It’s hard to think about Chinese food without also thinking of duck sauce. While this tasty sweet and sour sauce has a long association as the perfect compliment to Chinese cuisine, duck sauce can be used as a glaze and an ingredient in recipes as well as being an ideal dipping sauce. Here is some information about duck sauce and some of the ways that this Asian sauce can be used.

The basic ingredients duck sauce can be found in just about any supermarket. All you need to make duck sauce are some dried plums, dried apricots, vinegar, sugar and a few spices. Because of the content of the dried fruit, duck sauce is sometimes referred to as plum sauce or apricot sauce. In fact, when the sauce is used as an ingredient in some recipe, it will often be listed as a plum or apricot sauce instead of duck sauce.

What makes duck sauce so tasty with many Chinese dishes is the sweet and sour flavor combination. Many Chinese dishes utilize portions of chicken or fish that are deep-fried. Using a fork or chop sticks, a bite sized portion of the fish or chicken is dunked in the duck sauce before eating the portion. The result is a sweet and sour taste that is combined with the satisfying crunch of the fried batter. Along with the fried meats, duck sauce is also great for dipping an egg roll or even mixing in fried rice.

Outside of Chinese cuisine, duck sauce is also a wonderful glaze to use with various types of fowl. Boneless chicken breasts can be coated with a layer of duck sauce and baked. Grilled fish with just a hint of duck sauce spread on before the fish hits the grill will provide a great taste. It is also true that duck sauce works very well with wild duck as well. Spreading a little over the duck before baking and then a second glazing a few moments before the duck is ready to come out of the oven will result in a pleasing taste that adds a sweet and sour flavor to the natural juices of the duck.

Of course, duck sauce is not limited to use with fowl. An excellent application of duck sauce involves using as a glaze for baked or barbecued spareribs. Brushing on duck sauce during the cooking process will help bring out the natural flavor of the spareribs, and also give them a wonderful presentation. Along with spareribs, baked and grilled pork chops can also benefit from a glazing with duck sauce.

As a sweet and sour dipping sauce or glaze, duck sauce is really a versatile condiment that can easily dress up all types of food. Ingredients for the sauce or prepared duck sauce can be purchased at any supermarket, as well as Asian food markets around the country.