sauce?

This easy recipe requires a few simple steps described below. Also, feel free to watch the short video tutorial attached.

  1. Combine the following in a saucepan: pineapple juice, orange juice, soy sauce, light brown sugar, white sugar, rice vinegar, apple cider vinegar, ketchup, and garlic powder.
  2. Then, let the mixture of ingredients simmer over medium heat.
  3. To thicken, add a slurry by combining water and cornstarch into the mixture. Stir well.
  4. Next, let the mixture lightly boil. Have a taste and check if anything needs adjusting according to your liking.
  5. Once the desired consistency and taste have been achieved, let it cool and then, serve.

How to make the sweet and sour sauce for chicken?

Just use the same recipe, and incorporate the chicken with it. It tastes exactly the same!

Also, to make it for egg rolls, follow the same steps. It is a very versatile dip and can be used just about anything fried. Egg rolls go really well with this sauce.

How to make McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce?

To make a homemade version for this, use apricot and peach preserves in place of the pineapple and orange juices.Instead of sugar, use light corn syrup. And, instead of ketchup, use yellow mustard.

Basically, follow the same procedure but with these slight changes. The expected mixture will be a bit stiff and blending might help.

How to make it without cornstarch?

Simply boil it for a longer period of time, without the cover. Simply let it thicken as the sugar caramelizes.

Or, use flour! It can have the same thickening effect as cornstarch.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (4)

How many calories are in it?

A cup contains up to 230 calories.

How to make a healthier sweet and sour sauce?

Just by making it at home and not relying on the store-bought version makes this healthier already. It has no preservatives and you know what goes into your dip, not some chemical compound you cannot even pronounce.

But for this recipe, you can substitute fresh garlic instead of powder. Also, if you choose to put in the red food coloring, choose the all-natural kind – the one made from beets.

How to store it?

Once it has completely cooled, you can transfer this to an airtight container and refrigerate it. Use this up within two to three weeks.

Can you freeze it?

Yes! It freezes well and can stay good for up to 3 months. When you reheat it, it might need some adjusting with the vinegar and sugar so taste it first and see what needs to be added.

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (5)

Recipe Tips

  • When using the cornstarch slurry, be sure to use the pineapple juice in the can. Freshly squeezed pineapple juice has components that may degrade the cornstarch.
  • Also, you can add some chili peppers for a spicier kick.
  • When freezing, it is best to keep it in smaller portions so that when you reheat, you will only thaw the ones you need and not the entire batch.
  • Also, you can make it red in color. The addition of ketchup turns it red, but if desired, add in a few drops of red food coloring. In addition, for a spicier kick, add some sriracha or tabasco, it will be red but spicy!

Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce

  • Prep Time5 MIN
  • Cook Time10 MIN
  • Servings 8 servings of about 1/4 cup

Ingredients

  • 2/3 cup pineapple juice
  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup white sugar
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/3 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1-2 drops red gel food coloring optional

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Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients, except food coloring to a medium saucepan and whisk to combine until the cornstarch is dissolved.

  • Place it on the stove over medium heat.

  • Stir or whisk well until it comes to a light boil.

  • Keep stirring constantly until the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust for sugar and tanginess. For a more pronounced red color, add a few drops of red gel food coloring.

  • Remove the sauce from heat when it thickened and it coats the back of a spoon.

  • Let the sauce cool before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (6)
Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe [video] (2024)

FAQs

What is traditional sweet and sour sauce made of? ›

While sweet and sour can be found in diverse forms in China, the American version builds upon the simple mixture of sugar, vinegar, and spices with the addition of fruit juice—most commonly pineapple—and ketchup, giving the sauce both its red hue and uniquely Western flavor.

Why won t my sweet and sour sauce thicken? ›

If the sauce isn't thick enough, you can add one more tablespoon of cornstarch and whisk it in. But remember, the sauce will thicken even more as it cools down. So only add more cornstarch if the sauce is way too thin. Store in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.

Do Chinese restaurants make their own sweet and sour sauce? ›

I'm sure they mix a sweet sauce with soy and vinegar. You could easily look this up on line- how to make your own sweet & sour. The Chinese do not buy it. They know how to make it.

Is sweet and sour sauce full of sugar? ›

There are 13.4 grams of carbs in a 2-tablespoon serving of sweet and sour sauce, 7 grams of those carbs come from sugar. The carbohydrates found in sweet and sour sauce are simple carbs, and it has a glycemic index of 70. The carbs are likely coming from ingredients including tomato sauce, ketchup, and added sugar.

