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Hungry Healthy Happy » Recipes » Sauces

Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce

Updated: Sep 14, 2021 · Published: Jun 15, 2020 · Written by Dannii Martin · This post may contain affiliate links which earn us commissions if purchases are made · 13 Comments

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Diet: Low Fat / Vegetarian
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If you love a Chinese takeaway, then you need to try making your own Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce. It's is much easier than you think and in less than 10 minutes, using ingredients you probably already have in your cupboard, you have yourself a deliciously smooth sauce that you can use for so many recipes, or just as a dip.

A small jar of sweet and sour sauce with a spoon sticking out of it

If you have only every tried sweet and sour sauce from a jar, or your local takeaway, then you are missing out. It's so easy to make and tastes a million times better. It's an essential dipping sauce, and a perfect balance of sweet, tangy and can be a little bit spicy if you like.

Why you will love it

  • Tastes so much better than store bought or takeaway
  • Ready in less than 10 minutes
  • Uses store cupboard ingredients
  • Easy to adapt

Step by step

Put all of the ingredients in a saucepan, gently heat and whisk until smooth. Keep whisking whilst on simmer for 3-5 minutes, until it has thickened.

A saucepan containing sweet and sour sauce and a small whisk

How to use sweet and sour sauce

This is one of those sauces that has way more uses than you probably might think. Using it to make a sweet and sour prawns or chicken dish is the obvious choice, but there are lots more options.

We love it as a dipping sauce and it's great with spring rolls, meatballs, or to use it as a marinade for ribs or chicken kebabs. Our toddler loves dipping homemade chicken nuggets in to it too.

Sometimes we just drizzle it over boiled rice to jazz it up a bit.

Sweet and sour shrimp topped with cilantro leaves on a bed of rice

How to adapt the sauce

The great thing about being able to make the sauce yourself is that you can adapt it to suit your own tastes. If you don't like super sweet sauces, then you can use less honey or you could go the opposite and make it super sweet if that's your thing.

Another way we like to adapt this sauce recipe is to add a kick of heat to it. You could add a little fresh chopped red chilli, some cayenne or a dash of your favourite chilli sauce.

FAQs

How long does sweet and sour sauce keep for?

You can store it in an air tight jar in the fridge and it will last for up to a week, but it will start losing its flavour after 3 days so it's best to try and use it up within a couple of days. If you are using it up to a week later, you might want to add a little more vinegar before reusing to boost the flavour.

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Extra tips

• The sauce can be used up to a week later (but best up to 3 days after making), however you might want to add a tiny bit of vinegar before reusing to boost the flavour.
• Use leftover sauce as a dip for spring rolls and meatballs, or use as a marinade for ribs or chicken kebabs.
• Feel free to adapt how sweet it is by adding more or less honey.
• Add a kick of heat to it with some chopped fresh red chilli, a pinch of cayenne or a splash of your favourite chilli sauce.

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If you’ve tried this sweet and sour sauce recipe, then let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - You can use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.

Recipe

A small jar of sweet and sour sauce with a spoon sticking out of it

Easy Sweet and Sour Sauce

By: Dannii Martin
Try making your own Sweet and Sour Sauce. In less than 10 minutes, using ingredients you probably already own, you have yourself a deliciously smooth sauce.
the words low fat in a white circle.
Low Fat
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Vegetarian
4.79 from 19 votes
Pin Print Save recipe Saved!
Course: Sauce/Spread
Cuisine: Chinese
Prep: 1 minute min
Cook: 4 minutes mins
Total: 5 minutes mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 81kcal
Allergens:
An illustration of two ears of wheat.
Gluten
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Soya
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Sulphites

Ingredients

  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Water
  • 100 ml (0.5 cups) Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Cornflour (corn starch)
  • 4 tablespoon Honey
  • 2 tablespoon Pineapple juice
  • 1 tablespoon Soy sauce
  • 60 ml (0.25 cups) Passata

Instructions

  • Put all of the ingredients in a saucepan, heat gently and whisk until smooth.
  • Keep whisking whilst on simmer for 3-5 minutes, until it has thickened.

Recipe Tips

  • The sauce can be used up to a week later (but best up to 3 days after making), however you might want to add a tiny bit of vinegar before reusing to boost the flavour.
  • Use leftover sauce as a dip for spring rolls and meatballs, or use as a marinade for ribs or chicken kebabs.
  • feel free to adapt how sweet it is by adding more or less honey.
  • Add a kick of heat to it with some chopped fresh red chilli, a pinch of cayenne or a splash of your favourite chilli sauce.

Nutritional Information

Serving: 1portion | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 259mg | Potassium: 114mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 77IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 1mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.

As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.

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Comments

  1. Theresa Smith says

    September 10, 2022 at 6:56 pm

    Absolutely beautiful.....
    Perfect for my chicken balls....
    Thank you x

    Reply
  2. Jessica says

    December 21, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    5 stars
    `Easy to make and lovely to drizzle on vegetables and rice! Substituted the apple cider vinegar for a little less white wine vinegar, and it turned out great.

    Reply
    • Dannii says

      December 22, 2020 at 8:08 am

      So glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  3. veenaazmanov says

    November 01, 2020 at 3:23 am

    This is such a lovely and tempting recipe. So easy and quick to make and delicious to eat too. Best when homemade and can be enjoyed with amazing snacks too.

    Reply
  4. Kacie Morgan says

    November 01, 2020 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    Homemade sweet and sour sauce tastes so much better than the pre-made stuff. I love sweet and sour chicken and it's been way too long since I last got to eat it!

    Reply
  5. Mahy says

    November 01, 2020 at 12:03 am

    5 stars
    OK, you sold it to me with the images and incredibly easy instructions to follow. :-) Can't wait to give this sauce a try now!

    Reply
  6. Cate says

    October 31, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    This sauce looks awesome and I love the simple ingredients! Can't wait to try this!!

    Reply
  7. liz says

    October 31, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    5 stars
    I had no idea how easy this was to make! I prefer to make sauces from scratch when possible so I'll definitely try this out!

    Reply
  8. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    June 17, 2020 at 11:55 am

    5 stars
    I am always making homemade Chinese feasts but hadn't yet been able to master the sweet and sour sauce perfectly. Will certainly give your delicious recipe a try!

    Reply
  9. Mirlene says

    June 17, 2020 at 10:56 am

    5 stars
    I had no clue sweet and sour sauce was this easy to make. WOW. I cannot wait to give it a try on my own.

    Reply
  10. Shashi says

    June 17, 2020 at 10:42 am

    I love making homemade sauces - and this is one that's getting added to my list - thank you!

    Reply
  11. Charla says

    June 17, 2020 at 10:40 am

    5 stars
    Oh great, I've got some gluten free bread that I can pair this sweet and sour sauce with.

    Reply
  12. o-yummy.com says

    June 17, 2020 at 10:07 am

    5 stars
    The recipe is so easy and quick to make. I never thought of using pinapple juice, definitly gonna try it :D

    Reply
4.79 from 19 votes (11 ratings without comment)

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