Nam Jim Jaew
Nam Jim Jaew is a Thai Chili Dipping Sauce that embodies the essence of vibrant Southeast Asian street food cuisine. Rooted in traditional Thai flavors, this versatile recipe brings together an array of elements - from the nutty aroma of toasted jasmine rice to the umami punch of tamarind and vegan fish sauce. This fan-favorite recipe is super fast to make, vegan, and completely gluten-free.
Servings: 8 (yield: ⅔ cup)
Calories: 25kcal
Cost: $4.00
Equipment
- Spice grinder or coffee grinder
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon
uncooked jasmine rice or white rice
- 1 shallot minced
- 1 scallion thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons vegan fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons lime juice
- 2 tablespoons tamarind concentrate
- 1 tablespoon Thai chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon cilantro leaves minced
- 4 teaspoons palm sugar or coconut sugar, or brown sugar
Instructions
- Toast the raw rice in a small, dry skillet over medium heat. Stir continuously for about 4-5 minutes until the grains turn a rich, medium brown, but keep moving so as not to let it burn.
- Grind the toasted rice into a fine powder using either a mortar and pestle, spice grinder or a coffee grinder.
- Place the toasted rice powder into a small bowl with thinly sliced shallots, scallion, vegan fish sauce, lime juice, tamarind concentrate, Thai chili flakes, minced cilantro leaves, and palm sugar (or coconut sugar, or brown sugar).
- Mix all the ingredients thoroughly using the tines of a fork until the sugar dissolves, ensuring a well-balanced blend of flavors.
- Use immediately or store for up to one week in a clean, sealed container under refrigeration.
Notes
🔥 Masterful Toasting Technique:
Perfect the toasting step with medium heat, continuously stirring for 4-5 minutes. Swiftly transfer to the grinder to avoid bitterness.
🎭 The Delicate Balance:
Achieve harmony with vegan fish sauce, lime juice, tamarind, and chili flakes. While my ratios are spot-on, feel free to tweak them to suit your personal taste.
❄️ Clever Storage Tactics:
If not devouring immediately, store in a sanitized, sealed container in the fridge. The sauce should stay great to use for a week.
Nutrition
Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 22IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg