Sweet and Sour Sauce is so versatile and easy to make with only a few ingredients. It’s perfect for livening up recipes and using as a dipping sauce. It also happens to be vegan, oil-free, and gluten-free.
There are a few variations in making this sauce which will depend on how you plan to use it.
For stir-fries
To make this sauce, simply add all of the ingredients to a medium-size bowl and whisk together well and set it to the side while you cook the veggies for your stir-fry.
Add the sauce to the hot pan of cooked mixed vegetables. It will begin to thicken as soon as it is heated. Remove from heat when consistency is achieved.
The sauce will have small pieces of crushed pineapple and fire-roasted tomatoes which is perfect for stir-fries but, if you are planning to use it as a dipping sauce, you’ll probably want to thin it out.
Simply add all of the ingredients to a blender and process until smooth.
If you have a high-powdered blender like my Vitamix 5200 that actually heats and cooks food as it processes, the cornstarch will be activated by the heat and thicken up the sauce automatically. Process for about 1-2 minutes until thickened.
For lower-powered blenders, pour the sauce into a microwave bowl and cook for about 1-minute in the microwave to thicken it. It can also be heated on the stovetop until the desired consistency is achieved.
For marinating
Marinades need to be thinner so they can soak into foods like tempeh, tofu, and veggies, so you'll need to blend up the ingredients using the same steps for dipping above.
To use this sauce as a marinade, simply leave out the cornstarch so that it will not be thickened. Use it to marinate in dishes like Air Fryer Crispy Tofu and Veggie Kabobs.
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Notes
Uses for Chinese sweet and sour sauceThe uses for sweet and sour sauce are only limited by your imagination. It’s perfect as a dipping sauce for Veggie Pot Stickers and even Crispy Baked Onion Rings.Drizzle it over Lettuce Wraps and Veggie Wraps to add a sweet and tangy flavor. Or, saute some veggies and make a quick and easy dinner like this Sweet and Sour Stir-Fry.My family loves to make Veggie Bowls which are loaded with steamed rice and fresh or cooked vegetables. This sauce is fabulous when drizzled over the top of them.StoringThis sauce does need to be refrigerated. It will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 7-10 days. It also freezes well for up to 3-months and probably a little longer.