Sweet and Sour Sauce

Name: Sweet and Sour Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 1/2 cup pineapple juice; 1/4 cup rice vinegar; 1/4 cup sugar; 2 tbsp ketchup; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

6 servings5 min prep10 min cookEasy

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The Story Behind It

The Tale of Sweet and Sour Sauce

Story updated September 18, 2026

Sweet and sour flavor combinations have deep roots in Chinese cooking, particularly Cantonese and Sichuan cuisine, where sugar and vinegar were balanced against savory ingredients for centuries. The bright orange, heavily sweetened version common in Western Chinese restaurants is largely a later adaptation for international audiences.

Ingredients

Scale:· 6 servings

1/2 cup pineapple juice
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp ketchup
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 2 tbsp water

Instructions

1Combine pineapple juice, vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a saucepan.
2Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3Stir in the cornstarch slurry and simmer 2-3 minutes, until glossy and thickened.

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