Sweet and Sour Sauce

Sweet and sour sauce, a favorite at restaurants, has finally come to your own kitchen. And when you make the sweet and sour sauce yourself, you can control the sweet and sour flavors to the proportion that’s just right for your palate.

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Yield: 2 cups

3/4 cup water

1/2 cup ketchup

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup orange juice

1/3 cup rice vinegar

1 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons crushed dried red chiles

2 tablespoons cooking oil

1 piece fresh ginger

1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch

1. In a bowl, combine 1/2 cup water, ketchup, brown sugar, orange juice, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and dried chiles.

2. Mince the ginger.

3. Place a medium pan over high heat until hot.

4. Add the cooking oil, swirling to coat the sides.

5. Add 2 tablespoons minced ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 20 seconds.

6. Add the mixture from Step 1.

7. Bring to a boil and cook until the sugar dissolves.

8. Mix the cornstarch with the remaining 1/4 cup water in a small bowl.

9. Add the cornstarch solution to the pan.

10. Cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens.