Description
Tangy chinese sweet and sour sauce brings zesty flavors from traditional Asian cuisine straight to home kitchens. Perfect for dipping, stir-fries, or marinades, you can create this classic condiment with simple ingredients in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
Thickening and Flavoring Agents:
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Cooking Ingredient:
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
- Whisk ketchup, rice vinegar, brown sugar, and soy sauce in a small mixing bowl until ingredients are thoroughly integrated and smooth.
- Create a cornstarch slurry by dissolving cornstarch in water, ensuring no lumps remain.
- Heat vegetable oil in a small saucepan over medium temperature, maintaining consistent heat.
- Add minced garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes to the hot oil, releasing their aromatic essences for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour the prepared ketchup mixture into the saucepan, allowing it to simmer gently and develop flavor depth.
- Stir the cornstarch slurry once more, then gradually incorporate into the simmering sauce while continuously stirring.
- Continue stirring until the sauce reaches a glossy, thickened consistency, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Remove saucepan from heat, letting the sauce cool and slightly condense for optimal texture.
- Serve as a versatile condiment for dipping appetizers or drizzling over stir-fried dishes, enhancing culinary experiences with tangy, sweet notes.
Notes
- Customize heat levels by adjusting crushed red pepper flakes, perfect for those who prefer mild or spicy flavors.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos for sensitive diets.
- Enhance sauce complexity by adding a splash of pineapple juice or rice wine for deeper, more authentic flavor profile.
- Store extra sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, allowing flavors to meld and intensify.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-7 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Chinese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 111 kcal
- Sugar: 17 g
- Sodium: 570 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg