Dipping sauce

Showing how to dip a piece of sushi into a bowl of soy sauce

Chutney Karnataka

Spinach & artichoke dip

Tzatziki meze or appetizer, also used as a sauce

Dipping sauce is a common condiment for many types of food. Dipping sauces are used to add flavor or texture to a food, such as pita bread, dumplings, crackers, cut-up raw vegetables, fruits, seafood, cubed pieces of meat and cheese, potato chips, tortilla chips, and pretzels. Dipping sauce is also known as a dip or a dippa.

Types of dipping sauce

There are many different types of dipping sauces available worldwide. Some of the most popular include:

• Soy sauce
• Salsa
• Guacamole
• Hummus
• Cheese sauce
• Barbecue sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Tzatziki
• Aioli
• Honey mustard
• Chutney
• Pesto
• Tahini
• Vinaigrette
• Mayonnaise
• Ketchup
• Hot sauce
• Fish sauce
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Tartar sauce
• Cocktail sauce
• Marinara sauce

Uses of dipping sauce

Dipping sauces are commonly used in many different cuisines around the world. They are often used to enhance the flavor of various foods, such as:

• Appetizers
• Snacks
• Sandwiches
• Salads
• Grilled meats
• Seafood
• Vegetables
• Fruits

Glossary of dipping sauces

• Ajika - A spicy, subtly flavored dip in Caucasian cuisine, made from hot red pepper, garlic, herbs, and spices.
• Ajvar - A dip made from red bell peppers with garlic, commonly found in Macedonian cuisine, Bosnian cuisine, and Serbian cuisine.
• Artichoke dip - A creamy dip made primarily from artichokes, often mixed with cheese and seasonings.
• Au jus - A salty beef broth or gravy, commonly used for dipping French dip sandwiches.
• Baba ghanoush - A dip made from roasted eggplant, popular in the Eastern Mediterranean and parts of South Asia.
• Bagna càuda - A warm garlic and anchovy dip, a regional specialty of the Italian Piedmont.
• Banana ketchup - A Filipino condiment made from bananas, used similarly to tomato ketchup.
• Barbecue sauce - A thick, tangy sauce often used for dipping grilled and fried meats in the United States.
• Bean dip - A dip made from refried beans, often blended with spices and cheese.
• Blue cheese dressing - A creamy dressing often used as a dip for raw vegetables or Buffalo wings.
• Buffalo sauce - A spicy, tangy dip used for Buffalo wings and other fried foods.
• Brine - A saltwater dip similar to vinegar or soy sauce.
• Cheese sauce - A melted cheese dip used for dipping tortilla chips, bread, and vegetables.
• Chile con queso - A creamy Tex-Mex dip made with cheese and chili peppers, usually eaten with tortilla chips.
• Chili oil - A spicy oil-based sauce used for dipping dim sum, meats, and noodles.
• Chimichurri - A bright green dip from Argentina, made of parsley, garlic, and oregano.
• Chocolate - Used as a dip for fruits, doughnuts, profiteroles, and marshmallows.
• Chogochujang - A variant of gochujang, used as a dip for seafood, oysters, and raw vegetables.
• Chutney - A thick condiment used with samosas, pakoras, dosa, and idli.
• Clam dip - A seafood-based dip made with clams, cream cheese, and seasonings.
• Cocktail sauce - A ketchup-based dip with horseradish, used for shrimp cocktail and other seafood.
• Comeback sauce - A dip for chicken fingers, made from mayonnaise and chili sauce.
• Crab dip - A creamy dip made from lump crab meat and cream cheese, popular in Maryland.
• Curry ketchup - Also called Currygewürzketchup in Germany, a spicier form of ketchup.
• Duck sauce - A sweet and sour sauce similar to plum sauce, used in Chinese cuisine.
• Fish sauce (nam pla) - A staple of Southeast Asian cuisine, used as a dip for spring rolls and other snacks.
• Fish paste (bagoong) - A fermented fish-based dip used in Filipino cuisine and Thai cuisine.
• Fondue - A melted cheese or chocolate dip for bread, vegetables, and fruits.
• French onion dip - A creamy dip made with sour cream and caramelized onions.
• Fry sauce - A combination of ketchup and mayonnaise, commonly used with French fries and onion rings.
• Garlic butter sauce - A butter-based dip used with seafood, chicken, beef, and pizza.
• Guacamole - A dip made from mashed avocados, lime juice, onions, and tomatoes.
• Hollandaise sauce - A rich, buttery dip commonly served with eggs Benedict and asparagus.
• Honey mustard - A dip made from honey and mustard, often paired with chicken tenders and pretzels.
• Horseradish sauce - A sharp, spicy dip often served with roast beef and seafood.
• Hot sauce - A spicy dip made from chili peppers, vinegar, and salt.
• Hummus - A Middle Eastern dip made from blended chickpeas, tahini, and garlic.
• Jus - A meat broth often served as a dipping sauce for French dip sandwiches and Italian beef.
• Ketchup - A widely used dipping sauce for French fries, hot dogs, and burgers.
• Marinara sauce - A tomato-based dip commonly used with breadsticks, mozzarella sticks, and pizza.
• Mayonnaise - Used as a dip for French fries, cold chicken, and seafood.
• Mint sauce - A fresh, tangy dip made from ground mint leaves, vinegar, or yogurt.
• Miso sauce - A Japanese dip made from fermented soybean paste, used with vegetables and meats.
• Muhammara - A Near Eastern dip made from red peppers and walnuts.
• Mustard - A dipping sauce made from ground mustard seeds, commonly used with sausages and pretzels.
• Nacho cheese dip - A creamy cheese dip used for tortilla chips.
• Olive oil - Commonly used as a dip for bread, often mixed with balsamic vinegar.
• Pico de gallo - A fresh tomato-based salsa used for dipping tortilla chips.
• Plum sauce - A sweet, tangy dip used for egg rolls, dumplings, and spring rolls.
• Ranch dressing - A buttermilk-based dip popular in the United States, often used with vegetables and chicken wings.
• Remoulade - A French-style dipping sauce made with mayonnaise, mustard, and pickles.
• Salsa - A popular dip in Mexican cuisine, made from tomatoes, onions, and chili peppers.
• Soy sauce - A fermented soy-based dip used in East Asian cuisine, especially with sushi.
• Spinach dip - A creamy dip made with spinach and cheese, often served with tortilla chips.
• Sweet and sour sauce - A tangy, syrupy dip used in Chinese cuisine.
• Tahini - A creamy sesame paste dip commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Taramosalata - A Greek dip made from carp roe and olive oil.
• Tartar sauce - A creamy dip with pickles and capers, commonly paired with fried fish.
• Tzatziki - A Greek yogurt-based dip with cucumber and garlic.
• Vinegar - Used as a dip for grilled meats and steamed crabs.

See Also

• List of condiments
• Salsa (sauce)
• List of sauces
• List of dips