This is the best dumpling sauce recipe made easy with minimal pantry ingredients! It's fully customizable, ready in just 5 minutes, cheaper and better than store-bought sauce. This flavorful sauce will instantly elevate your dumplings or wontons!
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My easy dumpling sauce recipe is made of soy sauce, Chinese black vinegar, sesame oil, with optional add-ons like green onions, ginger, sesame seeds, sugar, red pepper flakes, ginger or chili oil.
The base itself tastes savory, tangy and nutty and the add-ons can make it taste sweeter, spicy, and more flavorful.
I love this sauce recipe as it's customizable to your preference. If you prefer it mild or less spicy, reduce or omit the chili flakes or chili oil. Not a fan of ginger? Remove that too. The world is your oyster!
I recommend keeping the sauce base the same and adding your selected additions.
This sauce pairs best with store-bought Chinese or Korean dumplings, soup dumplings, Japanese gyoza, wontons, or even savory pancakes.
The dumpling sauce can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in the fridge or make a large batch and freeze it for up to 4 months!
Looking for homemade dumpling recipes? Check out my Chinese Pork Chive Dumplings, Pork Cabbage Dumplings, or Pork Shrimp Dumplings.
Ingredients & Substitutes
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for exact measurements.
Sauce Base
- Regular Soy Sauce: Or substitute with low-sodium soy sauce or light soy sauce. Avoid using dark soy sauce as it's too thick.
- Chinese Black Vinegar: A sweet fermented black rice vinegar available at Asian markets that tastes less acidic compared to other vinegars. I recommend using Chinkiang vinegar - see FAQ section below for an image. Or substitute with rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar.
- Sesame Oil: Or substitute with a neutral oil like avocado oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, grapeseed oil, or peanut oil. Avoid using olive oil or coconut oil.
Suggested Add-Ons
- Sesame Seeds
- Green Onions
- Chili Oil: For a spicy kick.
- Red Pepper Flakes: such as gochugaru or red chili flakes for a spicy flavor.
- Fresh Ginger
- White Granulated Sugar: Or substitute with cane sugar.
Note: Asian ingredients are typically available at most Asian grocery stores or check online.
Variation
- Gluten-free version - Replace the soy sauce with tamari sauce, coconut aminos or a gluten-free soy sauce and replace the black vinegar with rice vinegar.
Expert Tips
- Use a mini whisk to evenly distribute the sauce ingredients.
- If adding sugar to the sauce, mix well until fully dissolved.
- If adding ginger or green onions, use fresh aromatics and finely chop them.
- If adding chili oil, yse a brand that you enjoy. I love using the brand "Lao Gan Ma Chili Crisp" or use homemade chili oil.
Instructions
Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make dumpling sauce:
- Combine sauce base: In a small bowl, combine regular soy sauce, black vinegar and sesame oil and mix well. This is your sauce base.
- Mix optional add-on ingredients: Next add all or some of the above suggested add-ons and mix into the sauce base. Enjoy with cooked store-bought or homemade dumplings!
Storage
- Unused dumpling sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To enjoy, let it come to room temperature as oil tends to solidify in the fridge.
- Unused dumpling sauce can be frozen for up to 4 months in a freezer-safe bag. To enjoy, defrost the sauce overnight in the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
Pairing Suggestions
Dumpling sauce pairs well with:
- Pajeon (Korean scallion pancakes), Korean Seafood Pancake, or Kimchijeon.
- Cooked meat.
- Stir-fries.
- Cooked vegetables.
FAQ
Dumpling sauce can be made in large batches and frozen for up to 4 months in an airtight container. To enjoy, defrost the sauce overnight in the fridge and let it come to room temperature before consuming.
Chinese black vinegar is dark-colored, sweet, and less acidic in taste compared to other vinegars, like white vinegar. It's made of water, glutinous rice, wheat bran, sugar, and salt, then fermented in clay pots for about 6 months. There are many brands of Chinese black vinegar, but I like using Chinkiang Vinegar sold at Asian markets with a yellow label and cap (see image below).
More like this
📖 Recipe
Easy 5-min. Dumpling Sauce (Customizable!)
Ingredients
Sauce Base:
- 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce or light soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Chinese black vinegar or rice vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil or substitute with a neutral oil
Suggested Add-Ons (add all or pick & choose):
- ½ teaspoon sesame seeds optional
- 1 teaspoon green onion finely chopped, optional
- 0.5 - 1 teaspoon chili oil
or as needed, optional - ½ teaspoon white granulated sugar or cane sugar (recommended), optional
- ½ teaspoon ginger peeled and thinly sliced, optional
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes for a spicy version, optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine regular soy sauce, black vinegar and sesame oil and mix well. This is your sauce base.
- Next add all or some of the above suggested add-ons and mix into the sauce base. Enjoy with cooked store-bought or homemade dumplings!
Kathy
I added 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes and 1 tsp mirin. Everyone loved it with our chicken lemongrass dumplings.❤️
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for leaving this positive review, Kathy! Glad everyone loved it with those delicious sounding dumplings!
Jim S
So good! It is quick and easy. It’s a perfect base to build from.
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe and for leaving this positive review, Jim! Glad you found it quick and simple.
CaSaundra
This is easy to make and turned out delicious! I will make this again and again!
Thanks Christie
Christie Lai
Thank you so much for making my recipe! So glad you like it and i hope you continue to enjoy it in the future 🙂
Randi
Ran out of the dumpling sauces I usually have. Made this and it was great. Wasn’t so strong that it covered the taste of the dumplings and enhanced the flavor of the dumplings and made them even better. I will definitely be making this again.
christieathome
Thanks so much for making my dumpling sauce, Randi! Happy it worked out and glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Heather Machin
Very useful dipping sauce thank you! Make a triple batch with one of the tablespoons of soy sauce using sweet soy sauce and it suited us perfectly.
Added scallions and sesame seeds at the table for a tasty garnish. Frozen dumplings have never been so good! 😄
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe! I'm so glad this simple dipping sauce worked out so well and that I could help take your dumplings to the next level!
Sue
This sauce was great and easy to make! Tastes like the sauce we get at restaurants. Thanks for sharing it!
I made more to have on hand. Does it need to be refrigerated? And does the Chinkiang vinegar need to be refrigerated?
christieathome
Thank you so much for making my recipe, Sue! Glad you enjoyed it with your dumplings. I would recommend refrigerating the dumpling sauce in the fridge. The vinegar can be left out at room temperature or stored in the fridge. Have a lovely day!
Heidi | The Frugal Girls
I love your homemade sauce, it's so much easier to make a sauce when it only requires 3 ingredients! And... I had never heard of Chinkiang Vinegar before, it sounds really really good! 😋
mabbi
These were so grood!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
Oh these dumplings look absolutely perfect Christie. Sooo crispy on the outside and delicious!!!
Never Ending Journeys
What a great dumpling dipping sauce! In the past, I've dipped dumplings in spicy mustard, but this sauce looks so tasty. Thanks for sharing this!
Josiah - DIY Thrill
This sauce looks so good!