How to make dumpling sauce???

Question

You know how you go to the Chinese restaurant or buffet and get pork dumplings either fried or steamed, and they alway give you that sauce for it. How do you make that sauce?

Its not just soy and its not sweet and sour/duck sauce. It is a little lighter then soy but still pretty dark. And its fluid, like the consistency of water.

And its really good, anyone know what goes into making that stuff?

Answer 1

It's basically soy sauce, with some sesame oil, and minced garlic. For heat,  some use hot oil (vegetable oil that's had hot peppers steeping in it) or red pepper flakes.  Sometimes there may be a little sugar, mirin (a type of sweet cooking wine) or rice wine vinegar added as well.

Answer 2

I am a former chef and the first fellow has got it pretty right, they also use some Chinese Black Vinegar, stock and even bean paste or hoisin sauce which is sweetish and a bit one the smokey side, oyster sauce is a possiblity.

In my opinion the soya sauce is a thinner, and I like to use a lighter Japanese or Korean one.