Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)

Name: Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)
Prep time: 3 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 8 min
Ingredients: 300 mL / 1.3 US cup water; 100 g / 0.22 lb sugar ((or to taste)); 30 mL / 0.1 US cup vinegar; 8 tbsp fish sauce ((or to taste)); 2 limes; 6 cloves garlic ((or to taste)); chili ((optional))

Nước Mắm is the most iconic Vietnamese Dipping Sauce complete with sweet, savory and zesty flavors! In just 8 minutes, you can have an all-purpose sauce that will last for months. Use it for your favorite noodle, rice and appetizer recipes!

The dipping sauce you’ll always come back to

I utterly adore Vietnamese nước mắm. In our house, there has never been a time when our fridge wasn’t embellished with a jar full of this golden liquid.

Aside from Sa Tế, it’s the most versatile sauce you’ll ever use!

It’ll take so many of your dishes to a whole new level. If you’re not sure what to use nước mắm for, let me tell you how we like to use it at home:

Generously pour it over soupless noodle and rice dishes for a refreshing zesty bite.
Spice up grilled meats by adding a balanced sweet, savory and spicy flavor profile.
Drizzle it onto salads to give it a wonderfully complex but delicious kick.
Use it as a dip for Vietnamese appetizers. They won’t ever be the same without it!

Now, every family holds their own take on this classic Vietnamese dipping sauce dear to their hearts, but you’d want to give this recipe a try because it’s the one that family friends ask for.

It’s also the one that Mum perfected for customers when she sold street food in Vietnam in her youth!

Talk about authentic!

Why this recipe works

Every ingredient is simmered in a pot, which deepens the flavor and helps it last longer.
The garlic is crushed rather than chopped for the most thrilling hit of aromatics.
Adding the limes and garlic to the heated pot helps to further infuse the zest.

What you’ll need

About the ingredients

While this recipe is rather simple to make, there are a few things to note about the ingredients:

There are many varieties of fish sauce to choose from so the final result will depend on which brand you use. Just remember to taste test and adjust to your preference.

If you’d prefer a sweeter dipping sauce with less of a zesty zing, swap the limes for lemons and skip on the vinegar.

How to make this recipe

Use a mortar and pestle to crush the garlic cloves until they become a fine paste.

Note: Doing this will enhance the garlic flavor but will make the sauce appear murky. If you’d prefer a clearer or milder aroma, finely chop the garlic instead.

Melt the sugar in water over a low-medium heat, then mix in the fish sauce before turning off the heat and adding the vinegar and lime juice.

When everything is seasoned to taste, pour in the garlic and chili. Let it infuse with the heat off for 1 minute before transferring the contents to a glass container to cool completely.

Serve with your favorite Vietnamese dish!

FAQs

How do I store my nước mắm?

At home, we keep it in glass jars or ceremic containers with lids. So long as the liquid is kept airtight, it can be stored in the fridge. Just make sure to use a clean spoon to scoop out the contents to avoid adding any unnecessary bacteria.

How long does it last in the fridge?

If stored in the fridge, it can last for up to 3 months! We give the contents a quick stir before using, but one batch will last the family many servings.

Tips for the best results

Remove the cooking liquid from direct heat before adding the lime. Citrus can become bitter if cooked for too long.
Use fresh produce. This recipe has few ingredients but together they really pack a punch. Make sure everything is fresh for the end product to really shine.
Taste before you finish. Every family likes their fish sauce tasting a particular way, which is why tasting it before storing is vital for any last minute adjustments.

Try it with these Vietnamese classics!

Vietnamese Beef Salad – An absolute must with this recipe! The beef and zesty flavors work exceptionally well together.
Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls (Gỏi Cuốn) – Healthy, refreshing salad rolls perfect to match with a zesty dipping sauce.
Vietnamese Stuffed Chicken Wings – Super fun to eat, these crowd pleasers are the ultimate party food.
Vietnamese Grilled Pork Chops (Sườn Nướng) – It would be a crime to have this recipe without nước mắm!
Vietnamese Steamed Egg Meatloaf (Chả Trứng Hấp) – Another traditional dish that is eaten with the iconic sauce.
Vietnamese Pork Mince – This is great on its own but using nước mắm will definitely step it up!

Want more home cooked meals?

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