Choosing the best Mexican dipping sauce depends on the food being dipped. Tomato-based salsas complement fresh vegetables, while sour cream-based sauces add flavor to cooked meats. Creamier sauces dull the heat of peppers, while cheese-based dips pair well with grilled or roasted foods.
The best Mexican dipping sauce really depends on the foods that are going to be dipped. Some are tomato-based salsas with a fresh, light taste that complement fresh vegetables or lightly toasted tortillas and nachos. Sour cream or creme fraiche can form a base for a Mexican dipping sauce with strong spice, heat, or robust aromatic flavors that can add flavor to cooked meats or roasted vegetables. Avocado can be mixed with ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce or vinegar to make an almost sweet-tart sauce for shrimp. A more classic variety that is often served at get-togethers or parties is a Mexican cheese-based dipping sauce with hot jalapeno peppers or even ground beef.
One consideration when choosing the best Mexican dipping sauce is how much heat it contains. Many Mexican dishes use jalapeno, habanera or chipotle peppers to give a fruity flavor with spicy heat. The thinner a dip, such as dips that use tomatoes or salsa as a base, the stronger the heat will be. Creamier sauces, or dipping sauces that contain meat or cheese, tend to dull the heat and let more of the fruit flavor through than the peppers.
A tomato-based Mexican dipping sauce can look like salsa or use salsa as one of the main ingredients. These tend to have a light, fresh taste and can include a variety of ingredients. In addition to tomatoes, these sauces may contain onions, peppers, cilantro, parsley, tomatillos and celery. These are best with freshly made nachos that have a light and airy texture, thin quesadillas, or cut vegetables like celery or bell peppers.
A heavier Mexican dipping sauce can be made with sour cream or sour cream. The creamy base can easily be enriched with garlic, peppers, onions and sometimes tomatoes. A vinegar-based hot sauce can lend some color and heat to the dip. This type of salsa pairs well with grilled or roasted foods like chicken, beef tacos, or burrito-style beef wraps.
There are a number of Mexican dipping sauce recipes that use cheese as the main ingredient. They can be easily made by mixing hot sauce with a melting cheese. Simple homemade dips may feature cheddar or Monterrey jack cheese mixed with freshly cut chiles or chipotle chiles in a hot adobo sauce. A thick cheesy gravy can serve a variety of purposes, sometimes adding flavor to a bland nacho chip and other times dulling the heat from spicy finger foods.
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