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Home > Recipes > Sauces

Filipino Sawsawan: Soy Sauce and Vinegar Dipping Sauce

Published: Nov 14, 2019 • Updated: Sep 8, 2022 by: Mella • 6 Comments

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

Lechon kawali dipping sauce

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
Lechon kawali Recipe with Sauce

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

Lechon kawali dipping sauce

Soy Sauce and Vinegar Dipping Sauce

5 from 2 votes
A Filipino dipping sauce primarily made with vinegar and soy sauce. It's tangy, a little bit salty with a hint of sweetness from sugar and raw onions.
Makes (tap to scale):2 servings
Prep Time:5 mins
Cooking Time:5 mins
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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:

  1. Vinegar options: Distilled Vinegar, White Wine Vinegar, Coconut Vinegar, and Rice Vinegar.
  2. Soy Sauce: If using regular soy sauce like Kikkoman, use less water as it's less salty than Filipino soy sauce.
  3. 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.
  4. Serving: calculation is based on the small batch ingredients
  5. Shelf-life: This can last up to 3 months if refrigerated properly.
Author : Mella
Course : Dipping sauce
Cuisine : Filipino
Keyword : filipino sauce, sawsawan
Nutrition Facts
Soy Sauce and Vinegar Dipping Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
95
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
1
g
2
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Sodium
 
1515
mg
66
%
Potassium
 
218
mg
6
%
Carbohydrates
 
21
g
7
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
13
g
14
%
Protein
 
4
g
8
%
Vitamin C
 
9
mg
11
%
Calcium
 
25
mg
3
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag @rivertenkitchen or leave a comment below!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ester says

    March 09, 2023 at 4:53 am

    5 stars
    My favorite sawsawan for lechon kawali! I have also used this for tokwa't baboy and it was a hit!
    Thank you!

    Reply
  2. Ann says

    November 29, 2021 at 10:47 am

    Fabulous dipping sauce. I used it for a stir fry as well and it was delicious. Thanks! I say you should bottle it!

    Reply
    • Riverten Kitchen (Mella) says

      November 30, 2021 at 4:12 am

      Thank you, Ann! Never thought of using it for stir-fry. That is a great idea!
      - Mella

      Reply
  3. Ana says

    September 20, 2021 at 12:27 am

    5 stars
    This sauce was simple to make with ingredients readily available in my pantry. The sauce went well with my lechon kawali! Ma Sarap!

    Reply
    • Riverten Kitchen (Mella) says

      September 20, 2021 at 4:59 am

      Thank you for the wonderful feedback, Ana! This is also my go-to sawsawan for anything lechon.
      - Mella

      Reply
  4. Tess andos says

    September 26, 2020 at 10:26 am

    Il try this first and il be back for comments after trying

    Reply

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My name is Mella and welcome to my blog. Here I share Filipino, Asian, and many easy-to-follow recipes. Enjoy and happy cooking!

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