Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce

This is a spin on the traditional soy and vinegar dipping sauce. Great for dumplings, scallion or potato pancakes, and most Northern-style Chinese pastries 北方麵食. I love the sweet, sour tang it adds to pastry. I find that rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar make great substitutes for black vinegar.

Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar or Chinese black vinegar)

• 1 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 tsp chili oil (or sesame oil)

• Ginger threads or chopped green onions (optional)

Instructions

1. Mix everything together and serve in a sauce dish. This keeps in the fridge for a 3-4 days.

Caramelized Onions with Soy Sauce

I have searched long and hard for an Asian-inspired caramelized onion recipe and I’m quite happy with this one. I love to make a batch of these soy sauce caramelized onions. They go with anything — toast, focaccia, sandwiches. These last for a week or so in the fridge so I like to make a big batch and have them handy. A great way to level up a quick lunch or snack on the go.

Caramelized onions served over toast, cream cheese with a dash of pepper and green onions

Caramelized Onions with Soy Sauce

Ingredients

• 2 large onions, halved and sliced into thin rings

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil, for frying

• 1/2 tbsp sugar

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

Instructions

1. In a medium-large pan, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat until hot. Add the onions and fry for 2-3 minutes. Lower the heat to medium-low and fry until onions are browned, caramelized, and soft. Around 20-25 minutes. If the onions start to burn, lower the heat.

2. Add the soy sauce, sugar and cook for another 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if need. Serve warm or store in a container. These last in the fridge for a week or so.