This Homemade Asian Sauce is a sweet and sour sauce that’s often used as a dip for Chinese spring rolls and egg rolls, or drizzled on top of your favorite dishes.
Ever wondered how you can make your very own Asian sauce? It’s much easier than you think to make your own Asian sauce! With only 5 simple ingredients, it takes just a few minutes to put this tangy sauce together.
Table of Contents
What is Asian Sauce?
It is a bright orange sauce with a sweet and sour flavor. It’s usually served at American Chinese restaurants, along with soy sauce. Asian sauce is traditionally made using plums, apricots, pineapples or peaches, which gives it a sweet taste. Vinegar, chili sauce and soy sauce help to make this sauce complex and flavorful.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apricot Jam: This will give your sauce an authentic taste and distinctive orange color. You can also use peach and preserves.
- Sweet Chili Sauce: This adds a bit of heat to your sauce, but not too much. You can DIY this sauce by combining honey and hot sauce.
- Rice Vinegar: It is an essential ingredient in Asian cuisine. If it’s unavailable, just use apple cider vinegar.
- Soy Sauce: It gives you that unmistakable umami flavor. Fish sauce and Worcestershire sauce are decent substitutes for those with soy allergies.
- Garlic Powder: You can also use minced garlic.
How to make Asian Sauce
- In a medium mixing bowl, add apricot jam, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth.
- Place a strainer over another bowl and pour the mixture onto the strainer.
3. Taste and adjust the ingredients according to your preference. Press the mixture through the strainer using a spoon.
4. Use it as a dipping sauce, serve and enjoy!
What Does Asian Sauce Taste Like?
It’s sweet, with a fruity undertone. It’s also slightly tangy with umami flavor, thanks to the addition of soy sauce. This homemade sauce is only mildly spicy, but some people like to add more hot sauce for a fiery kick.
Tips & Tricks
- You can customize the sweetness and the spicy level of the sauce. One of the advantages of making your own sauce is your ability to customize it. You can make it as sweet and as spicy as you like. Play around with the ingredients to find the right ratio for you.
- Strain the mixture through a strainer for a smooth texture. To get a smooth sauce, it’s best to use a sieve. This is especially true if you used minced garlic instead of garlic powder.
- Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Ways to Use Asian Sauce
- Sho Mai
- Egg Rolls
- Wonton
- Spring Rolls
- Chicken Wings
How Long Does Homemade Asian Sauce Last?
Your homemade sauce has a shelf life of about three weeks. Be sure to store it in the fridge in an airtight container.
Is Asian Sauce the Same as Sweet and Sour Sauce?
No. Asian sauce is distinguished by its fruity flavor thanks to the inclusion of apricots, plums, peaches or pineapples. While sweet and sour sauce is sweet, it doesn’t have the fruity flavor of the Asian sauce.
Easy Homemade Asian Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup apricot jam
- 1 teaspoon sweet chili sauce or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon soy sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl, add apricot jam, sweet chili sauce, rice vinegar, soy sauce, and garlic powder. Mix until smooth.
- Place a strainer over another bowl and pour the mixture onto the strainer.
- Taste and adjust the ingredients according to your preference.
- Press the mixture through the strainer using a spoon.
- Use it as a dipping sauce, serve and enjoy!
Looks yummy Tara! Can we use this sauce with foods other than traditional Chinese foods?
Definitely, I’ve used this with chicken wings, shrimp, seafood, and even vegetables. So delicious!