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woman holding a spoon over a bowl of homemade sweet and sour sauce

Homemade Chinese Sweet & Sour Sauce

Tangy and sweet dipping sauce for cream cheese wontons, crab rangoons, fried wontons, chicken tenders and more. A make-at-home version of the popular Chinese restaurant sweet and sour sauce.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course condiments
Cuisine Chinese
Servings 16 servings
Calories 59 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¾ cup brown sugar
  • ½ cup rice vinegar
  • ½ cup canned pineapple juice
  • 3 Tablespoons ketchup
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 3 Tablespoons maraschino cherry syrup
  • Sambal Oelek chili sauce optional, to taste
  • ¼ cup cold water
  • Tablespoons cornstarch

Instructions
 

  • Whisk together the cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl or measuring cup to create a slurry. Set aside.
  • Combine the brown sugar, pineapple juice, vinegar, cherry syrup, ketchup and salt in a medium saucepan.
  • Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until the sugar is dissolved. When the mixture begins to simmer, add the cornstarch slurry. Stir well.
  • Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 3 to 4 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in Sambal Oelek or chili garlic sauce, if desired.
  • Chill the sweet and sour sauce in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It will continue to thicken as it cools.

Video

Notes

This recipe is gluten-free when made with gluten-free ketchup, rice vinegar and cherry juice.

Variations

  • Spicy: Add Sambal Oelek or chili garlic sauce for a spicy sweet and sour sauce, or omit if you prefer something milder
  • Chunky: Once you’ve cooked the sauce, add up to a half cup of fresh or drained, canned chunk pineapple.

Storage

Store in a jar or airtight container in the refrigerator for several weeks. 
Freeze individual portions of sweet and sour sauce in ice cube trays, then transfer to a sealed bag.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 59kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 29mgPotassium: 31mgFiber: 1gSugar: 13gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 11mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Chinese, crab rangoons, dipping sauce, sauce, sweet and sour, wontons
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