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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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Sesame Butter Dipping Sauce for Hotpot {Beijing Style}
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!
Recommended Products
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- Chinese Douchi
- Aroma Stainless Steel Hot Pot, Silver (ASP-600), 5 quart
- Organic Himalayan Pink Salt
- Organic Sesame Butter, 16oz - Salt Free, Unsweetened - USDA Organic, Gluten Free, Vegan, Kosher, Peanut Free - Glass Jar
- Kevala Organic Sesame Tahini, 32 Ounce
- 王致和 Wangzhihe Fermented Beancurd Tofu (Rose (Chunk), 3 Pack)
- Compact Food Processor
- Ninja Professional 72 Oz Countertop Blender
Nutrition Information
Yield 4 Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 546Total Fat 50gSaturated Fat 30gTrans Fat 2gUnsaturated Fat 17gCholesterol 122mgSodium 764mgCarbohydrates 15gFiber 3gSugar 2gProtein 6g
Nutrition calculation is provided by Nutritionix to the best knowledge per ingredients description and isn't always accurate.