Dumpling Sauce

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 3 mins
Total: 8 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Chinese dumplings (jiaozi) are one of the most traditional dishes in Chinese cuisine and a must-have at everything from family dinners to banquet meals. But a dumpling wouldn't be a dumpling without the dipping sauce that goes with it. They simply require something tangy, sometimes spicy, to help cut through the rich savoriness of the dumpling filling.

Just as there are many different types of dumplings, there are many types of dipping sauces. This recipe is a quick, easy, and popular version. It uses a soy sauce and rice vinegar base with garlic, sesame oil, and hot chile oil for flavor. The sauce works great for classic pork-filled dumplings but also pairs wonderfully with pockets filled with eggs, prawns, or vegetables. With some simple substitutions, you can also make the perfect sauce for Japanese gyoza and Thai pot stickers.

Instructions are given for making your own chile oil, but a store-bought version is fine to use. You can use Sichuan (Szechuan) peppercorn oil instead. Both will give the sauce a nice spicy kick. As always, you can adjust the flavor to suit your personal preference.

Use this recipe either for homemade Chinese dumplings or store-bought dumplings. While those often come with dipping sauce, you will be better able to adjust the seasonings if you make it yourself.

Dipping sauce in a glass bowl with a dumpling secured with chopsticks

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"This recipe is fast and easy to make and tastes like what you'd get at a Chinese restaurant. I made the chili oil step, but store-bought chili crisp would be great, too. I tried both rice vinegar and Chinese black vinegar and preferred the black vinegar for its savory depth." —Danielle Centoni

Dumpling dipping sauce in a glass bowl
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

For the Chile Oil:

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder (or chile flakes)

  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil of your choice

For the Sauce:

Steps to Make It

If you decide to make your own chile oil, you will start with that step. Otherwise, skip ahead to directions for the dipping sauce.

Make the Chile Oil

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients gathered for chile oil

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  2. Place the chili powder or chile flakes into a heatproof bowl.

    Chili powder in a cup

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  3. In a small saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil.

    Cooking oil in a pan and a cup of chili powder

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  4. Pour the hot oil into the chili powder. Let it cool.

    Pouring oil into the cup of chili powder

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  5. The chile oil can be stored in the fridge in an airtight jar or container if not used immediately.

Make the Dipping Sauce

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for dumpling dipping sauce gathered

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  2. In a small bowl, combine the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and 1 teaspoon of the hot chile oil. Whisk until well combined.

    Dumpling dipping sauce in a glass bowl with garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and hot chile oil

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  3. Serve with your favorite dumplings.

Tips

  • The dipping sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
  • Serve the dipping sauce in individual small dishes for each guest. This eliminates any worries about "double-dipping."

Recipe Variations

  • Add thin strips of ginger or chopped green scallions as a crunchy garnish that also adds flavor.
  • For a hint of sweetness, stir in 1 teaspoon of sugar; brown sugar is a popular choice for Asian sauces and marinades.
  • To put a Japanese spin on this dipping sauce—perfect for gyoza—substitute ponzu for the soy sauce and mirin for the Chinese rice wine vinegar.
  • For Thai-style pot stickers, swap the chile oil for nam prik pao (Thai chile paste) and add a splash of lime juice.

What Is a Good Substitute for Rice Vinegar?

If you enjoy exploring Asian recipes, a bottle of rice wine vinegar will come in handy. It's a common ingredient in many sauces and marinades, and the rice adds a sweetness not found in every type of vinegar. The best substitutes are apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, and Chinese black vinegar. Standard white vinegar is a decent option but lacks the sweetness, so consider adding a little sugar to the sauce.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
105 Calories
11g Fat
2g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 105
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 839mg 36%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 15mg 1%
Iron 0mg 2%
Potassium 79mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)