Ingredients

Sauce

• 80 ml Chinese dark soy sauce
• 160 ml water
• 5 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 inch piece of cinnamon or cassia bark
• 1 star anise
• ½ teaspoon fennel seeds
• ½ teaspoon whole Sichuan pepper
• 1 inch piece of ginger, peeled and smashed

Method

• Combine all the ingredients in a small saucepan and bringing to a boil. Once at a boil, lower heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes
• For Chengdu zhong dumplings mix 2 parts Fuzhi soy sauce and 1 part crispy chili oil