Amazing Asian Dipping Sauce

One of my favorite food shows is "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives".  The host looks like a total wreck of a person, that I initially judged really harshly based on his looks. But he is so likable. I got that one way wrong!

And Guy loves potstickers. Well Guy, so do I.

I was watching a pair of Asian sisters make what looked to be really delicious potstickers. Some day I hope to have enough skill (and drive) to make my own pasta and filling. But for now I had to settle for emulating their dipping sauce -- and some frozen potstickers from the grocery store.

I didn't have the ratios they used. But I did get the list of ingredients.

Soy sauce, sesame oil, rice vinegar, green onions, sugar, garlic, pepper, Thai chili sauce/paste, and copious amounts of cilantro.

I must have watched, and re-watched, about six times to try to get the ratios right. It was hard because she was making such a large batch. But I think I did a pretty good job.  Here is what I used:

4 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp vinegar (rice, or white)
1 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp pepper
3 Tbsp sugar (yes, that much)
1 Tbsp minced garlic
2 Tbsp diced green onions
2 Tbsp Thai chili sauce or paste
Tons of cilantro.

This is a thick "sauce" that you have to chew.

It's super flavorful. It's got that great rich depth that will make you keep going back for more. The vinegar & heat will help cut through all the salt & sugar.  Then the aromatic qualities of cilantro and green onion complement everything.  This could be great with egg rolls, crab rangoon, or even on some Ramen noodles.