Elevate your homemade Chinese cuisine with our Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe. This delectable sauce strikes the perfect balance between sweet and tangy flavors, making it an ideal accompaniment to a wide range of dishes. With simple ingredients and easy preparation, you can whip up this flavorful sauce in no time to enhance your favorite Chinese-inspired dishes.

Why Make Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce

Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce offers a quick and convenient way to add authentic flavor to your homemade Chinese dishes. With its versatile nature, this sauce can be used as a dipping sauce, glaze, or marinade for meats, vegetables, and tofu. Whether you’re craving classic sweet and sour chicken, pork, or shrimp, this sauce is sure to elevate your culinary creations with its irresistible taste.

How to Make Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce

Note: In this section only generate the instructions.

Preparation:
- In a small bowl, mix corn starch with cold water until well combined.
- Add white vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce to the corn starch mixture and mix well. Ensure the oil and tomato paste are not mixed into this mixture.
- (Optional) If using garlic for flavor, peel and smash it with the side of a knife, keeping the clove whole for easy removal later.
Making the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
- Set a small pot over medium-low heat.
- Add oil, smashed garlic clove (optional), and tomato paste to the pot. Cook for about 5 minutes until the oil turns orange and the tomato paste darkens slightly.
Combine Ingredients:
- Stir the bowl with the rest of the ingredients to re-mix the corn starch with the sauce, then pour it into the pot with the tomato paste.
- Whisk quickly until the sauce thickens, approximately 5 minutes. Stir continuously to prevent clumps from forming.
Adjust Consistency:
- If desired, remove the garlic clove and discard it.
- If you prefer a thinner sauce, add 1-3 tablespoons of water and stir until well incorporated.
Optional Flavor Enhancement:
- For additional flavor, add Worcestershire sauce to the sauce and stir to combine.
Serve:
- Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, transfer it to a bowl and serve immediately with your favorite Chinese dishes or snacks.

Storage Info

Any leftover Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Simply reheat the sauce gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving again.

Techniques or Tips

Stir the corn starch mixture well before adding it to the pot to ensure it’s fully incorporated and doesn’t form lumps.
Keep stirring the sauce continuously while cooking to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the pot and forming clumps.
Adjust the sweetness or tanginess of the sauce by adding more sugar or vinegar according to your taste preferences.

Variation

Experiment with different ingredients to customize the flavor of your sweet and sour sauce. For a spicier version, add crushed red pepper flakes or sriracha sauce. You can also incorporate pineapple juice or pineapple chunks for a tropical twist. Get creative and tailor the sauce to suit your personal preferences.

FAQs about Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce

Q: Can I use this sauce as a marinade for meats? A: Yes, this sweet and sour sauce works well as a marinade for chicken, pork, beef, or shrimp. Simply marinate the meat in the sauce for at least 30 minutes before cooking for added flavor.

Q: Can I freeze leftover sweet and sour sauce? A: While you can freeze leftover sweet and sour sauce, the texture may change slightly upon thawing and reheating. It’s best to consume it fresh for optimal flavor and consistency.

Q: Can I make this sauce ahead of time? A: Yes, you can prepare the sauce ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until ready to use. Simply reheat it gently on the stove or in the microwave before serving.

Recipe Card

Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce

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This Easy Chinese Sweet and Sour Sauce recipe is quick to prepare and bursting with flavor. Made with simple ingredients like water, corn starch, white vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, and tomato paste, it's perfect for adding an authentic touch to your favorite Chinese dishes or as a dipping sauce for snacks. Customize it with optional ingredients like garlic and Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor!

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Servings: 4 servings

Course: Condiment, Sauce

Cuisine: Chinese

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

½ cup cold water
1 ½ tablespoons corn starch
½ cup white vinegar
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons neutral oil (vegetable, canola, corn, avocado etc)

Optional Ingredients for Extra Flavor

1 clove garlic (peeled and smashed, but kept whole)
¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Equipment

Small Pot
Small Bowl
Utensil (Whisk)

Method

Preparation:
In a small bowl, mix the corn starch with cold water until combined. Then add white vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce, and mix well.
Making the Sweet and Sour Sauce:
Set a small pot over medium-low heat. Add oil, garlic (optional), and tomato paste. Cook for about 5 minutes until the oil turns orange and the tomato paste darkens.
Stir the bowl with the rest of the ingredients to re-mix the corn starch with the sauce. Pour it into the pot with the tomato paste. Whisk quickly until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes.
If you used garlic, remove it. If you prefer a thinner sauce, add 1-3 tablespoons of water. Optionally, add Worcestershire sauce for extra flavor.
Pour the sauce into a bowl and enjoy immediately, perfect for dipping snacks!

Notes

This homemade Chinese sweet and sour sauce is versatile and can be customized to your taste. Adjust the sweetness or tanginess according to your preference. It's great for dipping fried foods or as a sauce for stir-fries.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!