A dipping sauce or dip is a common condiment for many types of food. Dips are used to add flavour to a food, such as pita bread, dumplings, crackers, cut-up raw vegetables, seafood, cubed pieces of meat and cheese, potato chips, tortilla chips, or falafel. Unlike other sauces, instead of applying the sauce to the food, the food is typically put into, or dipped, into the dipping sauce (hence the name). Dips are commonly used for finger foods and other easily held foods.Dip is a very widespread food; forms of it are eaten all over the world.

On the Food Network, Bobby Flay shows how to make tostones, or fried green plantains. Ask any Latino what tostones are (or patacones in South America) and they will know what you are talking about. However, Bobby's dipping sauce is not what Latinos commonly use. Check out my recipes and thoughts here, and don't forget to digg it. thanks

Here is a light and healthy version of the deep fried spring rolls, which can be found on virtually every Chinese food menu. Summer rolls are an un-fried version of the appetizer, and they are served cold with a zesty dipping sauce. This recipe is vegetarian, but you can easily add chicken or shrimp to turn it into a healthy entree.

An easy appetizer with a great sauce.

A cool idea from Australia - mobile yum cha, for work meetings, seminars, parties, weddings etc. 'Yum Cha at Your Place' comes to you equipped with a full arsenal of steamers, bowls, chopsticks, dipping sauces.. and of course dumplings! An innovative alternative to the traditional plate of sandwiches I thought.

The fantastic thing about soba noodles is that they can be eaten all year round. The ingenious Japanese simply serve them refreshingly cold in summer, usually on a bamboo tray along with a very tasty dipping sauce.