Definition

Noun: 1. A condiment or sauce for Chinese dishes, made primarily from apricot preserves and chutney.

Usage

This term is used specifically in the context of cooking and cuisine to refer to a sweet and tangy sauce that accompanies certain Chinese dishes. It describes the sauce itself, not the dish it is served with.

Examples

• The recipe for crispy duck calls for a homemade apricot sauce.
• You can find a jar of apricot sauce in the international foods aisle.
• The flavor of the spring rolls was enhanced by the sweet apricot sauce.

Advanced Usage

• As a glaze: While primarily a dipping sauce, apricot sauce can also be used as a glaze for roasting meats like chicken or pork.
  • She brushed the chicken with apricot sauce during the last 15 minutes of baking.

Variants and Related Words

• Apricot preserve (noun): A jam or conserve made from apricots and sugar, which is a key ingredient in apricot sauce.
• Chutney (noun): A spicy condiment made of fruits or vegetables with vinegar, spices, and sugar, which is the other key ingredient in this sauce.
• Duck sauce (noun): A similar condiment often served with Chinese-American dishes like fried wontons or egg rolls; it is sometimes used interchangeably, though traditional duck sauce may have a plum base.

Synonyms

• Sweet and sour sauce (note: This is a broader category; apricot sauce is a specific type of sweet and sour sauce.)
• Dipping sauce (general term)

Related Phrases

• Served with apricot sauce: This phrase describes how a dish is presented.
  • The appetizer platter was served with apricot sauce.

Noun

1. for Chinese dishes: apricot preserves and chutney