Sesame Free Paleo Sweet and Sour Sauce
Sweet, tangy, and glossy enough to make anything it touches look like it came from a restaurant kitchen, this sauce delivers that classic takeout flavor without a drop of soy sauce or sesame oil in sight. Coconut aminos step in as the savory backbone, giving you that deep, slightly sweet umami note that makes the whole thing sing. Pineapple juice and apple cider vinegar bring the bright acidity, while honey rounds out the sweetness and fresh ginger adds a little warmth that keeps it from tasting flat. Arrowroot starch is the secret to that perfect, shiny consistency — just be sure to pull it off the heat as soon as it thickens, since the recipe is right that overcooking will thin it back out. Store-bought sweet and sour sauces are notorious for sneaking in sesame-derived ingredients or shared-facility warnings, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the safest and most satisfying route. Use it as a dipping sauce, a stir-fry glaze, or drizzle it over roasted veggies — it's endlessly versatile and comes together in under ten minutes.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- ½ cup pineapple juice (unsweetened)
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
- ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp arrowroot starch
- 1 tbsp cold water
Instructions
- 1
Whisk together the pineapple juice, apple cider vinegar, coconut aminos, honey, tomato paste, ginger, garlic powder, and salt in a small saucepan until the tomato paste is fully dissolved.
- 2
Set the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally, until it is steaming and just beginning to bubble at the edges, about 3–4 minutes.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!