• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Wok and Kin logo

  • About
  • Asian Pantry Ingredients
    • Herbs & Aromatics
    • Vegetables and Leafy Greens
    • Dehydrated, Cured and Preserved Ingredients
    • Dry Spices
    • Everything You Need to Know About Asian Noodle Types
    • Sauces & Oils
  • Recipes
    • Appetisers
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Beef
    • Seafood
    • Egg
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
    • Rice
    • Noodles
    • Noodle Soup
    • Soup
    • Dessert
    • Sauces
    • Drinks
    • How-To’s
    • Asian-Inspired Holidays
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Beef
    • Seafood
    • Egg
    • Vegetables
    • Vegetarian
    • Rice
    • Noodles
    • Noodle Soup
    • Soup
    • Dessert
    • Sauces
    • Drinks
    • How-To’s
    • Asian Holiday Recipes and Menus
  • Asian Pantry Ingredients
    • Herbs & Aromatics
    • Vegetables and Leafy Greens
    • Dehydrated, Cured and Preserved Ingredients
    • Dry Spices
    • Everything You Need to Know About Asian Noodle Types
    • Sauces & Oils
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Sauces » Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)

    Published: May 12, 2020 · Last Modified: Sep 9, 2020 by Jeannette ·

    Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)

    Pin486
    Share28
    Yum130
    Email
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle, used limes, chili and sugar in a dish with a spoon in it
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle lifted surrounded by used limes, fresh chili and garlic in a mortar and pestle
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle lifted
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle
    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle, used limes, chili and sugar in a dish

    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?

    Subscribe to our email list and be the first to get recipe updates as soon as they’re posted. You can also follow Wok & Kin on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter!

    Vietnamese dipping sauce in a bowl with a ladle, used limes, chili and sugar in a dish with a spoon in it

    Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nước Mắm)

    Zesty, sweet, savory and light, this Vietnamese Dipping Sauce will be a staple in your house! It's the perfect all-purpose recipe to dress up all your noodle, rice and side dishes!
    4.70 from 10 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 8 minutes
    Servings: 30
    Calories: 483kcal
    Author: Jeannette

    Equipment

    • Mortar and pestle

    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)

    Instructions

    • 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!

    Video

    Notes

    • 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.
    • 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.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 483kcal | Carbohydrates: 119g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 11325mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 107g | Vitamin A: 67IU | Vitamin C: 39mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Tag me TODAY!If you recreated this authentic recipe, I’d love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @wokandkin.

    Join the family!

    Share the love:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
    • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
    « Black Sesame Soup (芝麻糊)
    Steamed Pork Mince with Salted Fish (咸鱼蒸肉饼) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carly says

      May 12, 2020 at 1:27 pm

      I will be trying this too, I love your blog 🙂

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:16 am

        Thanks, Carly! I love having your support!

        Reply
    2. Krissy Allori says

      May 12, 2020 at 9:43 pm

      5 stars
      You are right. This sauce is easy to make and works for so many different things. Great flavors with simple ingredients.

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:16 am

        Thanks, Krissy! Couldn’t agree more 😀

        Reply
    3. Beth Pierce says

      May 12, 2020 at 10:01 pm

      5 stars
      I can’t wait to try this. It sounds wonderful and I love Vietnamese food!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:17 am

        Thanks, Beth! I hope you love it!

        Reply
    4. Chris Collins says

      May 12, 2020 at 10:16 pm

      5 stars
      I’ve never actually tried Nước Mắm before, but after seeing this I think I’ll definitely give it a go! Looks delish!!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:17 am

        It’s definitely worth a try! I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    5. Julia says

      May 12, 2020 at 11:09 pm

      5 stars
      I love Vietnamese food, so when I saw this recipe for zesty & sweet Vietnamese dipping sauce, I knew I will love it! It’s so perfect for noodles as you suggested & I will try it now with Spring rolls! Yum! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:18 am

        You’re very welcome, Julia! I hope you enjoy it with your spring rolls!

        Reply
    6. Anita says

      May 12, 2020 at 11:24 pm

      5 stars
      Easy and simple, and the chilies are not optional, at least not in my family. 😉

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 13, 2020 at 7:18 am

        Haha, your family is just like mine!

        Reply
    7. Linh P. says

      December 23, 2020 at 8:29 am

      5 stars
      My go-to sauce! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        December 23, 2020 at 8:35 am

        You’re very welcome, Linh!

        Reply
    8. Brony says

      September 16, 2021 at 7:32 pm

      5 stars
      best dipping sauce and so easy!!

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        September 17, 2021 at 9:02 am

        Thanks, Brony! Glad you liked it!

        Reply
    9. Sky says

      April 10, 2022 at 5:47 am

      2 stars
      Tried your sauce and for me it was waaay too sweet :/

      Reply
      • Jeannette says

        May 04, 2022 at 10:42 am

        Hi, Sky! I’m sorry to hear that it was too sweet. I can understand the frustration when that happens! The good thing is that this sauce is adjustable to preference so you can always add more water and zest to balance it out before serving.

        Reply

    Leave A Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Let’s be Friends

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Lunar New Year Food Guides!

    Plates and bowls of Lunar New Year dishes.

    Lunar New Year Recipes and Menus

    Bowls of noodles soups and plates of appetizers for Asian holidays.

    Asian Holiday Recipes and Menus

    Trays and jars of ribbons, lemongrass blends and dried goods.

    25 DIY Asian Edible Gifts

    Reader Favorites

    Ham Sui Gok on a board with chopsticks, tea and dishes of chili sauce and spring onions

    Ham Sui Gok (Fried Glutinous Rice Dumplings 咸水角)

    Braised Abalone with Mushrooms in a pot surrounded by a teapot, teacups with tea and a dish of mushrooms

    Braised Abalone with Mushrooms (红烧鲍菇)

    Chicken curry and noodles in a bowl

    Vietnamese Chicken Curry (Cà Ri Gà)

    Chicken rice in a rice cooker with a wooden spoon

    Rice Cooker Chicken and Mushroom Rice

    Sichuan Garlic Chili Oil in a bowl with a wooden spoon next to it.

    Sichuan Garlic Chili Oil

    Grilled pork chops with spring onions on a plate with tomatoes, cucmbers and fish sauce

    Sườn Nướng (Vietnamese Grilled Pork Chops)

    As Featured On

    Wok & Kin

    About

    Contact

    Privacy Policy

     

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Food Lovers

    Recipe Index

    Things We Love

    Subscribe

     

    Copyright © 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in