It’s sweet, it’s sour and it’s known for its trademark tang. But did you know what fruit is the secret ingredient in this popular dipping sauce?
But have you ever wondered about the secret ingredient that gives this sauce its trademark tang? Look no further than the magic of pineapple juice.
High in acid and sugar, pineapple juice is the ideal platform for sweet and sour sauce as we know it today.
But first, a little history lesson is in order.
It is widely believed that the ancestor of sweet and sour sauce in the Western world is an 18th century pork dish from the Jiangsu region north of Shanghai, created by the personal cooks of the prominent Long family.
Sweet and sour pork is a Chinese food favourite.
The dish ɡū lǎo ròu, or pork in vinegar and sugar, gained popularity in the west as Chinese immigrants headed to the US and Australia, often trading out their skills in mining and construction for cookery as a trade.
The addition of pineapple juice along the way created the ultimate approachable combination for western palates and thus, a star was born.
McDonald’s uses other fruits in its sweet and sour sauce.
While pineapple is the most common fruit found in sweet and sour sauce, it’s not unusual to find other fruits in there too.
McDonald’s, for instance, use both apricots and peaches to make their famous nugget dipping sauce.
TRY THESE SWEET AND SOUR RECIPES:
Sweet and sour pork
Korean pancake with sweet and sour tamari
Sweet and sour meatballs
Prawn spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce
For more food stories and recipes, go to delicious.com.au