Make your own healthy sweet and sour sauce in 5 minutes with only 5 ingredients. It has a perfect balance of sweetness and sour flavor. You can use this as a dipping sauce or adding it to may of your favorite Asian recipes and is one of the most versatile condiments not only in Chinese Cuisine but also around the world.
Ingredients and Substitutions
Honey – It gives you the sweet flavor. I prefer honey to sweeten the sauce and for health benefits. Feel free to use brown or white sugar with equal measurement or more if you prefer a sweeter version.
Vinegar – It gives a sour flavor. I prefer the taste of this sauce with regular white vinegar, but apple cider vinegar or pineapple, or orange juice will also work if that’s what you have on hand.
Ketchup – Adds bright red color and the extra punch of sweet and sour flavor. Tomato sauce or tomato paste is a great substitute. Use the same amount if you use tomato sauce. For tomato paste, just use a teaspoon.
Tapioca Powder – To thicken the sauce. You can also use an equal amount of cornstarch.
Tamari Sauce – Tamari is a healthy alternative. We need tamari or use soy sauce to season this condiment. You can also use a pinch of salt as a substitution.
How to make it?
Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan, stir until everything is mixed together and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and use immediately or let it cool down and transfer into an air-tight container.
One of my favorite ways to use this is a dipping sauce for lumpia. Also, I love to pour this sauce into fried fish, chicken, or shrimp.
Make ahead and storage
You can make this anytime in advance and store it in a mason jar or air-tight container for 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
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5-ingredients Healthy Sweet and Sour Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Saucepan
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup white vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon tapioca powder
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1 1/2 tablespoon tamari sauce
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
Instructions
- In a medium size saucepan, combine vinegar, water, tapioca powder, tamari sauce, ketchup and honey. Use spatula or whisk and mix well to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat to use immidiately or cool it down completely before storing in the fridge.
Perfect for lumpia and everything else. I am making this soon. Thank you for the recipe!
Thanks!
This sweet and sour sauce is a bomb!!!
So good and easy to make. Thanks for sharing this.
Yum yum yum! Easy to make sweet and sour sauce.