The Art Of Hot Pot Dipping: A Guide To Crafting The Perfect Sauce

Hot pot is a fun and social meal to share with friends and family. While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to hot pot dipping sauces, there are some popular combinations to try.

A common dipping sauce in Beijing is Zhimajiang, a sesame paste that balances the salty and spicy hot pot broth with its mild and sweet flavour. It's less common in the south of China, where rice is preferred over noodles. Zhimajiang can be made at home by mixing pure sesame paste, peanut butter or satay, pickled tofu, leek flower sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and water or broth.

Other popular sauces in China include crushed chilli, dark soy sauce, vinegar and coriander, or a blend of sesame oil, scallions, garlic, chilli oil, and vinegar. For something different, try a mix of oyster sauce, sesame oil, soy, garlic, scallions, and sesame seeds, or Worcester sauce, sesame oil, crushed peanuts, and BBQ sauce.

If you're short on time or ingredients, a simple combination of soy sauce, sesame oil, and chilli oil or chilli flakes will do the trick. You can also buy ready-made sauces and customise them with ingredients like sesame oil, soy sauce, fresh garlic, and cilantro.

How to make a sesame-based sauce

Making a sesame-based sauce for hot pot is a great way to add flavour to your meal. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make a delicious and creamy sesame sauce.

Ingredients

First, you will need to gather your ingredients. For a basic sesame sauce, you will need:

• Chinese sesame paste (or unsweetened natural peanut butter or tahini)
• Water (or warm hot pot broth)
• Red fermented bean curd
• Chinese fermented leek flower sauce (optional)
• Soy sauce
• Toasted sesame oil
• Garlic, grated or minced
• Cilantro, minced (optional)

Mixing the Sauce

Now, it's time to mix your sauce. Here is a step-by-step process:

• Add the sesame paste to a large bowl.
• Gradually add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and use a spatula or spoon to blend until smooth. Continue adding water and mixing until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.
• If you want a thinner sauce, you can use hot pot broth instead of water. Just make sure the broth is warm but not boiling, as adding boiling liquid to the sesame paste may cause separation.
• Add the red fermented bean curd and break it apart while mixing it into the sauce until fully incorporated.
• Add the rest of the ingredients and mix until everything is dissolved.
• Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning according to your preference. If you find the sauce too mild, you can add more soy sauce, sesame oil, or garlic.

Tips

• When purchasing sesame paste, look for pure sesame paste made with 100% sesame seeds. Some brands may contain peanuts, which can affect the taste.
• If you can't find Chinese sesame paste, you can substitute it with unsweetened natural peanut butter or tahini. These alternatives will give your sauce a different flavour, but it will still be delicious.
• For an extra punch of sesame flavour, consider adding more sesame oil.
• If you want to make your sauce spicy, you can include chopped chillies or chilli oil.
• Feel free to experiment with other ingredients, such as chopped scallions, roasted peanuts, or vinegar, to create your unique sauce.

Now you have a delicious sesame dipping sauce for your hot pot! Enjoy experimenting with different ingredients and flavours to find your perfect combination.

How to make a garlic-based sauce

How to Make a Garlic-Based Hot Pot Dipping Sauce

Hot pot is a fun and interactive dining experience where a pot of bubbling soup is placed in the center of the table, and diners cook various ingredients—such as vegetables, meats, and seafood—in the broth. To elevate your hot pot experience, a flavorful dipping sauce is a must-have condiment. Here's a guide on how to make a delicious and savory garlic-based hot pot dipping sauce.

Ingredients:

• Garlic: Freshly crushed or grated garlic is key to this sauce. Use anywhere from 3 to 12 cloves, depending on how garlicky you like it.
• Soy Sauce: Light soy sauce is ideal for adding saltiness and harmonizing the flavors in your sauce.
• Vinegar: Use Chinese black vinegar (Zhenjiang/Chinkiang or Baoning) for a bold, malty flavor, or opt for rice vinegar if you prefer a lighter, more delicate taste.
• Sesame Paste: Chinese sesame paste, made from roasted sesame seeds, adds a nutty flavor and a thick consistency to your sauce. If you can't find it, unsweetened peanut butter or tahini are good substitutes.
• Chili: For some spice, include chili oil, chili garlic sauce, or chopped chili peppers.
• Scallions and Cilantro: These fresh herbs add a nice herbaceous touch to your sauce.
• Other Optional Ingredients: To make your sauce even more unique, consider adding oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, or Chinese BBQ sauce (Shacha).

