Description
This Restaurant Style Sweet and Sour Sauce is a vibrant and tangy condiment perfect for elevating your fried chicken, pork, tofu, or stir-fried vegetables. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it mimics the classic Chinese-American takeout sauce with a balance of sweetness, tartness, and a glossy finish. Quick to prepare and naturally vegan, this sauce is a delicious homemade alternative to store-bought versions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/2 cup pineapple juice (from canned pineapple or bottled)
Thickening Agent
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch mixed with 3 tablespoons water (slurry)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium saucepan set over medium heat, whisk together rice vinegar, granulated sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, garlic powder, ground ginger, and pineapple juice to form the base of the sauce.
- Simmer Mixture: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer while stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar and blend flavors evenly.
- Add Cornstarch Slurry: Once the sauce begins to bubble gently, slowly stir in the cornstarch slurry to thicken the sauce.
- Thicken Sauce: Continue stirring for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and develops a shiny, glossy texture.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the saucepan from heat and allow the sauce to cool slightly before serving or storing.
Notes
- This sweet and sour sauce is excellent served alongside fried chicken, pork, tofu, or stir-fried vegetables.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Reheat gently on the stove or microwave before serving to restore the sauce’s smooth texture.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free soy sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Chinese-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
