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Last updated on August 26th, 2024 at 06:38 am

Sweet and sour sauce is a simple yet delicious sauce you will encounter. Serve as a dipping sauce or a stir-fry sauce. Give this sweet and tangy sauce a try and I bet it will become a go-to and favorite of everyone.

You will love this recipe, with just a few simple ingredients, you will be surprised at how easily you can make a delicious versatile sauce and turn fried fish, meat, tofu, vegetables or stir fries into a tasty meal.

This sweet-and-sour sauce is a versatile sauce that will be a welcome addition to your sauces and condiments in the kitchen.

I call this Chinese style because I have adapted it from Chinese-style dishes I have tried.

You know when you have tried something and wanted to re-create it until you have found the right balance.

We all have been there, ordered or dined out and either not satisfied with one sweet and sour dish or had a plate that is flavorful as you want to make at home.

After many pots of either not sweet enough or tangy enough sauces, this one is what I follow but still taste it before serving or using it in cooking to make sure the flavors are right.

Brands of ingredients vary so it is safe to have a taste test before putting it out to the world.

Ingredients and substitutes

Muscovado sugar – substitute with any sugar, light or brown sugar, white or even raw but keep in mind the sweetness levels as it may alter the taste then adjust accordingly

Cider vinegar – use rice or white vinegar, as with sugar, different kinds of vinegar vary in acidity and check for balance when using them

Soy sauce – light soy sauce – feel free to substitute with salt or gluten-free sauce and check the saltiness as you go along

Ketchup – aka tomato sauce in the UK, is substituted with tomato paste but make sure to cook it before mixing it with the other ingredients

Cornflour

Water

Oil – neutral oil

How to make this sweet and sour sauce?

This sauce is the easiest thing to put together. Measure all the ingredients you might already have in your kitchen or pantry and surprise yourself. Mix them all, heat a pan, add a splash of oil, and pour the mixture ingredients. Turn the heat to low, stir and cook until the thick.

How to use sweet and sour sauce?

Serve the sweet and sour sauce as a dipping sauce for fried food or flavor any sweet and sour dishes like stir-fries. This sweet-and-sour sauce goes well with Chinese-style and Western-style dishes.

A quick note on the pan to use, use a non-reactive pan like stainless steel as it is said that reactive pans affect the flavor of dishes.

Try these Easy Sauce Recipes next

Easy Dumpling Sauce

Homemade Ssamjang

Easy Teriyaki Sauce

Homemade Tonkatsu Sauce

Watch this short cooking video showing how to put together this sauce.

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