Homemade Healthy Sweet and Sour Sauce
You'll never guess the secret ingredients that go into this homemade healthy Sweet and Sour sauce. The flavor is spot on!
Healthy Sweet and Sour Sauce?
Have I really lost it?
If I told you what was in this sauce before you tasted it, you just might think I was off my rocker.
That's why I didn't tell Tim before he started noshing away.
Making Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
Our last attempt at Sweet and Sour sauce was done the traditional way: brown sugar, vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, cornstarch. These are the typical ingredients you will find if you search for a homemade sweet and sour sauce recipe.
That time, the taste was close, but we way over cornstarch-ed the sauce, so when it cooled it turned to gelatin.
A brown-red gelatin from the combo of soy and ketchup.
Not too appetizing.
This time, I vowed it would be different.
As I was doing research, I came across a recipe for a sweet chili sauce using pureed peppers. Inspiration struck. Why not spin that concept into a sweet and sour sauce?
Boy was it worth a try.
Our Healthy Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
The consistency of this sweet and sour sauce is definitely thicker than the thin and syrupy sauce you might get from your favorite Chinese takeout restaurant.
But, what would you expect?
This sauce isn't cornstarch and ketchup.
Rather, it's fruits and veggies pureed together with just enough sugar and vinegar to spike the flavors.
Then, we simmer it with just enough cornstarch to thicken it to a sauce consistency.
And, let me say, the flavor of our healthy sweet and sour sauce is SPOT ON.
And it's really addicting. (We were actually glad it was a bit of a thicker sauce, because that meant we could load it on easier!)
Try it on our baked vegetable egg rolls and baked crab rangoon.
You won't be disappointed!
And, if you love sauces for your egg rolls and stir fries as much as we do, definitely check out our easy homemade hoisin sauce recipe, our homemade teriyaki sauce recipe, and our tasty plum sauce recipe made from fresh plums too!
Healthy Homemade Sweet and Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- ½ large sweet red pepper, seeds removed and coarse chopped
- ¼ c crushed pineapple or pineapple chunks with juice
- ¼ c rice vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon cornstarch
Instructions
- Place red pepper, pineapple, vinegar and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.
- Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan and heat over medium high heat until it comes to a simmer.
- Mix cornstarch with 2 teaspoon water until dissolved. Stir cornstarch mixture into the simmering pepper mixture. Simmer, stirring, for 1-2 minutes until the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Taste your sauce and add additional brown sugar if you would like the sauce sweeter.
- Serve warm or chilled.
Nutrition
This is one of the recipes from the early days of Curious Cuisiniere. We've updated our pictures since we first made it, but we've left the original images here as a fun throwback and shout out to how far we've come. Enjoy!
Sarah founded Curious in 2010 as a way to save her recipe creations and share culinary experiences. Her love for cultural cuisines was instilled early by her French Canadian Grandmother. Her experience in the kitchen and in recipe development comes from over 10 years working in professional kitchens. She has traveled extensively and enjoys bringing the flavors of her travels back to create easy-to-make recipes.
This is a great recipe. I didn’t even have to add sugar!
We're so glad you enjoyed it!
So glad I found this recipe! I used coconut sugar for sweeter.
I sauted the rest of the bell pepper, added some pineapple chunks and a tomatoes. I had it over grilled sword fish, it was delicious.
So glad you enjoyed the sauce Michelle!
So glad I found your recipe! All prepped for NYE dinner!
We're so glad you found us too! Happy New Year!
I am doing a 40 day 'no flour no sugar' challenge; I knew I would really miss sweet and sour sauce and looked for a home made alternative. I put a tiny bit of coconut sugar in, so I won't be 100% sugar free, still it will be a lot less sugar than a packet sauce, and much healthier altogether. It works really well; I am impressed.
So glad you found us!
The best sweet and sour sauce I have ever made, great flavor and the flavor of the shrimp and vegetables came through and were not overwhelmed. Fabulous concept using the bell pepper as a base. Didn’t have any pineapple on hand so I cooked some apple in brown sugar and it was great.
So glad you enjoyed it!
OH MY WORD!!!!! I am an amateur foodie...(Very amateur) that tries to eat healthy, this hits the nail right on the head. I had too adjust a few things based on pantry stock. I had no red pepper so I used apple sauce (sugar free). Sugar free concord jelly, 1/2tsp of hot Chinese mustard and a TBL of ketchup. I will make the recipe as is next time, I am sure it is better your way! LOL....But dang girl...,
So glad you enjoyed it!
When I try this sauce, I'll let you know . . . so few ingredients! Fantastic!
Hope you enjoy it!
Absolutely amazing and easy to make. I prefer this recipe way more than the other traditional homemade ones.
So glad you enjoyed it Danielle!
Can you can it and use refrigerate it for later use?
Hi Jenny, This sauce will stay good in the refrigerator for a week or so. Enjoy!
Wow! This sauce is amazing, creative and really delicious. Wish it didn’t need any brown sugar, but as someone who usually skips the added sweetener, I think it really does need this little bit. Truly delicious!
Thanks El! We're glad you enjoy it!
i love this! never would have imagined you can make one of my fav sauces with so few ingredients.
Wow - never ever thought to make own sweet & sour sauce even though I've made ketchup and even mayo in the past. Looks so easy - and so much better than the overly processed stuff!