A Filipino dipping sauce primarily made with vinegar, soy sauce and onions. It's tangy, a little bit salty with a hint of sweetness.

An all-around dipping sauce
This Filipino sawsawan (Filipino term for dipping sauce) is always a hit with fried pork dishes. The tanginess gives balance to the greasy flavor, making it less overwhelming (pangtanggal umay). In fact, these sauces are one of the reasons why we are able to devour big portions of fried fatty foods. They just make everything better!
Foods to eat with this dipping sauce
- Lechon Belly with Pork Crackling
- Lechon Manok (Roasted Chicken)
- Crispy pata (deep-fried pork knuckles)
- Lechon kawali (crispy fried pork belly)
- Pritong isda (fried fish)
- Inihaw na Isda (grilled fish)
- Buttered Shrimp
- Halabos na Hipon
How to make it
Combine all the ingredients together in a bowl. Whisk until the sugar has completely dissolved. Let the sauce stand for around 20 to 30 minutes. This will marinate the raw onions and will make the sauce even more flavorful!
Do a taste test before serving and adjust the seasonings as needed–add more sugar if you want it sweeter or add more soy sauce if you want it saltier.
That is it! Easy peasy!
Shelf life and Storage
This soy-vinegar dipping sauce can last up to 3 months if refrigerated properly.
Store in an air-tight glass jar or bottle. Refrigerate to keep the flavor fresh. Remember it should be air-tight as the onion smell can get stronger the longer it marinates.
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Complete Recipe
Soy Sauce and Vinegar Dipping Sauce
Equipment
- 25 oz Airtight Glass Jar with Lid for small batch
- 50 oz Airtight Glass Jar with Lid for big batch
Ingredients
SMALL BATCH
- ½ cup cane vinegar (note 1)
- 3 teaspoon Filipino soy sauce (note 2)
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (or white, add more if preferred)
- 1 small red onion (finely chopped)
- 1 clove garlic (finely chopped)
- red and green chilies (chopped, to taste)
- 1 tablespoon water (note 2)
BIG BATCH TO KEEP
- 2 cup cane vinegar (note 1)
- ¼ cup Filipino soy sauce (note 2)
- ¼ cup brown sugar (or white, add more if preferred)
- 1 large onion (finely chopped)
- 5 cloves garlic
- 2-3 pieces green chili (siling haba/pang-sinigang) ( sliced)
- red chili (to taste)
- 3-4 tablespoon water (note 2)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Whisk until sugar is dissolved.
- Let it stand for 20 to 30 minutes. Do a taste test. Add more sugar or water based on preference. Start with 1 teaspoon at a time. Note that water will help lessen the sourness of the sauce. Use less, if preferred.
- Pour in an airtight glass container and keep in the fridge until needed.
- Serve with lechon kawali, lechon pork belly roll, BBQ, fried fish and other seafood.
Recipe Notes and Tips:
- Vinegar options: Distilled Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar, Coconut Vinegar, and Rice Vinegar.
- Soy Sauce: If using regular soy sauce like Kikkoman, use less water as it's less salty than Filipino soy sauce.
- Storage: This sauce can be made days ahead. Store in an air-tight glass jar and refrigerate until needed. Remember it should be air-tight as the onion smell can get stronger the longer it marinates.
- Serving: calculation is based on the small batch ingredients
- Shelf-life: This can last up to 3 months if refrigerated properly.
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Ester says
My favorite sawsawan for lechon kawali! I have also used this for tokwa't baboy and it was a hit!
Thank you!
Ann says
Fabulous dipping sauce. I used it for a stir fry as well and it was delicious. Thanks! I say you should bottle it!
Riverten Kitchen (Mella) says
Thank you, Ann! Never thought of using it for stir-fry. That is a great idea!
- Mella
Ana says
This sauce was simple to make with ingredients readily available in my pantry. The sauce went well with my lechon kawali! Ma Sarap!
Riverten Kitchen (Mella) says
Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Ana! This is also my go-to sawsawan for anything lechon.
- Mella
Tess andos says
Il try this first and il be back for comments after trying