8 Tasty Asian Dipping Sauces to Enrich Your Foods

From the West to the East and everywhere in between, all cultures in the world have their own unique dipping sauces to enliven all kinds of food. In Asian cuisines, a yummy dipping sauce is often integral to complete the flavours in a dish. Some dipping sauces embody the signature palate of its cuisine, and can be used almost universally for all their dishes. Others may be specific to enrich certain food types.

All Asian dipping sauces are made with a simple combination of rich-flavoured ingredients, which you can easily find at Asian grocers and Aussie supermarkets. So, let’s yummify your home-cooked goodies with these 8 beloved Asian dippings!

Dipping Sauces for Your Barbecues

Satay Sauce

Savoury and spicy with a light sour undertone and bold nutty aroma, the Malaysian Satay Sauce (Kuah Kacang) is the perfect pairing for grilled satay. The rich dipping sauce blends well with the turmeric fragrance and accentuates the skewered meat’s hearty taste. A must-have to complete the satay’s authentic flavour. Besides that, you can also use it to season stir-fried meats like this chicken special.

Ssamjang Sauce

The indulgent sweet-savoury flavours of Korean barbecue demand a dipping sauce that’s equally awesome, and thus the zesty, mouthwatering Ssamjang sauce is born. Not only does it elevate the tastes of marinated meats, but also great with the crunchy lettuce wrap unique to Korean barbecue. And, like the satay sauce, you can also cook other meaty dishes with Ssamjang. Here’s a scrumptious pan-fried prawn delight you simply must try.

Yakiniku Sauce

Yakiniku means grilled meat in Japanese, which can be enjoyed on its own, in skewers or with rice. The dipping sauce is a blend of sake, mirin, soy sauce, miso paste, bonito flakes and sugar for the savoury-sweetness, rice vinegar and grated apple for a sour touch, and sesame seeds to complete its aroma. Yakiniku sauce imbues grilled meats with a rich umami flavour that lingers on your tastebuds. Mix it up with our authentic recipe, and add a pinch of spicy wasabi to the dipping sauce for this delicious beef special.

Dipping Sauces for Snack Dishes

Chinese Sichuan Chilli Oil

Piquant, zesty and savoury, the Chinese Sichuan Chilli Oil is the beloved dipping sauce for dumplings and savoury Yum Cha delicacies. Adding a rich spicy aroma and zeal to your yummy enjoyment. It’s also a wondrous dipping sauce to zest up noodle soups. Easy to make with our recipe. Store your homemade chilli oil in an airtight container, and you can keep it fresh in your fridge for up to 3 months.

Garlic, Chilli & Coriander in Soy Sauce

Soy sauce is the staple condiment in many Asian cuisines. Adding a few ingredients can easily turn it into a wondrous dipping sauce. Malaysians combine the soy sauce with minced garlic, fiery bird’s eye chilli and fragrant coriander. A dipping sauce that can yummify Chinese poached chicken, dumplings, wonton, Yong Tau Foo, fish crackers and pretty much any fried snack. Super easy to make!

Dipping Sauces for Almost Anything

Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce

Spicy sweet with a savoury tone, zesty tinge of lime, and coriander fragrance, the Thai Sweet Chilli Sauce goes great with pretty much all savoury-seasoned meat, seafood and vegetable dishes; pan-fried, steamed, grilled, stir-fried or deep-fried. Typically served with Thai fish cakes, salads, and even fried rice. Add it to your home-cooked goodies with our recipe. Also try it in a delicious fried fish wonder that’s sure to rock your taste-buds!

Nam Prik Ong

Northern Thai cuisine favours sticky rice with a host of saucy meat and refreshing fruit and veggie dishes. They are generally less spicy than Thai food of other regions, with unique dipping sauces as the primary flavour-boosters in their meals. These range from sweet and savoury to funky and zesty. Nam Prik Ong is among the popular staples. A spicy, sour and savoury dipping sauce that combines dried chilli with cherry tomatoes and minced pork or chicken. An exciting boost to both meaty and leafy dishes, especially the Northern Thai signature fried pork crackling. 

Nuoc Mam Cham

The Nuoc Mam Cham dipping sauce is inseparable from Vietnamese cuisine. Its rich spicy-sweet, savoury and lime zeal completes the flavours of many classic Vietnamese dishes, including spring rolls, Banh Xeo pancakes, wholesome rice paper rolls, and noodle bowls. Great for all kinds of meat, seafood and veggie delights. Come grab the easy recipe.

More Delectable Asian Taste-boosters

Condiments, sauces and oils often define the unique palate of every Asian cuisine. Many of which are also used across cultures and can result in a myriad of surprising flavours. Come explore them in our glossary of these spectacular taste-boosters!