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Hot pot has been a favorite meal shared with friends and family. Whether it is a hot summer day or a cold winter day, you can enjoy it in any season. It is not only eaten alone but with a spicy dipping sauce that just hits the spot! Here, I share 6 delicious hot pot dipping sauces to pair with your next hot pot meal.
Why Add Dipping Sauces For Hot Pot
If you don’t know yet, hot pot is a broth filled with various ingredients, from meat cuts to fresh vegetables and noodles. You can have it with mushrooms, napa cabbage, lotus roots, green leafy vegetables, tofu, various meats, and shrimp – you name it! It is best shared with a group where each takes a piece from the pot and puts it on their own plates.
Hot pots are loved for their variety of broth bases to choose from, such as spicy broth and red curry. The ultimate finisher? A hot pot dipping sauce, of course!
Dip each ingredient into the dipping sauce, and you get an entirely different taste. The sauces are easy to make with pantry-friendly ingredients and common Asian sauces. Make it spicy or non-spicy just the way you like it.
Ingredients For Hot Pot Dipping Sauces
Similar to the dumpling dipping sauce, there are numerous ingredients to choose from to customize your hot pot dipping sauce. The ingredients depend on the flavor you want. Some of the most common dipping sauce bases are sesame oil, chili, and soy sauce.
Play around with the taste by gradually adjusting the amount of each ingredient. You can make it salty, spicy, or savory. Here are some things to know about each ingredient of the 6 dipping sauces.
- Sesame oil: This adds a nutty and earthy taste with a slight sweetness. It adds depth and aroma to the sauce. Its strong nutty taste makes it stand out from other ingredients.
- Minced garlic: This makes it garlicky, nutty, and pungent. It can be added raw or cooked to the sauce. For pre-cooked fried garlic, follow my crispy fried garlic recipe to learn how to make a jar of this.
- Green onions: Add a pop of color and a fresh mild onion taste with chopped green onions. Swap these with other types of onions such as chives, shallots, white onions, yellow onions, or red onions.
- Coriander: Coriander imparts a tart and lemon-like taste. You can use fresh coriander leaves or powder. Swap fresh coriander with parsley, mint, or basil.
- Chinese sesame paste: This paste is made from toasted sesame seeds that are ground into a paste. You can use white or black sesame paste. You can find this in most Asian supermarkets.
- Chili oil: If you like it spicy, chili oil is the best way to do it. Buy one from the store or make your own with my homemade chili oil.
- Fermented bean curd: This is also known as fermented tofu or preserved tofu. It is usually sold in blocks and stored in aged brine in jars which are widely available in Asian grocery stores or in the international section of local grocery stores.
- Light soy sauce: Make it salty and umami with light soy sauce. You can use regular soy sauce, dark soy sauce, tamari, liquid aminos, coconut aminos, or gluten-free soy sauce as alternatives.
- Chinese black vinegar: Chinese black vinegar adds a fruity, tangy, and slightly sweet taste. The color is dark and is available in Asian supermarkets. It is usually labeled as Chinkiang vinegar or Zhenjiang vinegar. The closest alternatives to this are balsamic vinegar, date vinegar, or red wine vinegar.
- Thai chili pepper: Thai chili pepper or bird’s eye chili makes it hot and spicy. You can use green or red chili peppers, crushed red pepper flakes, or cayenne peppers. If you don’t have whole chili peppers, replace 1 whole chili pepper with 1/4 tsp chili flakes. Remove this if you are not a fan of spicy foods.
- Chili flakes: Add a smoky, earthy, and slightly fruity taste to the sauce. This gives you medium heat. You can also use gochujang or Korean red pepper flakes. If you don’t like spicy food, remove this as well.
- Peanuts: Any type of peanut will do, such as boiled, roasted, or salted. You can use Runner, Spanish, Valencia, and Virginia.
- Optional ingredients: Adjust the taste with sugar if you like, such as brown sugar, white sugar, or coconut sugar. Add more texture with white or black sesame seeds.
Storage Suggestions For Dipping Sauces
Dumpling sauce should be stored in an airtight container, such as a spice glass jar. Keep in mind maintaining its freshness and flavor requires proper sealing. It can stay in the fridge for up to two weeks, but fresh ingredients can lead to a shorter shelf life.
