Confession.
One of the things I miss the most about not eating a typical convenience diet anymore is Chinese restaurants. Back when my husband and I were dating and even into our first couple years of being newlyweds, we had Chinese all the time. Asian flavors and cuisine is just something we really enjoy, and the feel of a Chinese meal brings back a lot of precious dating memories to me.
So! I have spent hours in the kitchen recreating the classic Chinese meals we adored years ago. I feel like I have nailed a few of them. My husband’s favorite is this General Tso’s. I was always a fan of sweet and sour dishes so I have been using this sweet and sour sauce for years. It keeps so great in the freezer so it can pull out just as convenient as store bought.
, along with wine vinegar
give a salty sour bite to to the fresh squeezed bright and sweet orange juice. No need for fancy equipment! I just use this simple orange juicer
and it really gets all of the juice out!
Simple and Quick Sweet & Sour Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 cup juice from oranges you will need about 4-5 oranges
- 1/4 cup organic ketchup watch ingredients!
- 1/4 cup organic white wine vinegar
- 2 TB coconut aminos
- 1 TB honey
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes more if you want more heat
- 1 TB arrowroot mixed in a couple TB water to thicken
mixed in a couple TB water to thickenInstructions
- Everything but the arrowroot into a small sauce pan and bring to a slow simmer for about 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Whisk in the arrowroot/water mixture until it thickens and turn off the heat. You can serve with your dinner right away or store in the fridge for a week or freezer for months.
What are your favorite Chinese meals?? Let me know if you try out the sauce!
This post was shared at Fat Tuesday!
This looks PERFECT! And “watch ingredients” on the ketchup… Yeah!
Thank you Rachel!
Great recipe!
I guess you can always substitute a bit of tomato paste if you don’t have ketchup.
Hi Dr Karen! Oh yeah for sure! Might need a little more of the honey if you do that to sweeten it!
This looks so delicious! I can’t wait to try it out. Pinned it.
I love that it is sweetened with just a little honey and the juice. This sounds really good!
Superb substitute! I’m not a sweet and sour sauce kind of girl BUT my husband does enjoy this from time to time and I don’t buy it for him due to the ingredients. Pinning for future use.
Homemade Sweet & Sour sauce, I looove it! I don’t like any store bought ones, as they just don’t taste right and are loaded with unnecessary sugar, additives, etc. I am definitely going to make this, I really can’t wait. Pinned too 🙂
This looks delicious Renee! My son loves Asian food and sauces, I will definitely have to try this one! Thanks for sharing!
Never knew this was so simple… we’re having Asian food on the menu this week so may have to try this!
My Fiance will be thrilled! He’s really missed sauces like this since we started really looking at ingredients a few years ago. Thanks for this recipe, I’m going to give it a go this week! 🙂
What a great recipe– so simple and clean! I honestly can’t remember the last time I made sweet and sour sauce, but you have inspired me! Time for some stirfry!
Pinned! I agree, Chinese food is sentimental. I, too, have fond memories of eating it from the carton with chopsticks- fun, yummy comfort food!
Great recipe! And anything simple is a plus!
This is just genius Renee! We love Asian food around here so I’ll be making this pretty soon. 🙂
My kids have truly missed Chinese food the way we used to have it – which was always take-out. I think they would love this!
Yum! This looks super tasty. And no funky ingredients if you can find or make good ketchup!
Seriously how do you always come up with the best recipes!?
YAY! Take-out Chinese food is one of my guilty pleasures. I love crab rangoon with sweet and sour sauce, but it sucks knowing it’s full of corn syrup and other yuckies! I am so excited to try this in the future. 🙂
Very tasty and very simple!
Thank you Amy!
This looks really delicious, can’t wait to try it! I absolutely feel you with regards to missing Chinese restaurants & takeouts!
Thank you Mark!
Wow, this is simply yummy. Thanks! I made sweet and sour chicken wings and they tasted awesome!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Tiffany!
I cannot have wine vinegar…is there a substitute?
Hi Susan! Apple cider vinegar would work or a bit of lemon juice!
Holy yum. I so miss sweet and sour sauce without all the junk and this looks on point! Can’t wait to try it out with some stir fry.
So simple! I love the orange juice in there!