The “So Delicious” Sauces I Always Keep Stocked in My Pantry (I Add Them to Everything!)

I’m a MìLà devotee through and through. Out of all of the food I’ve tested throughout this gig, there’s nothing I re-purchase more often than the mail-order Chinese food brand’s soup dumplings; they have a permanent spot in my freezer by now. And as soon as I got my hands on the brand’s newer posticker-style dumplings, I made room for those, too. I even have dessert covered with its chocolate-filled dumplings. If I don’t eat one version of its dumplings for lunch or dinner at least once a week — a rare occasion — I’m at least putting the brand’s Sauce Trio to use on other dishes like eggs and rice.

MìLà’s dumplings are already so good on their own, but pairing them with one (or all) of the brand’s signature dipping sauces takes them to the next level. Just the simple addition of either the Spicy Chili Crunch, Dumpling Dipping Sauce, or Ginger & Scallion Umami Oil makes any dish seem like it came out of a restaurant, with basically no effort required. The so-delicious Sauce Trio is my hack for making the quickest and easiest meals taste better instantly. If you’re already adding the dumplings to your cart, here’s why you should definitely snag the sauces while you’re at it.

Odds are, MìLà has probably crossed your social media feed at least once since the brand was established in 2018. Well, you might recognize it by a different name — before the pandemic, it was a brick-and-mortar shop called Xiao Chi Jie. The brand changed its name and started shipping its tasty Chinese food nationwide a little while later. Ever since, it has made fans of thousands, with over 8,000 five-star reviews of its soup dumplings alone.

MìLà’s Sauce Trio is the perfect complement to its meals. You’ll get 6.5 ounces of each sauce — and earlier this year, the brand launched the 2.0 version of the bundle. Now, it includes the new Spicy Chili Crunch, which has a medium spice level, and the new Dumpling Dipping Sauce, which is soy- and vinegar-based. Last but not least is the brand’s classic Ginger & Scallion Umami, which is its bestselling condiment and has been left the same as it’s always been. You can also order each one individually for $13.

These days, I’ve accumulated a collection of sauces in my kitchen that I know will always elevate even the most basic dishes, and MìLà’s are some of the ones I reach for the most. First of all, the brand’s dumplings are so good on their own that, for a while, I ate them with zero condiments — but I didn’t know what I was missing. Now, I eat them so frequently that it’s fun to jazz them up with a different sauce. 

If I’m in the mood for heat — which I often am — I go for the Spicy Chili Crunch. The roasted, garlicky flavor doesn’t make me feel like I need to guzzle water after every bite, but it adds just enough kick that I can’t stop eating it. Further, its chili flakes are chunkier, giving anything the sauce touches a stellar texture. I especially like the texture it gives scrambled eggs. You know when you suddenly get that feeling of not being able to stomach another bite of eggs anymore? The crunch makes that a thing of the past.

That also brings me to another feature I appreciate: the container. MìLà calls them “Hulu-shaped” because their design is inspired by ancient Chinese gourds, which were used to transport liquids. They’re easy to hold with the divots on the sides, and the base has a circular cut-out so that the jars stack securely on top of each other. Further, the lid shape takes after laundry detergent, allowing for drainage so you get the perfect drizzle. The only tiny drawback? I do have to spoon out some of the flakes that get stuck at the bottom. The mouth is wide enough, however, that it’s hardly a hassle.

If I’m after subtlety, then the ginger- and scallion-infused oil is the way to go — and I’ve also been placing it on the plate before the dumplings to keep them from sticking. Inspired by Hainanese chicken rice sauce, it doesn’t overpower the dumpling’s flavors. But when paired with something more simple, like white rice — which is my favorite use for it — the oil really shines. A little goes a long way in the case of all of the sauces, so there’s no need to replace it anytime soon.

The lightly sweet soy is another sauce that I constantly dip my dumplings into. Typically, soy sauce is too acidic for my taste, so I usually forgo it with my Chinese food. I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how easy this version is on my taste buds. I’ve just started mixing all three with my dumplings, and now I’m never going back. If you’re already stocking up on MìLà’s dumplings, don’t sleep on this set!

Buy: Sauce Trio 2.0, $34.99