Is there a real difference between a dip and a sauce?

Have you ever tried dahl, ponzu, baba ganoush and other popular dips from around the world? These are usually served with snacks or appetizers and have a thick texture. Just imagine dipping your favorite chips or crackers in queso, savoring each bite with all your senses. Hot sauce, barbecue sauce, or cheese sauce would also work, but it’s just not the same.

While it’s true that most dips can be used as sauces and vice versa, each serves a different purpose. Typically, sauces are thinner than dips and can be poured over food or mixed with other ingredients. For example, you’ll pour gravy over meatloaf, turkey, mashed potatoes, or rice dishes.

The dips have a thick consistency that can complement various snacks and appetizers. Some taste good on their own and you can enjoy them as a meal. “A dip is a dish in itself. When I say dip, I mean whitefish dip, hummus, baba ganoush, this weird ball of cheese that people love that’s covered in nuts,” explained Michelle Santiago Cortés, food writer. and researcher, in an interview with Refinery29. However, the difference between dips and sauces isn’t always obvious, especially when it comes to thinner dips like salsa or thick sauces like tzatziki and mayonnaise.

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Dips and Sauces Serve Different Purposes

By definition, a dip is a thick sauce that can be served with sweet or savory snacks, pita bread, falafel and other foods. Think ajvar, chutney, guacamole or pico de gallo. They are thick enough to eat with a fork, and some can be enjoyed as a standalone snack. In comparison, most sauces have a liquid or semi-liquid consistency, making them suitable for pouring over pasta, meatballs, grilled vegetables, or desserts. For example, white wine sauce can be a perfect addition to lobster linguine or other pasta dishes.

But as you can see, the line between the two is blurred. Take salsa, for example. Its name means “sauce,” but you can serve it as a snack, side dish, garnish, or dip. “With chips, it’s a dip. On eggs, it’s a condiment. In a burrito, it’s a sauce,” explains one Reddit user. The same goes for mayonnaise, which can be served as a sauce, dip, or garnish. “A dip is a dip,” said another Reddit user. They added: “Typically, sauce is applied to the food rather than the food in the sauce, but a dip is a type of sauce.”

Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference. Unless you’re a professional chef, no one will bat an eyelid if you dip tortilla chips in garlic sauce or combine hummus with pasta for a quick and filling lunch.

Get creative with your favorite dips and sauces

Sauces and dips can enhance the flavor and texture of your dishes, depending on how you use them. For example, honey mustard sauce can be used as a dipping sauce for chicken fingers, crackers or vegetable sticks, while teriyaki sauce is perfect for dipping sushi rolls or grilled skewers. If you’re making crispy potato wedges or fried calamari, dip them in aioli for a light garlic flavor.

Along the same lines, you can use dips as sauces to enhance your meals. For example, spread buffalo chicken dip on pizza dough as a sauce base. Top it with shredded chicken, cheese, vegetables and other ingredients you like. For a unique take on pasta, try this spinach and artichoke dip. Thin it with a little cream or milk, then mix it with the cooked pasta.

Dips are also good for thickening a dish, while sauces help bind ingredients together. So if you want a meal to be filling, add a dip like hummus, sambal, or guacamole. But if you need a binder instead, use a sauce made from tapioca, rice flour, cornstarch or arrowroot.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.