What is the actual Flavour of sweet and sour sauce? ›

Sweet and sour sauce tastes just like it sounds. A little bit sweet and a little bit sour at the same time. You will also have notes from whatever you flavour it with. The sweet and sour tastes can be made with a simple sugar and vinegar mix.

Is there red 40 in sweet and sour sauce? ›

Ingredients: Water, high fructose corn syrup, distilled white vinegar, sugar, tomato paste, modified corn starch, pineapple juice concentrate, salt, FD&C Yellow 5, FD&C Red 40, citric acid, FD&C Yellow 6, xanthan gum, natural flavor, sodium benzoate added as a preservative.

What if I put too much vinegar in my sweet and sour sauce? ›

If you have added too much vinegar to a recipe, you can try adding a bit of sugar or honey to help balance the acidity. You could also try diluting the vinegar by adding more of the other ingredients in the recipe.

How can I thicken sweet and sour sauce without cornstarch? ›

All-purpose flour: You can thicken sauces with all-purpose wheat flour. For every tablespoon of cornstarch, use three tablespoons of flour. Combine raw flour with cold water in a small bowl to form a paste, then add it into the sauce as it's simmering.

How do you thicken sweet and sour without cornstarch? ›

Combine 2 tablespoons flour with every 1/4 cup cold water and whisk until smooth. Add the mixture to your sauce over medium heat, and continue to stir and cook until you've reached your desired consistency. Test with a spoon.

Can I use flour instead of cornstarch in sweet and sour sauce? ›

Could I use flour instead of cornstarch? Yes, but you may need more flour than what the recipe calls for in cornstarch. The cornstarch is just used to thicken the sauce; flour will also thicken the sauce, just not as well.

What is another name for sweet and sour sauce? ›

Agrodolce (Italian: [ˌaɡroˈdoltʃe]) is a traditional sweet and sour sauce in Italian cuisine. Its name comes from agro ( lit. 'sour') and dolce ( lit. 'sweet').

Do people in China eat sweet and sour chicken? ›

Sweet and sour is particularly popular in westernised Cantonese cuisine and may be found all over the world commonly with pork or chicken. Several provinces in China produce various dishes that claim to be the ancestor including a traditional Jiangsu dish called “pork in a sugar and vinegar sauce”.

Which sauce has the most sugar? ›

Ketchup. Ketchup is one of the most popular condiments worldwide, but — like BBQ sauce — it's often loaded with sugar. Try to be mindful of your portion size when using ketchup, and remember that a single tablespoon of ketchup contains nearly 1 teaspoon of sugar ( 12 ).

Which Chinese sauce has no sugar? ›

Wok of Life sauces are gourmet Asian sauces that deliver flavor without sugar and processed carbs. Sweetened with Blossom, a proprietary natural monk fruit extract and erythritol sweetener and Allulose, all Wok of Life sauces are vegan, sugar free and have fewer calories and sodium than other grocery brands.

What are the ingredients in Uncle Ben's sweet and sour sauce? ›

Water, Tomatoes, Sugar, Onion (9.9%), Carrot, Vinegar, Pineapple (3.5%), Green Pepper (3.3%), Modified Maize Starch, Red Pepper (1.9%), Bamboo Shoots, Salt, Colour (Paprika Extract), Spices.

What is the main ingredient in McDonald's sweet and sour sauce? ›

Ingredients: High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Apricot Puree Concentrate And/or Peach Puree Concentrate, Distilled Vinegar, Contains 2% Or Less: Soy Sauce (water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Salt, Modified Food Starch, Sherry Wine Powder, Dextrose, Soybean Oil, Xanthan Gum, Spices, Sodium Benzoate (preservative), Natural ...

Why is Chinese sweet and sour sauce so red? ›

At its core, a base sweet and sour sauce is made with a balance of sugar and vinegar, and to get the bright red color, most restaurants will use red food coloring.

What is sweet and sour chicken made of Chinese food? ›

Sweet and sour chicken, one of the most popular Chinese takeout dishes, is made of puffy, golden brown pieces of fried chicken nuggets with pineapple chunks, onion, bell pepper, carrot, and a side of iconic red, sweet and sour sauce.

What is a sweet and sour sauce? ›

Sweet and Sour Sauce is a sauce made by combining a sweet component and a sour component with cornstarch as the thickening agent. Some of the common sweet components are brown sugar, granulated white sugar, and honey.

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