The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

Home Recipes Condiments Perfect Dumpling Sauce

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (1)

by: Sarah

494 Comments

Jump to Recipe

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (2)

There are few single food items in this world more perfect than a Chinese dumpling. Chewy, thin dough wrapped around juicy, delicious fillings of endless variety, they’re delicious whether they’re fried, steamed, or boiled, and they’re ideally served with a deliciously contrasting dumpling sauce. I say “ideally” here, because all too often, dumplings don’t get the dumpling sauce they deserve.

A Good Dumpling Sauce Makes All the Difference

I too can be guilty of lazy dumpling sauce habits. I’ve been known to simply splash a plate full of dumplings with a bit of black vinegar, or spoon dollops of chili sauce on top with little thought given to making a full-on dipping sauce.

But I’ve come to realize the error of my ways, because a truly delicious dumpling sauce can make all the difference to your dumpling enjoyment. After crafting this sauce, and happily dunking fried dumplings into it to gobble down with the rest of my family post-photo-shoot on our last blogging day, I realized that the little extra time (literally 5 minutes) it takes to make a good dumpling dipping sauce can take an OK dumpling experience and elevate it to a truly great one.

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (3)

What Makes a Good Dumpling Sauce

The components of a good dumpling sauce are pretty simple, and it comes down to a balance of different flavors: salty, sweet, spicy, and a little bit of tang, or sourness.

The base of the sauce is soy sauce, which provides the salt factor and needs a little bit of thinning out with hot water. The sweetness comes from a little bit of sugar (the hot water helps dissolve it), while the sourness comes from a dash of rice vinegar.

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (4)

The spiciness comes from the addition of chili oil––preferably one with lots of chili flakes like our homemade chili oil––as well as garlic.

I really can’t emphasize the importance of the minced garlic enough. Raw garlic is spicy and sharp, and gives the sauce a much-needed lift.

The final ingredients are sesame seeds and a little bit of sesame oil, for a nutty richness that rounds out the whole sauce.

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (5)

Our love of dumplings at The Woks of Life is no secret.

We’ve posted many dumpling recipes, from our very first “The Only Dumpling Recipe You’ll Ever Need” to subsequent recipes offering very specific variations: vegetable dumplings, chicken and mushroom dumplings, pork and chive dumplings, and more.

We’ve received many requests for a dumpling sauce recipe over the years, and we’re finally delivering!

How to Make the Perfect Dumpling Sauce:

Cook up some Chinese dumplings…

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (6)

And while those are frying (or boiling, or steaming––get our full instructions on how to cook dumplings all those different ways), make the sauce.

Start by dissolving a teaspoon of sugar into a tablespoon of water. Then add 2 tablespoons soy sauce,1 teaspoon rice vinegar,1 teaspoon chili oil,1 teaspoon minced garlic,1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, and½ teaspoon sesame oil.

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (7)

Stir to combine:

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (8)

And serve this sauce with your dumplings!

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (9)

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (10)

Looking for more authentic recipes? Subscribe to our email list and be sure to follow us on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, and Youtube!

4.91 from 164 votes

Dumpling Sauce Recipe: How to Make Dumpling Dipping Sauce

This dumpling sauce recipe makes the perfect dipping sauce for taking your favorite homemade or store-bought dumplings to the next level.

by: Sarah

Course:Condiments

Cuisine:Chinese

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Total: 5 minutes minutes

Print

Rate

Ingredients

  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon hot water
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon chili oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil

Instructions

  • Dissolve 1 teaspoon sugar in 1 tablespoon hot water. Then add soy sauce, rice vinegar, chili oil, minced garlic, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Stir to combine.

  • Serve with freshly cooked dumplings and enjoy!

nutrition facts

Calories: 27kcal (1%) Carbohydrates: 2g (1%) Protein: 1g (2%) Fat: 2g (3%) Saturated Fat: 1g (5%) Sodium: 503mg (21%) Potassium: 19mg (1%) Fiber: 1g (4%) Sugar: 1g (1%) Vitamin C: 0.2mg Calcium: 5mg (1%) Iron: 0.3mg (2%)

nutritional info disclaimer

TheWoksofLife.com is written and produced for informational purposes only. While we do our best to provide nutritional information as a general guideline to our readers, we are not certified nutritionists, and the values provided should be considered estimates. Factors such as brands purchased, natural variations in fresh ingredients, etc. will change the nutritional information in any recipe. Various online calculators also provide different results, depending on their sources. To obtain accurate nutritional information for a recipe, use your preferred nutrition calculator to determine nutritional information with the actual ingredients and quantities used.

Did You Make This?Tag us on Instagram @thewoksoflife, subscribe to our email list, and be sure to follow us on social for more recipes!

@thewoksoflife

You may also like…

  • Chicken Zucchini Dumplings

  • All Purpose Peanut Sauce

  • Whole Wheat Dumpling Wrappers

  • Plum Sauce

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (16)

About Sarah

Sarah is the older daughter/sister in The Woks of Life family. Creator of quick and easy recipes for harried home cooks and official Woks of Life photographer, she grew up on episodes of Ready Set Cook and Good Eats. She loves the outdoors (and of course, *cooking* outside), and her obsession with food continues to this day.

Previous PostHow to Steam Food: 3 Ways to Set Up a Steamer
Next Post Cumin Potatoes (Vegan/Vegetarian!)

