This mouthwatering chile sweet and sour sauce is a perfect blend of spicy heat and tangy sweetness. Made with simple pantry ingredients, this homemade sauce is incredibly versatile and can be used as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze. It pairs deliciously with both meat and vegetarian dishes, adding a burst of flavor to your meals. With just a few easy steps, you can whip up this addictive sauce in no time. Get ready to take your taste buds on a flavorful journey!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon chili garlic sauce
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons water
Directions
- In a small saucepan, combine the ketchup, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, and chili garlic sauce over medium heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to create a slurry.
- Once the saucepan mixture begins to simmer, slowly pour in the slurry while whisking continuously to prevent any lumps.
- Continue cooking the sauce for an additional 2-3 minutes until it thickens to your desired consistency.
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let it cool slightly before transferring to a jar or serving dish.
- Serve the chile sweet and sour sauce as a dipping sauce, marinade, or glaze with your favorite dishes.
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Interesting Facts
Chile sweet and sour sauce is a popular condiment in American Chinese cuisine.
The combination of spicy and sweet flavors in this sauce is known to be addictive.
This sauce can be customized to your preferred level of spiciness by adjusting the amount of chili garlic sauce used.
The cornstarch slurry is used to thicken the sauce and give it a glossy appearance.
Using rice vinegar adds a hint of tanginess to balance the sweetness.