Top 15 Best Asian Dipping Sauces – Reviews and Buying Guide
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The 15 Best Asian Dipping Sauces
The popularity of Asian food is mounting globally, and it has introduced us into the wonderful world of Asian dipping sauces. What makes these Asian sauces so unique is the usage of ‘umami’, the fifth taste and the flavor found in tomatoes, asparagus or fermented meat. Most of them are versatile and can go with anything. We put them in our pasta, use them as a marinade for chicken, and dressings for salads.
We’ve brought you the 15 Best Asian Dipping Sauces you need in your kitchen. We’ve also ranked them and added a Dipping Sauce Buying Guide to aid in your search.
#1 Robert Rothschild Farm, Thai Sweet Chili Dipping Sauce
The Thai sweet chili sauce is grown on the Robert Rothschild Farm. It is a combination of sweet piquant peppers, sea salt, white vinegar, cornstarch, and garlic that come together to give you a beautifully versatile sauce.
Pour this sweet and sour sauce over cream cheese and serve with vegetable fingers and crackers to enjoy a delicious appetizer within minutes, or use as a marinade and glaze for your chicken. It has an excellent Thai flavor and is one of the best Asian dipping sauces on our list.
This sauce first comes across as a sweet sauce, then the vinegar kicks in. It has a smoky flavor that comes out when you use it as a marinade. It can be a little sweet for some.
#2 Best of Thailand Sweet Chili Sauce
This multi-purpose Thai sauce is a perfect blend of mildly spicy and sweet. It comes in an easy-to-use squeeze bottle that helps direct the flow of your sauce and prevent messes. The authentic south-east Asian flavor it brings to your meal makes it a kitchen favorite.
It is a light sauce with chili flakes in it. It has low carbs, and it is entirely MSG-free. Pair with your hamburgers and cold pasta salads to add some zest to your meal.
It has a strong garlic flavor, not overly sweet, and it is described as “just hot enough to be interesting”. Some people find the sweetness a little cloying and bland. A little more chili can be added to level up the spice.
#3 Wild Thymes Thai Chili Roasted Garlic Dipping Sauce
The Thai chili roasted garlic dipping sauce is an artisan blend made from natural and organic dried red chili peppers and dried garlic. It can be used as a marinade or glaze for your chicken thighs or pork rinds. It even goes well with steamed veggies.
It has a low sodium count of 50mg per serving, and it is gluten-free. Spread some on cream cheese and serve with crackers for an unusual but delicious appetizer.
It has a rich garlic flavor, with quite a bit of pungency from the chili. The sweet base is a bit overpowering, but that can be countered by adding a little vinegar before serving.
#4 Momofuku Ssäm Sauce
The Momofuku ssäm sauce is a combination of soy sauce, miso, and the traditional Korean Go-chu-jang sauce. This tangy sauce has a lovely texture, and it gives you that hint of spiciness the Go-chu-jang sauce is known for.
This sauce is the perfect addition to your kitchen as it can be used for practically anything. It is a dipping sauce, marinade, even a salad dressing if you like it. Try it with fried foods, vegetables, even pizza.
The sauce has a strong, tangy taste. It is sweet and has strong notes of soy sauce. It isn’t really spicy, just a little tingling on your tongue, but it is tasty, and it goes well with everything.
#5 Kikkoman Gyoza Dipping Sauce
This sauce adds life to your potstickers and dumplings. It brings you a mild ginger flavor straight from Japan. It has an exciting mix of sweet, tangy, and just a little spicy. It is originally a potsticker dipping sauce, but it can also be used in cooking or as a marinade. Put it on your steak and fall in love with the spicy sweetness of this rich sauce. It is viscous and sticks to your dumpling, so you don’t miss a thing.
Some people might find this sauce a little too sweet and mild. The flavor isn’t overpowering, and you can taste the ginger. The tang from the vinegar and the other spices give it an interesting character.
#6 Watcharee’s Thai Peanut Sauce
Watcharee’s Thai peanut sauce was locally made in Maine by Watcharee; a Thailand trained culinary artist. It is entirely organic and vegan. It doesn’t contain gluten, preservatives, and other artificial ingredients.
It is fish, and soy free and only contains organic ingredients like aromatic spices, peanuts, coconut milk, palm sugar, etc. One can use it with seafood, wraps, salads, pasta, grills, etc. It is versatile and has a unique flavor.
It has a very spicy flavor, maybe too spicy for some. The peanut sauce has a smooth paste consistency with little chunks of peanuts. It has a sweet base on account of the palm sugar so you might mix in a little of peanut butter to lessen it.
