Name: Sesame Butter Dipping Sauce for Hotpot {Beijing Style}
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 350 g (1 cup) sesame butter, Chinese sesame paste, or Tahini unsalted; 1 cup water, previously boiled room temperature water preferred; 2 tbsp minced garlic; 1 tbsp traditional rose fermented tofu curd, or original douchi {Traditional Chinese salted fermented black beans}; 1/2 tsp - 1 tsp salt, Himalayan pink salt, depending on the salty level of rose fermented tofu curd or douchi, and to the taste.; 2 stems of cilantro, chopped

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Sesame Butter Hot Pot Dipping Sauce {Zhi Ma Jiang Huo Guo Zhan Liao 芝麻酱火锅蘸料} is a popular traditional Beijing Style dipping sauce. It features sesame butter, minced garlic, rose bean curd, and chopped cilantro. So naturally delicious, easy to make, and versatile.

I became a loyal fan of this when I lived in Beijing in the ’90s. Since then, it became my only dipping sauce for hotpot. It is refreshing, healthy, and extremely tasty. Perfect for any hotpot items. Lamb, fatty beef, fish, vegetables, you name it. It genuinely makes everything tastes super yummy, and a must-have when having Hot Pot at Home.

Sesame Paste Hotpot Dipping Sauce {Beijing Style}

Sesame Butter Dipping Sauce Key Ingredients:

This tasty sauce only requires four key ingredients, plus some water, namely sesame butter, garlic cloves, rose bean curd and cilantro.

The First Key Ingredient is Sesame Butter or Paste

Sesame butter or Zhi Ma Jiang 芝麻酱 in Chines, also known as Tahini {Tahin} in Turkish, is the first ingredient of this delicious sauce. It is a paste made of sesame seeds, an ancient and well-liked ingredient popular in China and the Mediterranean.

However, there is a difference between Chinese Sesame Butter {Zhi Ma Jiang 芝麻酱} and Tahini. Chinese Sesame Butter or Paste looks much darker compared to Tahini and has a stronger sesame aroma. This is because Chinese sesame butter uses roasted sesame seeds vs. Tahini uses unroasted or slightly roasted sesame seeds.

Therefore, use Chinese sesame butter if you can. If not, no worries, Tahini works too.

Sesame Butter Hotpot Dipping Sauce Key Ingredients

The second Key Ingredient for Sesame Butter Hotpot Dipping Sauce is Garlic

Many delicious Chinese foods require minced garlic as an ingredient. Mongolian Beef, Stir-Fried Eggplant with Garlic Sauce {Yu Xiang Qie Zi}, just a couple examples. A compact food processor is very handy to mince the garlic.

Minced Garlic Using a Compact Food Processor

The Third Key Ingredient is Rose Bean Curd

Known as Mei Gui Fu Ru {玫瑰腐乳} in Chinese, Rose Bean Curd is another ancient and traditional Chinese ingredient. So what is Bean Curd? They are essentially tofu products gone through multiple fermentation processes and steps and then brined in rice wine, salt, and water.

When using red yeast rice during the fermentation process, the bean curd turns into this beautiful red rose color. Otherwise, it is original white/yellow color.

Rose Fermented Bean Curd for Shanghai style Braised Whole Squid

It has a unique powerful flavor and is the key condiment behind the iconic Shanghai Style Braised Squid {Bi Mu Da Kao 比目大考}. It is super salty too, therefore a little goes a long way.

Last but not least is the Chopped Cilantro

Cilantro, also known as coriander, or Chinese parsley, plays a huge role in Chinese cooking. When comparing parsley and cilantro, parsley has a more muted flavor. Cilantro, or “Xiang Cai” {香菜} in Chinese, has an explosive aroma and taste. “Xiang” literally means yummy or fragrant in Chinese. No doubt it is one of the most delicious herbs.

Sesame Butter Hotpot Dipping Sauce {Beijing Style}

Cilantro Health Benefits

Like most other herbs, cilantro provides loads of health benefits. Research shows cilantro might boost brain health, reduce anxiety, and lower blood sugar. People also believe cilantro can help prevent food-borne illness.

For example, cilantro is the must-have garnishing item for the beloved Cantonese Style Steamed Fish. Cilantro seed, commonly known as coriander seed, is one of my favorite spices too, so tasty and perfect for seasoning pork filling for dumplings or buns.

Like Hot Pot? Make sure you check out this Essential Guide on tips on how to have an easy, yummy, and healthy Hot Pot at Home.

Hot Pot At Home Essential Guide — Hot Pot at Home Essential Guide

Sesame Butter Dipping Sauce for Hotpot {Beijing Style}

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Sesame Butter Hotpot Dipping Sauce {Zhi Ma Jiang Huo Guo Zhan Liao 芝麻酱火锅蘸料} is a popular traditional Beijing Style dipping sauce. It features sesame butter, minced garlic, rose bean curd, and chopped cilantro. So naturally delicious, easy to make, and versatile.

Ingredients

350 g (1 cup) sesame butter, Chinese sesame paste, or Tahini unsalted
1 cup water, previously boiled room temperature water preferred
2 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp traditional rose fermented tofu curd, or original douchi {Traditional Chinese salted fermented black beans}
1/2 tsp - 1 tsp salt, Himalayan pink salt, depending on the salty level of rose fermented tofu curd or douchi, and to the taste.
2 stems of cilantro, chopped

Instructions

Gather ingredients.
Use a compact food processor to mince garlic.
Add everything except for chopped cilantro into a blender.
Blend the whole thing into a smooth paste.
All done! Add to the serving bowl and garnish with chopped cilantro.
To serve, add about 2 tbsp of sesame butter dipping sauce along with chopped cilantro to the bowl, and add cooked hotpot food such as meat or vegetable. Mix with the sauce and enjoy!