DIPPING SAUCE FOR PORK RECIPES

Steps:

• Special equipment: 1 (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter; steamer, steamer basket or bamboo steamer
• For the pork buns: Bring 2 cups water to a simmer in a pot that will fit a steamer basket or a bamboo steamer.
• In a medium bowl, mix together the pork, ginger and scallions. Set aside
• Working with 1 dough canister (10 biscuits) at a time, roll out the biscuits with a rolling pin until they are about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Place 1 heaping tablespoon pork mixture in the center of 5 of the biscuits. Cover each with a remaining rolled-out biscuits. Gently press the biscuits together all the way around the filling and to the edges. Place a (2 1/2 or 2 3/4-inch) biscuit cutter on top so that it is centered on the bun. Press down on the cutter to form a clean, sealed edge and remove the excess dough from around the outside of the biscuit cutter. (If you do not have a biscuit cutter then just pinch together the edges of the buns with your fingers.) Place the sealed buns onto a sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap. Repeat with the remaining ingredients.
• Place the buns into the steamer basket. Depending on the size of your steamer, you may have to cook the buns in batches of 5. Place the steamer basket over the pot of simmering water, cover and steam, about 10 minutes. The buns will be puffed and the tops will look somewhat dry and shiny. Let cool 1 to 2 minutes.
• While the buns are steaming, make the hoisin dipping sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the hoisin, soy sauce, 2 tablespoons water and the vinegar. Serve with the buns.

Steps:

• To make sauce: In a medium bowl, combine mayonnaise, ketchup, horseradish, 1/3 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon oregano, a dash ground black pepper and cayenne pepper; mix well. Keep sauce covered in refrigerator until needed.
• To make the batter: In a medium bowl, beat egg and add milk. In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, cayenne pepper, paprika, ground black pepper, oregano, thyme and cumin; mix.
• To slice onion: slice 1 inch off of the top and bottom of the onion and remove the papery skin. Use a thin knife to cut a 1 inch diameter core out of the middle of the onion. Now use a very sharp, large knife to slice the onion several times down the center to create 'petals': First slice through the center of the onion to about three-fourths of the way down. Turn the onion 90 degrees and slice it again in an X across the first slice. Keep slicing the sections in half, very carefully until the onion has been cut 16 times. Do not cut down to the bottom of the onion. (The last 8 slices will be difficult, be careful).
• Spread the 'petals' of the onion apart. To help keep them separate you could plunge the onion into boiling water for 1 minute and then into cold water.
• Dip the onion into the milk mixture and then coat it liberally with the flour mixture. Again separate the petals and sprinkle the dry coating between them. Once you're sure the onion is well-coated, dip it back into the wet mixture and into the dry coating again. This double-dipping ensures you have a well-coated onion because some of the coating will wash off when you fry the onion.
• Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep pot to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Make sure you use enough oil to completely cover the onion when it fries.
• Fry the onion right side up in the oil for 10 minutes or until it turns brown. When the onion has browned, remove it from the oil and let it drain on a rack or paper towels. Open the onion wider from the center so that you can put a small dish of the dipping sauce in the center.