Instructions:

• Mash your desired amount of garlic into a paste using a mortar and pestle. If you don't have one, you can put the garlic cloves in a ziplock bag and smash them with a rolling pin.
• Cover the garlic paste with hot water and set it aside.
• In a separate bowl, mix together your desired amounts of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame paste, chili, and other optional ingredients.
• Pour the garlic and water mixture into the bowl and stir well.
• (Optional) Top your sauce with a generous sprinkling of chopped scallions and cilantro.

Your garlic-based hot pot dipping sauce is now ready to enjoy! Feel free to adjust the ingredient quantities to suit your taste preferences. This sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to one day, but it's best when made fresh.

How to make a chilli-based sauce

Chilli-based sauces are a popular choice for hot pot dipping sauces. Here is a guide on how to make a delicious chilli-based sauce for your hot pot.

Ingredients:

• Chilli oil
• Minced garlic
• Light soy sauce
• Chopped spring onion
• Black vinegar
• Oyster sauce
• Chinese BBQ sauce (ShaCha)
• Chinese sesame paste
• Red fermented bean curd
• Fermented leek flower sauce
• Toasted sesame oil
• Grated garlic
• Minced cilantro
• Korean red chilli flakes
• Grounded Sichuan pepper
• Coconut aminos
• Thai chilli peppers
• White miso paste
• Toasted white sesame seeds
• Water

Instructions:

• The key to a good chilli-based hot pot dipping sauce is to balance the flavours and not be afraid to experiment.
• Start with a base of chilli oil, minced garlic, light soy sauce, chopped spring onion, and black vinegar.
• If you want a more savoury and garlicky sauce, add some oyster sauce and Chinese BBQ sauce (ShaCha).
• For a nuttier flavour, include Chinese sesame paste, red fermented bean curd, and fermented leek flower sauce.
• Toasted sesame oil, grated garlic, and minced cilantro will add a nice pungency to the sauce.
• If you like your sauce spicy, throw in some Korean red chilli flakes and grounded Sichuan pepper.
• For a touch of sweetness, coconut aminos and Thai chilli peppers can be added.
• To thin out the sauce and adjust the consistency, gradually add water and whisk until you achieve your desired texture.
• For a creamier sauce, blend in some white miso paste and toasted white sesame seeds.
• Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Remember, the beauty of hot pot dipping sauces is that there are no rules, so feel free to personalise your sauce to your liking!

How to make a peanut-based sauce

How to Make a Peanut-Based Hot Pot Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

• Peanut butter (preferably without added salt and sugar)
• Rice vinegar
• Sesame oil
• Honey (or sugar)
• Light soy sauce
• Chili sauce (like Sriracha)
• White pepper
• Coconut milk
• Red bell pepper
• Fresh cilantro
• Chopped peanuts
• Hot water
• Fish sauce (optional)
• Brown sugar (optional)
• Lime juice (optional)

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients (except the coconut milk, red bell pepper, cilantro, and peanuts) in a blender.
• Blend until smooth.
• Bring the coconut milk to a simmer in a small saucepan over medium heat.
• Pour the hot coconut milk over the blended mixture and whisk until smooth.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped red bell pepper, cilantro, and peanuts.
• If making the sauce ahead of time, thin it with hot water before serving.

Tips:

• If you're using name-brand peanut butter, you may want to reduce the amount of sugar in the sauce.
• For added crunch and nuttiness, sprinkle the sauce with roasted peanuts and sesame seeds.
• For a more savory sauce, add minced garlic and grated ginger.
• For a spicier sauce, increase the amount of chili sauce or add chopped chili peppers.

How to make a soy-based sauce

How to Make a Soy-Based Hot Pot Dipping Sauce

A hot pot dipping sauce is a very personal thing, and there are many ways to make it. Here is a guide on how to make a soy-based hot pot dipping sauce.

Ingredients

• Chinese sesame paste or peanut butter
• Chinese light soy sauce
• Oyster sauce
• Sesame oil
• Chinese black vinegar, Shanghai rice vinegar, or rice wine vinegar
• Fish sauce
• Hoisin sauce
• Chili oil
• Chopped red or green chillies
• Minced garlic
• Chopped scallions
• Chopped cilantro

Optional Ingredients

• White pepper
• Sugar
• MSG
• Roasted chopped peanuts
• Whole fried soybeans
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Leek flower sauce
• XO sauce
• Fermented bean curd
• Sichuan peppercorn powder

Instructions

Mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl, adding more or less of each ingredient to suit your taste. If you want a thinner sauce, add a little water. Enjoy with your hot pot!

Frequently asked questions