Vietnam | Sauces & Condiments | Fish Sauce | Limes

Nuoc Cham

(Vietnamese salty-sour dipping sauce)

Yield: About 1 cup


INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Rice vinegar, unseasoned 2 Tbsp
Lime juice 3 Tbsp
Fish sauce 1/4 cup
Water 1/4 cup
Sugar 2 Tbsp
 
Garlic crushed 1 clove
Chili pepper sliced into rounds 1 each
Carrot shredded or julienne 1 Tbsp

METHOD

Basic Steps:  Mix
  1. Mix vinegar, lime juice, fish sauce, water and sugar well to dissolve sugar. Adjust seasoning, adding more lime juice if too sweet, more sugar if too sour and more fish sauce if it needs more salt.
  2. Add remaining ingredients and let set at least 30 minutes to allow flavors to mingle.

VARIATIONS

  • If you use seasoned rice vinegar (sweetened), cut the amount of sugar in the recipe to 1 T.

NOTES

  • This is the all-purpose Vietnamese condiment. It is served with and passed over many dishes. It has a wonderfully bright and fresh flavor. Nuoc cham will keep for about a week in the fridge.