#7 Sweet Chili Sauce for Chicken by Mae Ploy
This rich and tasty sauce is originally made for chicken, but it is a versatile sauce that can be used as a marinade, a condiment, or even salad dressing. Enjoy it with shrimp, egg rolls, noodles, meatballs, fish, and vegetables. It is thick and spicy without being too spicy, with a sweet base.
It seems like a simple sauce because it is made from pickled red chili, vinegar, salt, and garlic, but there’s nothing simple about the taste.
It starts sweet on your tongue, with a sour undertone. The chili kicks in almost immediately after and it can be a bit much. It has a lovely texture and tastes heavenly with finger foods.
#8 San-J Thai Peanut Mildly Spicy Marinade & Dipping Sauce
San-J peanut marinade and dipping sauce can be used in a variety of meat, grain, and Chinese style sauces and meals. It combines soy sauce, peanuts, sake, and apple cider vinegar, among others, to give your meals that Asian feel.
This peanut sauce can be a little too thin for some people this can be remedied by mixing in a little peanut butter or cooling the sauce for a few minutes.
The paste has a smooth, moist Consistency and a mild peanut flavor. There’s a strong note of spiciness in the first bite, and this gives way to a more savory taste with a lingering aftertaste.
#9 Kraft, Sweet & Sour Sauce
Kraft sweet and sour sauce comes in a convenient squeeze bottle that regulates the flow of your sauce. It is a lovely sweet and sour sauce that works great as a dipping sauce and also as a condiment. It contains vinegar, pineapple juice concentrate, bell peppers and spice, all blended with a corn syrup base.
It has the right balance of subtle sweetness and tartness, and it pairs perfectly with chicken meals. The sharp tang from the vinegar and pineapple juice concentrate give it a slightly acidic flavor that can be reduced by sprinkling a little brown sugar before serving.
It tastes very sweet and tart at the same time. It has a slightly overpowering acrid taste, and it goes great with fried wontons.
#10 Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce
Sweet Baby Ray’s sweet and sour sauce is an exciting new take on an old classic. It packs quite a complex flavor. The layers of flavor take some time getting used to, but in the end, you’ll be glad you picked it.
This is not your regular sweet and sour sauce, and it improves the quality of your chicken. It is excellent as a dipping sauce and also works as a barbeque sauce. It gives you value for your money.
It has a dominant sweet flavor with an underlying tang of sourness and a hint of vinegar. It starts sweet, then it combines with that sour tang, with a linger of apple sauce.
#11 Annie Chun’s Korean Sweet and Spicy Sauce
Annie’s Go-Chu-Jang sauce is a Korean sauce with a distinctive flavor that brings the right blend of sweet, spicy and savory you’d expect from a Go-Chu-Jang sauce. It is made from red pepper powder, soybean base, and brown sugar.
Use your sauce as a dipping sauce or as a marinade before you grill, or simply blast your steak or chicken with it 5 minutes before it’s done to get that delicious Korean element in your meal.
When you taste this sauce, you get an earthy, sweet taste, and then you get a hint of the heat from the chilies. It is thick and has a slightly concentrated and pungent taste. It leaves a lingering spiciness seconds after tasting it
# 12 Kikkoman Tempura Dipping Sauce
This tangy dipping sauce is a blend of real fish stock and soy sauce. It goes well with seafood, shrimp tempura, and vegetables. It adds an authentic Japanese taste to your meal and gives it a rich, strong flavor.This sauce comes concentrated, and the recommendation is to mix a quarter cup of sauce and a cup of warm water, or according to your taste. The sauce pairs perfectly with the delicious and delicate texture of tempura and fish.
This sauce has a strong smoky flavor. It has a smooth consistency, and the flavor becomes lighter after dilution. It is quite salty and has a tangy vinegar flavor.
#13 Thai Kitchen Sweet Red Chili Dipping Sauce
The Sweet Red from Thai Kitchen is made from garlic, pure cane sugar, rice vinegar, and pickled, whole, sun-ripened chili peppers. It is gluten and dairy free and can be enjoyed by vegans. It tastes great in noodles, stir-fry or just as a dipping sauce and goes well with anything that has chicken. This sauce gives your meal a genuine South-east Asian vibe. It is an all-purpose sauce that adds a kick to your meals.
It has mild notes of chili and a strong flavor of garlic. It is sweet and savory with a little spiciness.
#14 Minor’s Sweet Chili Sauce
Minor’s sweet chili sauce is a blend of sweet red chilies and chili flakes all in a sweet corn syrup base. This Chinese-style sauce is versatile and elevates every meal it’s paired with. It comes in a 4.7 lbs. bottle, so you don’t have to reorder frequently.
Add this sauce to your dressings, stir-fries, and noodles or use it as a plain dipping sauce with tempura or some wontons. It has jalapeno peppers in it which give it an extra kick.