How To Make The 6 Dipping Sauces
Choose your favorite dipping sauce and adjust the amount according to taste. Prepare your sauce jar or small sauce bowl. Don’t forget to watch how I did it with my Instagram or TikTok tutorial videos.
Here’s how to make the 6 hot pot dipping sauces:
Dipping Sauce #1: Sesame oil + garlic + green onion + coriander
- Chop the garlic, green onions, and coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
- Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #2: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + fermented bean curd + coriander
- Chop the fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of white Chinese sesame paste.
- Add 1 tablespoon chili oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon fermented bean curd.
- Add 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #3: light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + Thai chili pepper + green onion + coriander
- Chop the Thai chili peppers, green onions, and fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce.
- Add 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped Thai chili pepper.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #4: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + sesame oil + green onion + coriander
- Chop the green onions and fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Chinese sesame paste.
- Add 1 tablespoon chili oil.
- Add 1 tablespoon light soy sauce.
- Add 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar.
- Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #5: Chili flakes + peanuts
- Crush the peanuts into bits.
- In a small bowl, add a spoonful of chili flakes.
- Add a small bowl of peanuts.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #6: Sesame oil + green onion + garlic + Thai chili pepper + oyster sauce
- Chop the green onions, garlic, and Thai chili peppers.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon minced garlic.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped Thai chili peppers.
- Drizzle some oyster sauce.
- Mix well.
Any Thoughts?
Which one is your favorite dipping sauce? Don’t forget to tag me @kitchenmisadventures to share your sauces. Leave a comment in the comments section for your tips and suggestions!
Hot Pot Dipping Sauce Recipes
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce #1: Sesame oil + garlic + green onion + coriander
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander
Dipping Sauce #2: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + fermented bean curd + coriander
- 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
- 1 teaspoon fermented bean curd
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander
Dipping Sauce #3: light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + Thai chili pepper + green onion + coriander
- 1 tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar
- 1 teaspoon chopped Thai chili pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander
Dipping Sauce #4: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + sesame oil + green onion + coriander
- 1 tablespoon Chinese sesame paste
- 1 tablespoon chili oil
- tablespoon light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander
Dipping Sauce #5: Chili flakes + peanuts
- 1 spoonful of chili flakes
- a small bowl of peanuts
Dipping Sauce #6: Sesame oil + green onion + garlic + Thai chili pepper + oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon chopped green onions
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon chopped Thai chili peppers
- 1 teaspoon oyster sauce
Instructions
Dipping Sauce #1: Sesame oil + garlic + green onion + coriander
- Chop the garlic, green onions, and coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon sesame oil.
- Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic.
- Add 1 teaspoon chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #2: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + fermented bean curd + coriander
- Chop the fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of white Chinese sesame paste.
- Add 1 tablespoon of chili oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon of fermented bean curd.
- Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #3: light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + Thai chili pepper + green onion + coriander
- Chop the Thai chili peppers, green onions, and fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce.
- Add 1 tablespoon of Chinese black vinegar.
- Add 1 teaspoon of chopped Thai chili pepper.
- Add 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #4: Chinese sesame paste + chili oil + light soy sauce + Chinese black vinegar + sesame oil + green onion + coriander
- Chop the green onions and fresh coriander.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of Chinese sesame paste.
- Add 1 tablespoon of chili oil.
- Add 1 tablespoon of light soy sauce.
- Add 1 tablespoon of Chinese black vinegar.
- Add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon of finely chopped coriander.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #5: Chili flakes + peanuts
- Crush the peanuts into bits.
- In a small bowl, add a spoonful of chili flakes.
- Add a small bowl of peanuts.
- Mix well.
Dipping Sauce #6: Sesame oil + green onion + garlic + Thai chili pepper + oyster sauce
- Chop the green onions, garlic, and Thai chili peppers.
- In a small bowl, add 1 tablespoon of sesame oil.
- Add 1 teaspoon of chopped green onions.
- Add 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.
- Add 1 teaspoon of chopped Thai chili peppers.
- Drizzle some oyster sauce.
- Mix well.