Subscribe

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

494 Comments

Newest

OldestMost Voted

Inline Feedbacks

View all comments

The Perfect Dumpling Sauce Recipe - The Woks of Life (2024)

FAQs

What is Chinese dumpling sauce made of? ›

Start by dissolving a teaspoon of sugar into a tablespoon of water. Then add 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon chili oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds, and ½ teaspoon sesame oil. And serve this sauce with your dumplings!

Can you eat dumplings with soy sauce? ›

When it comes to dipping your dumplings, it can be tempting to reach for a bottle of soy sauce, vinegar, chili oil, or store-bought teriyaki rather than whip something up from scratch. And if you're eating great quality fresh or homemade dumplings, those sauces will do just fine.

How to cook dumplings in a wok? ›

Pour water into a wok until one-quarter full. Bring to the boil over high heat. Place steamer over wok, ensuring base doesn't touch water. Steam dumplings for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender and cooked through.

How do you make dumplings taste better? ›

A teaspoon of sugar adds an extremely subtle hint of sweetness. It also helps the dumplings retain their moisture through the cooking process and slows gluten development, which ensures tender dumplings. A pinch of salt seasons the dumplings and enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.

Is hoisin sauce good for dumplings? ›

These Easy Asian Dumplings with Hoisin Dipping Sauce are one of our favorite appetizers to serve a crowd. The filling is packed with salty cabbage, crisp carrots and shiitake mushrooms, then stuffed into wonton wrappers and pan-fried. They're delicious and completely addictive!

What vinegar is best for dumplings? ›

If you've ever found yourself in a dumpling house or having dim sum and wondering what exactly that sweet, sour, and rich dipping accompaniment was, chances are it involved chinkiang vinegar.

Is Kikkoman soy sauce good for dumplings? ›

My go-to soy sauce brand is Kikkoman. You can use your favorite variety like the original or low-sodium soy sauce. If you are gluten-free, substitute soy sauce for tamari or liquid aminos.

What is gyoza sauce made of? ›

Whisk together rice vinegar, soy sauce, green onions, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and ginger in a bowl. Let sit for 15 minutes before serving. Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

How to cook dumplings perfectly? ›

Method
  1. Place your pan on medium heat. When hot, add 2 tablespoons of oil to a non-stick pan. ...
  2. Place an even layer of frozen dumplings in pan. ...
  3. Pour in some water, enough to reach about 1/2 - 3/4 up the sides of the dumplings.
  4. Cover and cook for about 10 minutes on medium to high heat or until the water.

What do Chinese people call dumplings? ›

Sometimes, a jiaozi (the generalized term for Chinese dumplings) can first be made as a shui jiao before pan-frying it to turn it into guo tie. Just like the guo tie, this dumpling is often enjoyed with a salty, acidic dipping sauce of soy sauce and vinegar.

What are the three components of dumplings? ›

Everything you need to know about dumplings!
  • What are dumplings made of? The dumpling dough is made of three main ingredients: flour, water and salt. ...
  • A Round Up: What is a dumpling made of? - Flour. ...
  • Can you freeze dumplings? ...
  • What fillings can I use in my dumplings? ...
  • Some recommended dumpling fillings:

Why do you put cornstarch in dumplings? ›

Instead of steaming these dumplings in water, we simmer them in a vinegary cornstarch and flour slurry that creates a lacy, crunchy golden crust as the water evaporates and the dumplings brown.

What makes dumplings so good? ›

On top of that, it is a great way for the family to spend time together. What makes dumplings special is that they are mixed by hand for some time to ensure the fat in the meat really entraps all the juices. This way when the dumplings are cooked, they have a certain texture—soft, but not falling apart.

Do you cook dumplings with the lid on or off? ›

It's best to have your lid ready: Immediately add about 3 tablespoons of water to the pan, just enough to cover the base of the dumplings, then cover and cook for 3–4 minutes, or until the water has evaporated. Lift the lid and allow the dumpling to cook for another 30 seconds, to allow the bottoms to get extra crispy.

What store-bought sauce goes with potstickers? ›

  • Dynasty Potsticker - Gyoza Dipping Sauce, 5 Fl Oz (Pack of 3) ...
  • Lucky Foods Organic Oyster Flavored Sauce, 15.2 OZ. ...
  • Panda Brand Oyster Flavored Sauce (Green Label)-18 Ounce (Pack of 1) ...
  • Thai Oyster Sauce Maekrua Brand - Thai Original. ...
  • Trader Ming's Gyoza Dipping Sauce By Trader Joe's, 10 Ounce (Pack of 2)

What are Chinese dumplings made of? ›

Originating in Northern China, these dumplings are filled with ground meat and vegetables, such as cabbage, scallions, garlic and ginger and wrapped in a thin, circular-shaped wrapper made of flour and water.

What is the red sauce at Chinese restaurants? ›

Sweet and Sour Sauce is as easy as bringing a few ingredients including pineapple juice, brown sugar, and soy sauce to a boil before adding a cornstarch slurry to the mixture to thicken it. The classic red color from sweet and sour sauce comes from red food coloring (which is completely optional).

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Nathanial Hackett

Last Updated:

Views: 6031

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nathanial Hackett

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: Apt. 935 264 Abshire Canyon, South Nerissachester, NM 01800

Phone: +9752624861224

Job: Forward Technology Assistant

Hobby: Listening to music, Shopping, Vacation, Baton twirling, Flower arranging, Blacksmithing, Do it yourself

Introduction: My name is Nathanial Hackett, I am a lovely, curious, smiling, lively, thoughtful, courageous, lively person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.