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    Home » Appetizers & Drinks

    Updated: Feb 27, 2024 · Published: Apr 27, 2023 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

    Shishito Peppers Dipping Sauce

    Jump to Recipe

    For a tasty dipping sauce for shishito peppers, this easy recipe will be your new favorite. It is thick and creamy with a nutty sesame crunch. The combination of sweet and salty Asian flavors goes well with the charred skins of blistered shishito peppers. All you need is 6 ingredients and 2 minutes!

    dipping into the bowl of creamy sweet & salty dipping sauce with a shishito pepper

    Shishitos grow easily in California & we cannot get enough of them every summer. We pick some from our garden & within minutes we have an amazing snack, appetizer, or side. The only thing more delicious is adding this fantastic dip when serving them.

    Serve this mild dipping sauce with AIR FRYER SHISHITO PEPPERS.  In the time it takes to char up some shishito peppers, this dip is ready for dunking. We all know that foods always taste better with dip, right?  

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Shishito Peppers Dipping Sauce
    • How to Make the Dipping Sauce
    • Substitutions & Variations
    • Dipping Sauce Should be Thick & Creamy
    • How to Eat Shishito Peppers & Creamy Honey Sesame Dip
    • Storing Leftover Dip
    • Shishito Pepper Dipping Sauce

    Ingredients for Shishito Peppers Dipping Sauce

    It only takes 6 ingredients to make this easy Asian-inspired dip recipe. This recipe is for a thick and creamy sesame dip with a bit of honey.  The combination is sweet, salty, and nutty. The base for this dip is sour cream. It is not an aioli or mayo-based dipping sauce. 

    • SOUR CREAM - To get a thick and creamy texture. I suggest using the full-fat kind.
    • TOASTED SESAME OIL & SESAME SEEDS - For the nutty flavors and a bit of crunchy texture.
    • TAMARI  - That salty kick & umami flavor from a gluten-free soy sauce.
    • HONEY - For a sweet addition to offset some of the saltiness.
    • GARLIC POWDER -  A bit of pungent flavor that is mildly spicy. 

    If you do not have any sesame oil, you can use other items.  To find out the best replacement, see my suggestions for SUBSTITUTES FOR SESAME OIL. 

    Shishito Pepper Dipping Sauce ingredients

    How to Make the Dipping Sauce

    To start making this dip, add the sour cream to a medium-sized bowl.  Next, add sesame oil and tamari.  Whisk it to combine.  The sauce will thin out a bit after adding the liquid ingredients. Next, whisk in the honey until combined and smooth.   The sauce should be thick and a bit sticky at this point which is perfect. 

    adding honey as it drips from measuring spoon into bowl with other ingredients

    Whisk Ingredients Together

    For the last step sprinkle in the sesame seeds and the garlic powder.  Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, whisk until incorporated.  I like this dip at room temperature and not straight out of the refrigerator.  

    Substitutions & Variations

    For a spicy dipping sauce, you can add hot sauce to this recipe.  It will add a bit of heat to the soy dipping sauce. Here are suggested recipe changes for more great recipe ideas for shishito pepper dips:

    • SPICY - add 1 teaspoon of Siracha or Thai chili garlic sauce
    • YOGURT - use greek yogurt instead of sour cream
    • MAYO - use ½ mayo & ½ sour cream for an aioli dip
    • SOY - use soy sauce instead of tamari, if eating gluten-free is not a concern for you
    • MISO - use miso paste instead of soy sauce but add a few drops of water since miso is thicker
    • GINGER - add ¼ teaspoon ginger powder
    dipping sauce with whisk in the bowl

    Dipping Sauce Should be Thick & Creamy

    The dip should be very thick and a bit sticky.  This is perfect and how you want this dipping sauce to be.  If it was too thin it would not adhere to the shishito peppers. 

    The texture of this sauce is just heavy enough to coat the peppers when you dip them in.  That yummy goodness will not slide off. No mess here, just a fun & tasty snack.  

    whisking dipped into the bowl and thickly coated with dip

    How to Eat Shishito Peppers & Creamy Honey Sesame Dip

    If you are wondering what to do with shishito peppers, this recipe is the best.  You can pan-fry them, grill them, or cook them in the oven too. However, my favorite way to char up some shishito peppers is by air frying them. 

    You can eat shishito peppers raw but we prefer them roasted.  If you love shishitos, also try my recipe for Shishitos with Cream Cheese & Bacon (a mild take on the jalapeno popper!)

    shishito being dipped in the sauce and it's thick sticking to it

    Can You Eat Shishito Pepper Seeds?

    Since they are not hot, eating the seeds of shishito peppers is ok.  There is no intense heat level and they are safe to eat.  That is a bit different than when you eat jalapenos and the heat comes from the seeds and membranes.  But keep in mind every once in a while one will be hot - find out more about the Scoville level. 

    When eating shishito peppers, hold them by the stem and dip them.  Then eat everything but the stem.  We like having an empty bowl on the side to discard the stems into.  

    Shishito Pepper Dipping sauce in a bowl

    Storing Leftover Dip

    This dip makes enough for a batch of shishito peppers that would feed about 4 people as an appetizer.  If you want to make more or find you have leftovers, save them for later enjoyment.  It is a great make-ahead recipe for parties and BBQs.

    This dipping sauce stores well in an air-tight container.  Store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.  Once you want to enjoy it, whisk it up a bit and serve. 

    Shishito Pepper being Dipped into a bowl of Sauce

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe - #ad:

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you!  

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    Shishito Pepper Dipping Sauce recipe card overhead bowl of dip and shishito peppers

    Shishito Pepper Dipping Sauce

    Angela
    For a tasty shishito pepper dipping sauce, this easy recipe is the best. It's thick, creamy and a combo of sweet, salty, umami, and nutty flavors.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine Asian
    Servings 4
    Calories 85 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ½ Cup sour cream
    • ½ Tablespoon tamari
    • ½ Tablespoon toasted sesame oil
    • 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
    • ½ Tablespoon honey
    • ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
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    Instructions
     

    • Add the sour cream to a medium-sized bowl.  Next, add sesame oil and tamari.  Whisk it to combine.  The sauce should be a bit thinner now.
    • Next, whisk in the honey until combined and smooth.  
    • For the last step sprinkle in the sesame seeds and the garlic powder.  Once all the ingredients are in the bowl, whisk until incorporated.  
    • Serve immediately with AIR FRYER SHISHITO PEPPERS.
    • Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.  

    Nutrition

    Calories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 1gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 135mgPotassium: 46mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 179IUVitamin C: 0.3mgCalcium: 35mgIron: 0.2mg
    Keyword appetizer, Asian, dip, easy, gluten-free, low carb, no cook, quick, sauce, snack
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Janel says

      February 03, 2022 at 11:18 am

      5 stars
      I made the spicy version and fabu it was. I served it with shishitos and sliced radishes for a low carb option at a wedding shower - bride wanted yummy but still needs to fit into the dress so she asked for this. A hit.

      Reply
      • Angela says

        February 03, 2022 at 12:55 pm

        Congrats to the bride & thank you for the note.

        Reply
    2. beth says

      September 14, 2024 at 11:36 am

      5 stars
      This sauce is delicious! Enjoyed with shishito peppers first, then air fried a zucchini and dipped those slices in the sauce. I see many more applications for this recipe in the future!! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        September 16, 2024 at 9:26 am

        I love all those ideas - cannot wait to try it with zucchini too. Thank you.

        Reply

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