Nước Chấm (Vegan Vietnamese Nuoc Mam fish sauce)
This mam-tastic dipping sauce has all the things. It’s spicy, sweet, tangy, a little salty, and it’s got mad umami. Oh, and it's the fastest thing since you drove your dad’s PT cruiser through a wall made out of spring rolls!
Servings: 6 (yield: ¾ cup)
Calories: 36kcal
Cost: $2.50
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 2 tablespoons vegan fish sauce or vegan oyster sauce
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 bird’s eye chilies Thai chilies, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons shredded carrot
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- In a bowl, combine granulated sugar and water. Stir vigorously using the tines of a fork until the sugar is completely dissolved, creating a sweet base for the sauce.
- Add the finely minced garlic, vegan fish sauce or vegan oyster sauce, lime juice, sliced bird's eye chilies, shredded carrot, and salt to the bowl. Mix well to ensure all the ingredients are thoroughly combined.
- Use it immediately or transfer the sauce to a jar or bottle with a tight-fitting lid. Place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before using it to chill it and allow the flavors to infuse further.
Notes
- To grate the carrot, use a box grater or a grating attachment on a food processor. This will give the carrot a fine texture that blends well with the other ingredients.
- If you want more heat, stir in a spoonful of garlic chili sauce (sambal oelek).
- Adjust the amount of sliced bird's eye chilies according to your desired level of spiciness. Be cautious, as these chilies can be hot.
- For optimal flavor, let the sauce refrigerate for a few hours or overnight to allow the flavors to develop fully. The flavors will continue to deepen and improve over the course of a couple of weeks.
- Remember to shake the sauce well before each use to ensure the ingredients are well-mixed.
Nutrition
Calories: 36kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 0.1g | Fat: 0.04g | Saturated Fat: 0.002g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 101mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 839IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 3mg | Iron: 0.03mg