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sweet n sour sauce recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (approx. 1.5 cups sauce) 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This homemade sweet n sour sauce recipe features hibiscus flowers for a vibrant red color and gochugaru for a smoky warmth, offering a quick and healthy glaze for chicken, meatballs, or tofu.
Ingredients
- 15 g dried hibiscus flowers
- 240 ml hot water
- 120 ml rice vinegar
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 60 ml ketchup
- 30 ml soy sauce
- 15 ml gochugaru (Korean chili flakes)
- 10 g fresh ginger, grated
- 5 g fresh garlic, minced
- 30 ml cornstarch
- 60 ml cold water
- 5 ml toasted sesame oil
- 5 ml toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
- 15 g fresh cilantro, finely chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare Hibiscus Infusion: In a heatproof bowl, combine the dried hibiscus flowers with hot water. Let steep for 10-15 minutes, then strain the liquid into a small saucepan, discarding the flowers.
- Combine Sauce Base Ingredients: Add the rice vinegar, granulated sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of gochugaru, grated ginger, and minced garlic to the saucepan with the hibiscus tea. Whisk all ingredients thoroughly to combine.
- Create Cornstarch Slurry: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water until a smooth slurry forms with no lumps.
- Cook and Thicken Glaze: Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the sauce mixture to a gentle simmer. Slowly pour in the cornstarch slurry while whisking constantly. Continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy, syrupy consistency.
- Finish and Season Sauce: Remove the saucepan from the heat immediately after thickening. Stir in the toasted sesame oil. Taste the sweet n sour sauce and adjust sweetness or spiciness as desired.
- Serve and Garnish: Serve the glaze generously over your desired main dish. Sprinkle the top with toasted sesame seeds and chopped cilantro for garnish.
Notes
To avoid lumps when thickening, make sure the cornstarch slurry is completely smooth before adding it to the simmering sauce, and whisk constantly during addition. If the sauce becomes too thick, whisk in 1-2 tablespoons of hot water to thin it out. Add the toasted sesame oil off the heat to preserve its nutty flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Sauce
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 60 ml
- Calories: 140 calories
- Sugar: 26 g
- Sodium: 375 mg
- Fat: 1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: sweet and sour sauce, hibiscus glaze, gochugaru, easy recipe, weeknight dinner, healthy sauce, chicken glaze, tofu sauce, Asian-inspired
