The best Mexican dipping sauce really depends on the foods that are going to be dipped into it. Some are tomato-based sauces with a fresh and light taste that complements fresh vegetables or lightly toasted tortillas and nachos. Sour cream or creme fraiche can make a base for a Mexican dipping sauce that has strong spices, 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 and sour dipping sauce for shrimp. A more classic variety that is frequently served at gatherings or parties is a cheese-based Mexican dipping sauce with hot jalapeno peppers or even ground meat in it.
One consideration when choosing the best Mexican dipping sauce is the amount of heat it contains. Many Mexican dishes use jalapeno, habanera or chipotle chilies to give a fruity flavor along with spicy heat. The thinner a dip is, such as dips that use tomatoes or salsa as a base, the stronger the heat will be. Creamier dips, or dipping sauces that contain meats or cheese, tend to mitigate the heat and allow more of the fruit flavor of the peppers to come through.
A tomato-based Mexican dipping sauce can resemble a 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 can contain onions, bell peppers, cilantro, parsley, tomatillos and celery. These are best with freshly made nachos that have a light, airy texture, thin quesadillas or cut vegetables such as celery or bell peppers.
A heavier Mexican dipping sauce can be made with sour cream or creme fraiche. The creamy base can easily be enhanced with garlic, peppers, onions and sometimes tomatoes. A vinegar-based hot sauce can give some color and heat to the dip. This type of dip goes well with grilled or roasted foods such as chicken, beef tacos or burrito-style meat wraps.
There are a host of Mexican dipping sauce recipes that use cheese as the main ingredient. They can be made easily by mixing spicy salsa with a melting cheese. Simple, homemade sauces can contain cheddar or Monterrey jack cheese mixed with freshly cut chili peppers, or chipotle chilies in a spicy adobo sauce. A dense cheese dipping sauce can serve a variety of purposes, sometimes adding flavor to a bland nacho chip and other times dulling the heat from spicy finger foods.