The Perfect Hot Pot Seafood Sauce: A Step-By-Step Guide

Hot pot is a fun and social meal to share with friends and family. It's an interactive dining experience where guests cook their food in a shared pot of broth. Seafood hot pot is a delicious variation, with options including shrimp, squid, scallops, mussels, clams, and fish fillets.

To make seafood hot pot, you'll need a pot, a burner, and a variety of seafood and vegetables. You can also add noodles or tofu for a more filling meal. The key to a great hot pot is variety, so be sure to include a range of colours and textures.

For the broth, you can use a simple chicken broth or get creative with flavours like tomato soup, Sichuan spicy broth, or a Japanese kelp broth.

The fun part is the dipping sauces! You can make your own using ingredients like sesame paste, peanut butter, soy sauce, chilli oil, or oyster sauce.

So, gather your ingredients, heat up the broth, and let your guests cook and dip their own delicious seafood hot pot!

How to make a spicy garlic chilli sauce

Ingredients

• 4 ounces of chilli peppers (any type of pepper will work, but Thai chiles are traditional)
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of vinegar (white or rice vinegar)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon of sugar (optional)

Optional Ingredients

• Fish sauce
• Onion
• Tomato
• Fresh herbs

Method

• Select and measure out your chilli peppers by weight.
• Add the peppers to a food processor along with the garlic, vinegar, sugar (if using), and a pinch of salt and pepper.
• Process until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into a small pot and heat. Simmer for about 10 minutes to meld the flavours.
• Cool and adjust the flavour with salt and pepper to your taste.
• Store in a sealed jar in the refrigerator.

Tips

• Wear gloves when handling chilli peppers to avoid getting chilli in your eyes.
• This sauce will last 1-2 months in the refrigerator, or you can freeze it for up to 6 months.
• For a less spicy version, use sweet peppers.

How to make a Japanese sesame miso sauce

To make a Japanese sesame miso sauce, you will need the following ingredients:

• Miso paste
• Rice vinegar
• Honey
• Ginger
• Sesame oil
• Lime juice
• Toasted sesame seeds
• Water
• Tahini
• Maple syrup

The first step is to whisk the miso paste and rice vinegar together in a bowl until smooth. Next, stir in the honey, ginger, sesame oil, lime juice, and sesame seeds. Finally, slowly add in the water while continuously whisking until the mixture is creamy and well combined. You can store the sauce in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

This Japanese sesame miso sauce is perfect for hot pot as it can be used as a dip for cooked seafood and vegetables. To make a simple hot pot, prepare a pot of simmering broth with ingredients such as garlic, ginger, and green onions. Provide a variety of raw seafood and vegetables, such as shrimp, squid, leafy greens, and mushrooms, for your guests to cook in the broth. The Japanese sesame miso sauce will add a delicious nutty and umami flavour to the cooked ingredients.

How to make a Taiwanese Shacha sauce

Shacha sauce, also known as Chinese BBQ sauce, is a savoury and slightly spicy condiment used in Min Nan cuisine, primarily in Teochew, Fujian, and Taiwanese cooking. It is made from soybean oil, garlic, shallots, chillies, Chinese brill, and dried shrimp. Here is a recipe for how to make Taiwanese Shacha sauce:

Firstly, gather your ingredients. You will need soybean oil, garlic, shallots, chillies, Chinese brill (a type of fish), and dried shrimp. The quantities of each ingredient can be adjusted to your taste, but a common recipe includes four parts soybean oil, three parts dried shrimp, two parts garlic, two parts Chinese brill, and one part each of shallots and chillies.

Next, prepare the ingredients. Peel and chop the garlic and shallots, and remove the seeds from the chillies if you want to reduce the spiciness. Cut the Chinese brill into small pieces. If you are using whole dried shrimp, you may want to chop them as well.

Now it's time to cook the ingredients. Heat a small amount of soybean oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, shallots, and chillies, and sauté until they are softened and fragrant. Then, add the Chinese brill and dried shrimp, and continue cooking until they are cooked through. Finally, add the remaining soybean oil and simmer the mixture over low heat for 15-20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the flavours have melded together.

Finally, let the sauce cool and then transfer it to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. You can adjust the consistency by adding more oil or water as needed. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Transfer the sauce to a jar or container and store it in the refrigerator, where it will last for several months.

Your Taiwanese Shacha sauce is now ready to be used as a dip for hot pot, a soup base, a barbecue meat rub, or a seasoning for stir-fries. Enjoy!

How to make a garlic sesame sauce

A garlic sesame sauce is a great addition to a hot pot, and can be used as a dipping sauce or poured over vegetables. It is also versatile, and can be used for stir-fry, noodles, or even as a marinade.

Ingredients:

• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 1/2 tablespoons of sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of sesame seeds
• 1 tablespoon of honey or maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon of rice vinegar
• 2 teaspoons of chilli crisp oil (optional)
• 1 tablespoon of green onion, chopped (optional)

Method:

• Stir-fry the garlic in the sesame oil for 1 minute.
• Whisk in the soy sauce.
• Remove from heat and stir in the sesame seeds.
• If you want to add a little spice and some extra flavour, whisk in chilli crisp oil and chopped green onion.
• For a thinner sauce, add a little water.
• For a thicker sauce, add a little cornflour.
• For a sweeter sauce, whisk in honey or maple syrup.
• For a more tangy sauce, add some rice vinegar.

How to make a spicy peanut sauce

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons avocado or vegetable oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, minced
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons Thai-style sweet chili sauce or 2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon of chili garlic sauce
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice
• 2 to 4 tablespoons warm water
• Optional: red pepper flakes, peanuts, and/or cilantro for topping

Instructions

• Gather your ingredients and put them out in front of you to make things easy.
• Grab a small pot and toss in the garlic and ginger.
• Put the pot over medium-high heat and sauté the garlic and ginger for about two minutes, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
• After two minutes, add in the wet ingredients: start with 1/2 cup of water, then add in the peanut butter and lime or lemon juice.
• Next, add in the chili sauce, hoisin sauce, and soy sauce. Stir everything together until the mixture becomes smooth and creamy.
• Reduce the heat to a simmer and let the sauce cook for about 5 to 10 minutes until it has thickened. If you want a thinner sauce, you can add in the remaining 1/4 cup of water.
• Once the sauce is finished cooking, pour it into a bowl of your choice. You can top it with red pepper flakes, peanuts, and/or cilantro if you want to add a little extra kick.
• This sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.

Serving Suggestions

This spicy peanut sauce is very versatile and can be used as a dipping sauce, salad dressing, or paired with grilled chicken, tofu, plain noodles, or rice. It's a great way to add a punch of heat and flavor to your dish!

Frequently asked questions