Dip in Delight with Pinoy Sauces

Here’s a simple way to excite your kids about exploring new flavors during mealtimes. Introduce them to the practice of making sawsawan, or Filipino dipping sauces!

The sawsawan is an amazing way to add oomph to your meals and one of the most unique aspects of Filipino cuisine. There’s also no right or wrong way to make one. You and your kids can personalize your dipping sauces according to each person’s taste or preference.

Now, let’s get dipping! First, check if you have these ingredients that are commonly used in making various Filipino dipping sauces. Then, call your kids and let them experiment with tasty flavor combos of sweet, sour, salty, and even spicy!

Umami-rich toyo (soy sauce): This salty, slightly sweet condiment adds a depth of flavor to grilled and fried dishes.

Tangy suka (vinegar): It adds a delicious zing to rich, savory dishes like lechon, and comes in many kinds. There’s the classic white vinegar, the sour-spicy suka pinakurat, and the tangy apple cider vinegar, to name a few.

Savory patis (fish sauce): Earthy, salty, and slightly sweet, patis enhances the taste of meaty soup dishes like bulalo, nilaga, and tinola.

Tart yet sweet agre dulce (sweet and sour sauce): Its sweet and sour flavors are a hit among Filipinos, making it an exciting dip for fried dishes like lumpiang Shanghai.

Delicious banana ketchup: Another sweet and sour combo, this uniquely Filipino condiment is loved by kids and adults alike.

Briny bagoong: Made from salted and fermented seafood, bagoong pairs well with sour food like hilaw na mangga and earthy, nutty dishes like kare-kare.

Fruity and crunchy atchara: These pickled papaya strips give a sweet, tangy, and crunchy contrast to dishes like a smoky yet tender inihaw na manok.

Magical Maggi Savor Liquid Seasoning: Tangy, rich in umami, with a hint of soy, this flavor booster comes in Classic, Calamansi, Chilimansi, and Hot Chili variants.

Aside from the ingredients above, Filipinos also love to add aromatics (aka herbs and spices) and flavor enhancers to customize their dipping sauces. Some of the basics include:

1. Onion: This vegetable adds a subtle sweetness and a mild bite to a sawsawan.
2. Garlic: A classic Filipino flavor enhancer, this ingredient provides a strong, savory punch to a dipping sauce.
3. Black pepper: This gives a touch of heat to a sawsawan, which helps balance the other flavors.
4. Salt: It is often used to adjust the taste of the dipping sauce to the person’s liking.
5. Sugar: It helps lessen acidity or adds a touch of sweetness.
6. Calamansi: This citrus fruit creates a refreshing burst of sourness and brightness to a sawsawan.

Now that you have an arsenal of ingredients to make all kinds of sawsawan, here’s a suggestion to get your kids exploring. How about turning sawsawan-making into a fun game?

Challenge your kids to create unique dipping sauces using these ingredients. Let them taste the ingredients individually and give them the freedom to experiment with different combos until they find their perfect flavor blend!

It's time to encourage your children to explore the many exciting flavors of food. Go forth and make sawsawan a regular part of mealtimes at home! Just remember, moderation is always important. Enjoying these delicious sauces can be a part of a balanced diet, ensuring that mealtimes remain both fun and nutritious!

Ready to explore new ways to use Filipino dipping sauces in your meals? Check out the GoodNes website for tasty, healthy, and budget-friendly recipes.