Pair your rice or fried tofu with this easy, savory Filipino sawsawan! Fresh cucumber gives this classic sauce a crisp, refreshing twist.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Filipino dipping sauce is vegan and easy to make. Just chop, mix, and season for a bright, balanced flavor. You can adjust the ingredients to your taste. Plus, cucumber adds water to help with hydration.
The Story Behind Filipino Sawsawan
Sawsawan is an important part of Filipino cuisine. It lets each person adjust a dish to their liking. Families often make their own version with ingredients like tomatoes, chiles, and white vinegar.
Where Filipino Sawsawan Comes From
This Filipino soy sauce-based dip comes from the Philippines. No one knows who first made it. Different regions created their own versions using locally available ingredients.
When is this Dish Typically Enjoyed?
Filipino sawsawan is enjoyed year-round. It's popular at family meals, celebrations, and outdoor gatherings. It goes well with fried vegetables, grilled dishes, spring rolls, and steamed food.
Ingredients
Listed below are all the ingredients you will need:
- coconut vinegar
- soy sauce
- sugar
- salt
- calamansi
- onion
- garlic
- chili
- cucumber
See the recipe card for quantities.
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Instructions
Prepare the Vinegar Mixture
First, add the coconut vinegar and sugar to a bowl.
Then, stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Add the Seasonings
Next, pour in the calamansi juice and soy sauce.
After that, stir until everything is well combined.
Add the Fresh Ingredients
Then, add the minced onion, garlic, and chilies to the bowl.
Next, stir in the diced cucumber and mix everything together.
Season and Serve
After that, add a pinch of salt. Taste the mixture and adjust the calamansi juice, vinegar, soy sauce, or chili as needed.
Lastly, serve your Filipino sawsawan fresh with your favorite fried, grilled, or steamed dishes.
Substitutions & Variations
- Ingredient Swap
No calamansi juice? Use regular lemon juice. - Variation
Use cane vinegar instead of coconut vinegar for a milder taste. - Mistake to Avoid
Don't add too much salt before tasting the sauce. Soy sauce is already salty, and the flavor becomes stronger as the ingredients sit.
Storage Tip
Store it in a clean, airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Freezing is not recommended because the cucumber can turn watery and mushy after thawing.
FAQs
BEST Filipino Sawsawan
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut vinegar
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 7 calamansi juiced
- 1 small onion minced
- 5-7 cloves garlic minced
- 3 chilies minced
- 1 cucumber diced
Instructions
Prepare the Vinegar Mixture
- First, add the coconut vinegar and sugar to a bowl.
- Then, stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Add the Seasonings
- Next, pour in the calamansi juice and soy sauce.
- After that, stir until everything is well combined.
Add the Fresh Ingredients
- Then, add the minced onion, garlic, and chilies to the bowl.
- Next, stir in the diced cucumber and mix everything together.
Season and Serve
- After that, add a pinch of salt. Taste the mixture and adjust the calamansi juice, vinegar, soy sauce, or chili as needed.
- Lastly, serve your Filipino sawsawan fresh with your favorite fried, grilled, or steamed dishes.
Watch The Recipe Video!
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Having chicken or pork belly and feel like something is missing? Filipino Sawsawan adds tangy, spicy, and refreshing flavor in just minutes. Enjoy your meal with a crunch in every bite!
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