Description
This restaurant-style sweet and sour sauce is a perfectly balanced blend of tangy pineapple juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce, thickened with cornstarch to achieve the ideal consistency for dipping or glazing. It features a vibrant red color enhanced by optional food coloring, offering an authentic and visually appealing condiment to elevate your favorite Asian-inspired dishes.
Ingredients
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 1 cup canned pineapple juice
- 1/3 cup rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1–2 tablespoons soy sauce or gluten-free tamari
Dry and Thickening Agents
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Others
- 2 tablespoons water
- 2–4 drops red food coloring (optional but recommended)
Instructions
- Combine base ingredients: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the pineapple juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce (or tamari), and granulated sugar until fully blended.
- Heat the mixture: Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, ensuring the sugar is completely dissolved and flavors meld.
- Prepare cornstarch slurry: While waiting for the sauce to boil, stir together the cornstarch and water in a small bowl until smooth, creating a slurry that will thicken the sauce.
- Thicken the sauce: Once the sauce is boiling with big bubbles, gradually pour in the cornstarch slurry while stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens to a glossy, smooth consistency.
- Remove from heat and add color: Take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the red food coloring drops. Adding the coloring at this stage preserves its vibrant hue.
- Cool and store: Allow the sauce to cool to room temperature before transferring it into a sealed container. Store it in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Notes
- The 1 cup of pineapple juice is slightly more than a standard 8-ounce can, so measure accordingly.
- Check labels carefully when choosing soy sauce or tamari to ensure it is gluten-free and free from added sugars.
- Tamari has a stronger flavor than soy sauce; start with 1 tablespoon and adjust to taste to avoid overpowering the sauce.
- Do not add food coloring before thickening as it will lose vibrancy and require more coloring.
- This sauce is ideal for dipping or drizzling over fried or grilled dishes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian
Keywords: sweet and sour sauce, asian sauce, pineapple sauce, gluten free sauce, restaurant style sauce, tangy sauce
