Ditch the takeout packets and whip up your own delicious, preservative-free Chinese sweet and sour sauce in just 10 minutes! Perfect for dipping egg rolls, chicken, shrimp, and more.
Course Condiment, Dressing, Main Course
Cuisine Chinese
Diet Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Salt
Keyword Homemade, preservative-free, Quick, Sweet and Sour Sauce
In a medium saucepan add white vinegar, water, sugar, salt, MSG, and Tabasco. Cook over medium heat until heated through.
Mix 1 tablespoon of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water, and add the mixture to the saucepan while stirring constantly.
Add Worcestershire sauce and a dash of white pepper. Stir to combine.
Cook until it is bubbly and thick.
Remove sauce from the stove and add 2 tablespoons of ketchup.
Recipe Tips
Pro Tips for Perfect Sweet and Sour Sauce
Color expectations: Don't expect a bright red color without food coloring. The natural color will be more of a reddish-brown, but the flavor will be superior.
Safety first: Be cautious when cooking with sugar mixtures, as they can cause severe burns if they splash on skin. Also, avoid directly inhaling vinegar fumes while cooking.
Consistency control: For a thicker sauce (ideal for coating chicken or shrimp), add a bit more cornstarch. For a thinner dipping sauce, reduce the cornstarch slightly.
Flavor balance: Taste as you go! The perfect sweet and sour sauce should have a balance where neither the sweetness nor the tanginess overwhelms the other.
Quality ingredients: Use a good-quality ketchup that isn't overly sweet, since you're adding plenty of sugar to the recipe.