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How Do I Choose the Best Chili Dipping Sauce?

Erik J.J. Goserud
Erik J.J. Goserud

Choosing the best chili dipping sauce truly is a matter of personal preference. The problem is that most people don't really know what they like. Additionally, being creatures of habit often prevents people from finding the right chili dipping sauce for them. Systematically narrowing down the list is a great way to put yourself in chili heaven. Finding recipes, trying out a select few, and modifying the remainder will leave you with the best possible option.

Chili dipping sauce is a broad descriptor, most commonly referring to a combination of traditional chili and other ingredients to create a viscous mixture capable of stopping the swoop of a tortilla chip. If you are reading this article, it's likely that you are a novice regarding chili dipping sauce. To get started, try browsing cookbooks and Internet sources to find some recipes. Narrow these recipes down to the ones that sound the best, and begin making them or trying other people's creations.

Jalapeno peppers are a common ingredient in chili dipping sauces.
Jalapeno peppers are a common ingredient in chili dipping sauces.

Once you have a little more experience enjoying the glory of chili, you can really start to figure out which sauce is right for you. Don't just arbitrarily taste each concoction, but rather do so in a zen-like state of awareness. Think about what you like and dislike about the sauces. Decide how you feel about spice levels, consistency, whether or not you like daring creations or traditional ingredients, and so on. Knowing specifically what you like can help you determine the right choices for you down the road.

Once you know what it is that you like and dislike about chili sauces and have narrowed things down to your favorite choices, the fun can begin. The great thing about the culinary arts is that there is no right or wrong; the beauty is in the taste buds of the consumer. Additionally, there is no ceiling on what can and can't be done with food. You can make a chili dipping sauce as spicy or daring as you wish, for example. Modification is the art in the culinary arts.

Try to modify some of your favorite sauces to your liking. This might go horribly wrong, but you may also create the best possible chili dipping sauces. If you want to go with a more conservative route, then you can stop after narrowing your list of potential sauces down. At this point, other considerations like expense, difficulty of preparation, and how healthy a particular sauce is may weigh in. All of these factors should culminate in you choosing the best chili dipping sauce for you.

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    • Jalapeno peppers are a common ingredient in chili dipping sauces.
      By: epantha
      Jalapeno peppers are a common ingredient in chili dipping sauces.