Heart-Healthy Sweet & Sour Sauce

Elevate your meals with this guilt-free Heart-Healthy Sweet & Sour Sauce, a flavorful and wholesome alternative to traditional sugary versions. This quick, 13-minute recipe uses low-sodium vegetable broth, unsweetened pineapple juice, and apple cider vinegar to create a perfectly balanced tangy base, while natural sweeteners like date syrup or maple syrup provide a subtle hint of sweetness. Enhanced with fresh minced ginger and garlic, this sauce offers depth and complexity with every bite. Thickened with arrowroot powder or cornstarch, it achieves the ideal glossy texture without relying on unhealthy additives. Ideal for drizzling over stir-fries, dipping spring rolls, or marinating proteins, this vegan, low-sodium sauce is a delicious way to keep your heart—and taste buds—happy.

Nutriscore Rating: 70/100

Prep Time:5 mins

Cook Time:8 mins

Total Time:13 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 cup Low-sodium vegetable broth
• 0.5 cup Unsweetened pineapple juice
• 0.25 cup Apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons Low-sodium soy sauce or tamari
• 2 tablespoons Date syrup (or maple syrup)
• 2 tablespoons Tomato paste (unsalted)
• 2 teaspoons Arrowroot powder (or cornstarch)
• 2 tablespoons Cold water
• 1 teaspoon Fresh minced ginger
• 1 teaspoon Minced garlic

Directions

Step 1

In a small saucepan, combine the vegetable broth, pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce (or tamari), date syrup, and tomato paste. Whisk until smooth and well combined.

Step 2

Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 3

Add the minced ginger and garlic to the sauce, stirring to incorporate. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.

Step 4

In a small bowl, whisk together the arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) and cold water until smooth to create a slurry.

Step 5

Slowly pour the slurry into the saucepan while stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the sauce thickens, about 1-2 minutes.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to low and taste the sauce. Adjust sweetness or acidity, if desired, by adding a small amount of date syrup or vinegar.

Step 7

Remove the saucepan from heat and let the sauce cool slightly before serving. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(549.8g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	256.8

Total Fat 0.2g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1219.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 58.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 2.6g	0%
Total Sugars 39.2g
Protein 4.2g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 62.3mg	0%
Iron 2.1mg	0%
Potassium 1032.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 0.7%

Protein: 6.7%

Carbs: 92.6%