Dumpling sauce is a crucial element that elevates the flavors of dumplings, adding a delightful burst of taste to each bite. In this post I am sharing with you 2 easy dumpling sauce recipes for both Chinese potstickers and Japanese gyoza.
No trip to the ramen shop is complete without a plate (or two!) of pan-fried gyoza on the side. Same goes with a mid-day voyage to Chinatown for dim sum from the pushcarts. I could devour fried wontons and steamed har gao by the truckload.
Dumplings come in many delicious forms. However, the variety of dipping sauces offered doesn’t get the spotlight it deserves. But did you know you can make a proper dumpling sauce in 5 minutes with a handful of simple pantry ingredients that will rival the dipping sauces of your favorite restaurants?
Today, I’m excited to tell you about two of my favorite sauces. One is a flavor-packed Chinese potsticker sauce with a little heat, and the other is a classic Japanese gyoza sauce that you’ll almost always find at a ramen joint.
Table of contents
- What Is Dumpling Sauce?
- Chinese Dumpling Sauce Ingredients
- Japanese Gyoza Dipping Sauce Ingredients
- Ingredient Variations
- How To Make Dumpling Sauce
- Dumpling Recipes
- Storage
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What To Serve With Dumplings
What Is Dumpling Sauce?
Dumpling sauce is a condiment that is often used to top or dip dumplings in. It can be made from a variety of ingredients, but typically includes some combination of vinegar, soy sauce, chili oil, and garlic.
A good dumpling sauce will typically have a nuanced balance of savory, tangy and spicy notes. A little peripheral sweetness should be expected from use of either chinkiang vinegar or rice vinegar.
Chinese Dumpling Sauce Ingredients
- Garlic: A single minced garlic clove is enough to infuse the sauce with a pungent and slightly spicy undertone that marries beautifully with the other ingredients.
- Green onions: Green onions add a refreshing crunch and touch of sweetness. They also help to balance out the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Soy Sauce: Regular soy sauce is the main savory component of our composed dipping sauce. With a complex set of flavors ranging from salty to earthy to almost imperceptibly sweet, soy sauce is an absolute must for this recipe.
- Chinkiang Vinegar: This Chinese black vinegar has a fruity tangy flavor with a noticeable amount of umami. Typically served in a ramekin with thin strips of ginger alongside dim sum favorites like xiao long bao, this is an iconic ingredient worth getting your hands on. Grab chinkiang vinegar on Amazon.
- Chili Oil: I like to use a chili oil that is sesame based. That way you get a one-two punch of toasted nutty perfection with a bit of fire. If you are sensitive to spicy foods, add a little at a time until you find the right amount of heat.
Japanese Gyoza Dipping Sauce Ingredients
- Soy Sauce: Use regular Japanese soy sauce for this recipe. Japanese soy sauce has more depth of flavor than other types of soy sauces.
- Rice Vinegar: Rice vinegar is less harsh than other types of vinegar. It’s fruity, tangy, and a little sweet, almost like apple cider vinegar. Typically used in sushi rice, salad dressings and for pickling – this is one ingredient you’ll want to have handy for much more than this recipe.
- Chili Oil: A teaspoon of chili oil is all you’ll need to round out the flavor with a slight pop of spice. Your gyoza are going to taste amazing! You can buy it at the store, or make your own chili oil.
Ingredient Variations
Click here to see the variations
If you don’t have all of the ingredients on hand or would like to alter the flavor to suit your taste, here are a few substitutions and suggestions to try. Your dumpling sauce will be just as delicious!
- If you can’t find chinkiang vinegar at your local Asian grocery store, use one part balsamic vinegar mixed with one part red-wine vinegar. Balsamic brings a thick and sweet fruitiness.
- For the Japanese gyoza sauce, you can swap rice vinegar for apple cider vinegar, or use a touch of white vinegar.
- Make it less spicy by lowering the amount of chili oil used. Or, if you don’t have chili oil or simply don’t like it, use regular sesame oil or toasted sesame oil. Add an additional teaspoon sesame oil to make it more nutty.
- To make it less salty, use low-sodium soy sauce.
How To Make Dumpling Sauce
- To make the Chinese dumpling sauce, start by peeling and mincing the garlic. then, add the garlic to a bowl along with the chopped green onions, soy sauce, chinkiang vinegar, and chili oil. Stir and serve.
- To make the Japanese dumpling sauce, whisk the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and chili oil in a small bowl.
- Serve the sauce with your favorite dumplings, pot stickers, spring rolls, or egg rolls, and enjoy!
The best thing about making homemade dipping sauces is how easy they are to whip up. Simply measure out the ingredients, whisk them together – and you’re good to go. No muss, no fuss.
Dumpling Recipes
Expand for dumpling recipes you can make at home
While you can buy premade dumplings at the grocery store, making homemade dumplings can be so rewarding and delicious. Here are a few suggestions:
- Mushroom Cabbage Dumplings
- Kimchi Tofu Mandu
- Vegetable Bao Buns
- Shrimp Gyoza
Storage
Both of these dumpling sauces can be stored in an airtight container or a jar.
- The Chinese dipping sauce will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
- The Japanese dipping sauce will keep in the fridge for longer – up to 6 weeks – because it doesn’t contain any garlic or green onion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy dumpling sauce?
Dumpling sauce can be found in the international aisle of your local grocery store. Or, you can also purchase it online from a variety of different retailers.
How can I make gluten-free dumpling sauce?
Use tamari or liquid aminos instead of soy sauce. All the other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
How can I add sweetness to these sauces?
You can add a little honey or brown sugar. Or you can also can a little peanut butter to make the sauce sweet and creamy.
What To Serve With Dumplings
If you’re making a Chinese feast at your place, check out these other delicious and easy Chinese recipes:
- Moo Goo Gai Pan
- Chinese Eggplant With Garlic Sauce
- Egg Fried Rice
- Stir Fried Glass Noodles With Shrimp
- Egg Foo Young
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Have you made this dumpling sauce recipe? Are there changes you made that you would like to share? Share your tips and recommendations in the comments section below!
Easy Dumpling Sauce
5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 9 reviews
- Author: Caroline Phelps
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 6 tablespoons 1x
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Stirring
- Cuisine: Chinese
- Diet: Vegan
Save Recipe
Description
These recipes for Chinese dumpling sauce and Japanese gyoza sauce are so easy to make, you might be surprised that they taste just like your favorite restaurant versions!
Ingredients
Scale
Chinese dumpling sauce
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 scallion, finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons chinkiang vinegar
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
Japanese dumpling sauce
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon plain rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chili oil
Instructions
Directions:
Whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl and serve in individual dipping bowls.
Notes
Dumpling sauce should be kept refrigerated in an airtight glass or plastic container.
- The Chinese dumpling sauce will keep for up to 2 weeks.
- The Japanese dumpling sauce will keep for up to 6 weeks (because it doesn’t contain any fresh ingredients).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 57
- Sugar: 0.9g
- Sodium: 434.8mg
- Fat: 4.6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2.6g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 1.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
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