Easy sweet and sour sauce recipe. This westernized sauce recipe is an elevated version of the classic Cantonese sauce. The sauce gets its sweetness from brown sugar and tanginess from rice vinegar. Ketchup or tomato sauce also adds to the taste and brightness. It’s ridiculously easy to make: just combine the ingredients and add to your stir fries.
Why I Love This Stir Fry Sauce
In simple terms, this rare culinary creation is a blend of sugar or another sweetener and acid, usually vinegar. These two quintessential ingredients form the backbone of the sauce, while the addition of soy sauce and ketchup or tomato sauce form a glossy, tangy, slightly sticky sauce that clings beautifully to your favorite protein and vegetables.
Even though the traditional Cantonese-style sauce is typically lighter and more delicate, the westernized version adapted ketchup (tomato sauce) and refined sugar making it thicker, redder and sweeter. So, what makes this sauce so special? The balance of flavors that makes it so popular, universal pairing with pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables, and the glossy thickness of the sauce that helps it cling to battered, stir fried dishes.
While recipes vary, the popular version includes sugar, vinegar, tomato ketchup (tomato sauce), soy sauce and water. For the signature glossy finish, you will also need cornstarch (corn flour) slurry. Without a doubt, this sauce has evolved into a global favorite, from classic Chinese stir fries to gourmet dipping platters.
Key Ingredients In Easy Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe
- Soy sauce - Brings in umami flavor with the savory touch.
- Vinegar - Rice vinegar is commonly used, but white vinegar works too.
- Ketchup or tomato sauce - For color and flavor.
- Brown sugar - The sweet element.
How To Make Easy Sweet And Sour Sauce
Mix all the ingredients - Just a simple combination of all the key ingredients including soy sauce, vinegar, tomato sauce or ketchup, and brown sugar. Heat the sauce with corn flour (cornstarch) slurry.
How to use the the sauce in cooking - Use this to coat sweet and sour pork or chicken, as a dipping sauce for spring rolls and wontons, brush it over skewers for caramelized finish, and use as a stir fry base.
5 Minute Easy Sweet And Sour Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup (tomato sauce)
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Combine together soy sauce, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup (tomato sauce) and water in a large bowl.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Video
Notes
- Chili flakes - Adds heat.
- Low sugar alternative - Use natural sweeteners like honey.
- Make it gluten free - Substitute soy sauce with tamari.
Nutrition
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