Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe

This glossy Sweet And Sour Sauce is a takeaway staple as well as being incredibly fast! Boiling the vinegar and sugar creates a perfect tangy syrup, which along with the ketchup and soy sauce adds a vibrant red glaze to this sauce that is so essential for dipping spring rolls or nuggets.

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Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe Ingredients

• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2/3 cup water
• 1/3 cup white vinegar (distilled)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp ketchup (for color and flavor)

How To Make Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe

1. Combine it all: In a medium saucepan, combine the white sugar, water, white vinegar, soy sauce, cornstarch, and ketchup. Use a whisk to stir everything together while the pan is still cold to dissolve the cornstarch completely. No lumps allowed!
2. Heat things up: Place the saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly as the mixture warms up. It will look cloudy and thin at first—this is normal!
3. Let it thicken: As soon as it comes to a boil, it will start to clarify and thicken rapidly. Keep stirring for another 1-2 minutes while it bubbles gently. The cornstarch will activate, turning the sauce into a thick, glossy, translucent glaze.
4. Cool it down: Remove the pan from the heat. The sauce will continue to thicken significantly as it cools down. Give it a final stir.
5. Use or store: Serve warm immediately for dipping or coating. If storing, let it cool completely before pouring into a jar or airtight container.

Recipe Tips!

• Cold Whisk: Always mix the cornstarch with the cold liquids before turning on the heat. If you add cornstarch to hot liquid, it will clump instantly and you’ll never get them out!
• Color Pop: If you want that neon-red takeout look, add one drop of red food coloring. The ketchup adds a natural reddish-brown hue, but the food coloring gives it that nostalgic glow.
• Pineapple Twist: For a fruiter version (like for Sweet and Sour Pork), swap half the water for pineapple juice from a can! It adds a lovely tropical acidity.
• Soy Sauce Balance: Use regular or low-sodium soy sauce. Dark soy sauce will make the color too murky and the flavor too salty.

What To Serve With Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe?

This Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe is the universal dipper! It is absolutely mandatory alongside crispy Egg Rolls or Crab Rangoons for a dim sum feast. It transforms simple Chicken Nuggets or fried shrimp into a “fancy” meal! For a classic dinner, toss it with stir-fried pork, peppers, and pineapple chunks served over white rice for homemade Sweet and Sour Pork.

How To Store Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe

• Refrigerate: Pour the cooled sauce into a glass jar or plastic container. It keeps perfectly in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
• Reheat: The sauce will turn into a jelly in the fridge. Microwave it for 30 seconds or warm it in a pan with a tiny splash of water to bring it back to a pourable consistency.
• Freeze: Freezing is not recommended as cornstarch-thickened sauces can break and become watery when thawed. Since it takes 5 minutes to make, fresh is best!

Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 60 kcal
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 15g
• Protein: 0g

Nutrition information is estimated per tablespoon.

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