This sauce is very sweet and tasty; the spiciness hits you on the first bite. The flavor of the jalapenos adds a particular dimension to this chili sauce. It goes well with egg rolls.
#15 Dynasty Potsticker-Gyoza Dipping Sauce
There’s nothing a potsticker or dumpling needs more than a good gyoza dipping sauce to complement and elevate its flavor. The Dynasty Potsticker-Gyoza Dipping Sauce does this without being too overpowering.
It’s made with soy sauce, natural garlic flavor, vinegar, and sesame oil, giving it an original oriental vibe. It is a bit tangy and can be too spicy for those not accustomed to it. Try using it with crab Rangoon or noodles for an exciting twist.
This sauce is rich, salty, and medium spicy. It has a tangy aftertaste with a hint of garlic and soy sauce. Some people might find this sauce too bitter on account of the sesame oil content.
Dipping Sauce Buying Guide
From gourmet cuisine to simple home-cooked meals, Asian food has, silently but surely, permeated every area of global cuisine and we can’t be any happier. The sauce is an essential aspect of any south-east Asian meal. From peanut sauce to soy sauce, oyster sauce, and even the more traditional Korean go-chu-jang sauce, you will always find the sauce that matches your taste perfectly.
There are too many delicious Asian dipping sauces to choose from and, whether it’s your first time or not, there are certain things you need to assess before you buy your dipping sauce.
Types of Dipping Sauce
There are so many kinds of Asian dipping sauces that complement different meals. There are sweet sauces, savory sauces, spicy sauces, and sauces that are a blend of 2 or more of these flavors.
Sweet sauces
Sweet sauces have a sweet base that could be honey, gelatinized starch or sugar. These bases are usually combined with another savory, sour or spicy ingredients to give them a complex and exciting flavor profile. These sauces are usually versatile and can be used as marinades as well. They also work well as dipping sauces for appetizers and vegetables. Try using them as a glaze for your chicken for a lovely surprise.
Savory sauces
Some of the best sauces to add to your meal are savory. Soy sauce, fish sauce, and oyster sauce are the most popular Asian sauces. They instantly give your meals a south-east Asian feel you can’t get anywhere else because they contain several aromatic spices and have a lot of umami. Try using a savory sauce as a marinade for your chicken, beef or even pork meal. It is essential to note the sodium level of a sauce before buying.
Spicy sauces
Spicy sauces are good for when you want to add a little kick to your meals. The level of spice is usually marked from mild to very spicy. Chili sauces are quite popular. They make the best Asian dipping sauces, and you can put them in your noodles, rice, even pizza, and hamburgers. They usually have a slightly sweet taste with a bit of sugar to tame the heat from the chillis. However, it is essential to note that not everyone can manage or enjoy the heat. So try to provide alternatives, if you plan on serving this to people.
These various sauces are blends of these dominant flavor profiles, so go through the ingredients to decide which you’d prefer.
Health Benefits of Dipping Sauce
We’re in an era of healthy living, and it is always recommended that healthier options are available for consumption. Many of the ingredients are farm grown or organic. They contain little or no preservatives, and you can find a lot of kosher, vegan, or halal options.
The nutritional information is also provided so people with different allergies, like peanut, soy, or gluten allergies, can stay away from sauces that carry those allergens. It is vital that you go through the nutritional information and ingredient list provided to avoid certain situations.
Also worthy of note are the sodium and fat levels. Sauces that contain salt have a higher sodium content. Low sodium foods contain less than 140 mg of sodium per serving, based on a 2000 calorie diet and contain no sodium chloride.
Expiry Date
Before buying a product, ensure it is at least five months from its expiry date, especially if you’re buying a large amount or it is not for everyday use. If you get a short-dated product, don’t hesitate to return it.
Price
As always, the price of a product is a significant factor in deciding the sauce you want. Most times, the best Asian dipping sauces are the more expensive ones, and vice versa. Usually, 100% organic dipping sauces are more expensive than less organic types. They are usually homemade and contain no preservatives and so are made in small batches. They require constant refrigeration and should be consumed over a few weeks.
The location and manufacturer also plays a role in how expensive it will be. Sauces produced in Asia will probably be more expensive than local products. Also, sauces made by famous chefs or restaurants tend to be more expensive. For Asian dipping sauces, it is best to invest more money in an umami-rich sauce of good quality to get more value for your money.
Summary
We have reviewed the 15 best Asian dipping sauces according to their quality, health benefits, price, and most importantly, taste. These sauces range from sweet and sour sauces to spicy gyoza sauces and peanut sauces.
The Thai Sweet Chili sauce from Robert Rothschild farm made the top of our list as the best Asian dipping sauce. It is organic, gluten-free, and delicious. Take a look at how we rank and review the sauces, then decide which one is the best for you.
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