One of the most versatile sauces for cooking, dipping or grilling is sweet and sour sauce. Originating in the Hunan province of China, this sauce has typically been used mainly for Chinese cuisine down through the years. However, its popularity has allowed it to branch out and find a home in the cooking of many nations around the world, especially the United States.

While sweet and sour sauce is readily available in grocery or specialty stores, making it yourself can guarantee the freshness of ingredients and eliminate the chemicals used in commercially processed sauces. Gather up the following ingredients:

1/3 cup rice vinegar (you can substitute white vinegar)
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp ketchup
1 tsp soy sauce
2 tsp cornstarch
4 tsp water

Like most sauces, there are a number of variations you can use to these basic ingredients. Some like to add pineapple, onions or green peppers. Experiment with different combinations to make a sweet and sour sauce that is uniquely your own. Rice vinegar is recommended for the best flavor but white vinegar will work fine too. There are a few recipes that use black rice vinegar and they are delicious as well.

In a small pot, bring to boil a mixture of the soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup and brown sugar. Mix the water and the cornstarch and stir in with the other ingredients. If you’re adding additional ingredients, such as pineapple, add it now. Continue stirring until the sauce is at the desired thickness. The cook time should be around 5 minutes. If you’d like a thicker sauce increase the amount of cornstarch by 1 or 2 teaspoons. Serve warm or refrigerate depending on your preference.

Sweet and sour sauce is commonly used for lighter meats such as poultry or seafood and can be used as a marinade or dip. Marinade chicken or pork to give it a sweet, tangy flavor. Use it as a dip for shrimp, egg rolls or vegetables. This sauce is so flexible there is no limit to its possible uses.