Name: Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce Recipe
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 15 min
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: ¼-½ cup fish sauce (can substitute half with soy sauce); ½ cup water (room temperature); 2-4 Tbsp sugar (to taste); 2 limes (juice); 2 cloves garlic (finely minced); 1-2 Bird’s eye Thai chilis or 2 tsp chili sauce (optional); 1 Tbsp carrots (thinly shredded, optional); Chopped green onions or chives for garnish

Description

This Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce, also known as Nuoc Cham, is a versatile and flavorful condiment perfect for enhancing seafood dishes, spring rolls, grilled meats, and vegetables. Made with a balance of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and optional chili and carrots, it delivers a harmonious blend of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors in just 5 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

¼-½ cup fish sauce (can substitute half with soy sauce)
½ cup water (room temperature)
2-4 Tbsp sugar (to taste)
2 limes (juice)
2 cloves garlic (finely minced)

Optional Ingredients

1-2 Bird’s eye Thai chilis or 2 tsp chili sauce (optional)
1 Tbsp carrots (thinly shredded, optional)
Chopped green onions or chives for garnish

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Instructions

Combine Base Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup fish sauce, room temperature water, and 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar. Stir thoroughly until the sugar dissolves completely. If the sugar is slow to dissolve, microwave the mixture for 10 seconds to help it along.
Add Fresh Flavors: Mix in the juice of 2 limes, finely minced garlic, sliced Bird’s eye Thai chilis (or chili sauce), and thinly shredded carrots. Adjust the balance of flavors by adding more fish sauce or lime juice according to your taste preference.
Let Flavors Meld: Allow the sauce to rest for at least 10 minutes so the flavors can fully integrate and develop a more harmonious taste.
Serve and Garnish: Before serving, garnish with chopped green onions or chives. Use this vibrant dipping sauce alongside seafood dishes, spring rolls, grilled meats, or vegetables.

Notes

Adjust sugar and lime juice amounts to suit your preferred balance of sweet and sour.
Bird’s eye chilies add authentic heat but can be omitted for a milder sauce.
This sauce keeps well in the refrigerator for up to one week.
For a vegetarian version, replace fish sauce with soy sauce or a vegan fish sauce alternative.
Microwaving briefly to dissolve sugar is optional but recommended for a smoother texture.