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Homemade sweet and sour sauce is a versatile and delicious sauce that combines sweetness and acidity in perfect balance. It’s perfect for fish, meat, chicken, vegetables, or as a dip. You can quickly prepare it with household ingredients – without preservatives and unnecessary additives.
Ingredients for Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
- 180 ml pineapple juice (you can use canned pineapple and juice) or 100-120 ml water if you prefer without fruit
- 2-3 tablespoons tomato ketchup
- 2 tablespoons rice or apple cider vinegar
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar (you can optionally use honey or agave syrup)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch + 2-3 tablespoons water for thickening
- 1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
- salt
- pepper
Method
1 In a small saucepan, mix pineapple juice, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and soy sauce. If using garlic and ginger, quickly sauté them first in a small amount of oil to release the aroma before adding the liquid ingredients.
2 Mix cornstarch in cold water to get a smooth solution without lumps.
3 Heat the saucepan over medium temperature and stir the starch solution into the liquid mixture. Stir constantly as the sauce begins to thicken. Once it boils, cook for another minute or two so the flavors combine and the sauce becomes glossy.
4 Taste and adjust as needed – if the sauce is too sour, add sugar; if too sweet, add a bit more vinegar; for stronger flavor, add more soy sauce or garlic.
Tips for Outstanding Flavor
For best results, use canned pineapple juice – it has more consistent flavor. If you want fruit pieces, stir in finely chopped pineapple at the end. Rice vinegar gives milder acidity; if you substitute with apple cider or wine vinegar, reduce the amount. When storing the sauce, let it cool, pour into a glass jar, and keep in the refrigerator – it lasts about 1-2 weeks. It’s excellent as a marinade, dressing, glaze, or dip.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to Avoid Lumps with Starch?
Always mix cornstarch first in a small amount of cold water before adding it to hot liquid. Stir constantly, even when the sauce boils, to prevent lumps. If it’s too thick, add a little water.
What’s the Ideal Vinegar-Sugar Ratio?
For balanced flavor, we recommend a sugar : vinegar ratio of approximately **2.5 : 1** (for example, 3 tablespoons sugar to 1 tablespoon vinegar). If using strong vinegar, reduce the amount; if mild, increase it.
What to Do if You Don’t Have Pineapple Juice?
Instead of pineapple juice, you can use water + a little sugar + a drop of lemon juice or citrus. The fruit note is lost, but the basic sweet and sour structure remains.
