This is an easy-to-make sweet and sour sauce that comes together quickly and cooks in just minutes. Use it as a dipping sauce for cheese wontons or other savory foods.
Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce
This sauce is delicious for dipping wontons, spring rolls, and egg rolls. It is easy to make and is ready in minutes.
Make the Sweet and Sour Sauce in One Pan
Mix the Ingredients
This sauce is prepared in one pan by combining the dry ingredients, followed by the addition of the wet ingredients. After it cooks for a few minutes, a cornstarch slurry is added, which thickens the sauce.
Make a Slurry
A slurry is simply a 1:1 mixture of cornstarch and water. However, if you have never combined the two, you might be surprised to find that this mixture can be difficult to stir. Fortunately, adding extra water can make all the difference and will not hurt the slurry. To mix it in effectively, whisk as you pour it. As a result, as you keep whisking, the slurry will thicken the sauce.
Tips:
- Tip 1: When mixing a slurry, add the water to the cornstarch.
- Tip 2: If you prepare the slurry ahead of time, stir it before pouring it into the sauce, as the cornstarch can settle after sitting.
How this Sweet and Sour Sauce Gets its Red Color
This sweet and sour sauce gets its red color from ketchup. Although ketchup is not an ingredient I associate with Chinese food, it is the perfect ingredient for this sauce. It tints the sauce red and helps balance the sourness of the added vinegar. Also, you can enhance the color by adding a few drops of red food coloring.
Storage of Sweet and Sour Sauce
Store leftover sauce in the refrigerator for up to a week. After that, set the sauce out before using it to let it come to room temperature. Alternatively, you can heat it for a few seconds in the microwave to quickly reach room temperature.
Cheese Wonton Recipe
Click here to link to a recipe for Baked Wonton Jalapeno Cups.
Other Chinese-Inspired Recipes You Might Like
Click on each name to link to the recipe.
Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ tablespoons water
- ½ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup pineapple juice
- â…“ cup rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons ketchup
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- red food coloring (optional)
Instructions
- Add the cornstarch to a small bowl. Add the water and mix well to make a slurry. Set aside.
- Add the brown sugar to a medium-sized saucepan. Then add the pineapple juice, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce; mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir the cornstarch slurry and pour it in slowly, whisking the whole time. Cook for 1-2 more minutes or until the sauce thickens.
- Stir in a few drops of red food coloring if desired.