Nước Chấm (Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce Dip)
Local name: Nước chấm
In short: The all-purpose Vietnamese table sauce of fish sauce, lime, sugar, garlic and chili, balanced to taste sweet, salty, sour and a little hot. It takes about 5 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 0 min
- Total
- 5 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 30 kcal
Nước chấm is the dipping and dressing sauce found on nearly every Vietnamese table, and the one most cooks can make without measuring. It balances salty fish sauce with sugar, lime and water, then adds garlic and chili. It goes over rice plates and noodle bowls, with fried spring rolls and grilled meats, and into salads. The ratio below is a starting point, so taste it and adjust until it suits the dish.
Instructions
- Stir the sugar into the warm water until it is completely dissolved. Warm water melts the sugar quickly.
- Add the fish sauce and lime juice and stir.
- Taste it. The sauce should taste sweet first, then salty and sour. Add more sugar, lime juice or water as needed.
- Stir in the garlic and chilies. Let the sauce stand for 10 minutes so the flavors blend, and serve at room temperature or chilled.
Tips
- Use a good fish sauce, since its flavor is the one you cannot hide. For a salad dressing, thin the sauce with a little more water, and for a dip for fried foods, use less water.
- Keep the sauce in a jar in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Add fresh garlic and chili to the portion you serve, because they lose their punch after a few days.
Questions and answers
What is the ratio for nước chấm?
A common starting point is 1 part fish sauce, 1 part sugar, 1 part lime juice and 2 parts water. Adjust it to taste, since fish sauces and limes vary in strength.
Can I make nước chấm without fish sauce?
Yes. Use soy sauce or a vegetarian fish sauce in the same amount and adjust the sugar and lime to taste. The flavor is different, but it works for vegetarian dishes.
Is nước chấm spicy?
Only if you add chili. For a mild version, leave the chilies out and serve them on the side.
How long does it take to make Nước Chấm (Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce Dip)?
About 5 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 0 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Nước Chấm (Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce Dip)?
About 30 kcal per serving, with 1 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 30 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1 g |
| Carbohydrates | 7 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 700 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
