Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)

Name: Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Ingredients: 3 tbsp fish sauce; 3 tbsp fresh lime juice; 1/4 cup warm water; 1.5 tbsp granulated sugar; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1 fresh red Thai chili or serrano, thinly sliced; 2 tsp rice vinegar (optional, for extra tang)

A bright, balanced Vietnamese dipping sauce with bold fish sauce, fresh lime, garlic, and a touch of sugar and chili heat, essential for spring rolls, grilled meats, and noodle bowls.

10 minEasyServes 640 cal/serving

VietnameseSauceNo-CookPescatarianLow CarbGluten-FreeNut-FreeDairy-FreeEgg-FreeLow-SodiumPork-FreeCorn-Free

Ingredients

3 tbsp fish sauce
3 tbsp fresh lime juice
1/4 cup warm water
1.5 tbsp granulated sugar
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 fresh red Thai chili or serrano, thinly sliced
2 tsp rice vinegar (optional, for extra tang)

Instructions

1

In a small bowl, whisk together 1/4 cup warm water and 1.5 tbsp granulated sugar until the sugar dissolves completely.
2

Add 3 tbsp fish sauce, 3 tbsp fresh lime juice, and 2 tsp rice vinegar (optional, for extra tang). Stir to combine.
3

Stir in 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 thinly sliced fresh red Thai chili or serrano.
4

Taste and adjust: add more lime juice for brightness, more fish sauce for depth, or more sugar to balance. Serve immediately at room temperature or store covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Stir before serving.

Questions

How long does Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce) keep?

Refrigerated in a sealed jar, it keeps four to five days. It also freezes flat in a bag for up to three months.

Can I halve or double Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)?

Yes. As written it serves 6. Every ingredient in this entry carries precomputed half and double quantities, and the app's batch dial rewrites them inside each step. There is no cooking pitfall here; the quantities simply scale.

Serve it with

Caramelized Pork Bowls main
Vietnamese Fresh Shrimp Spring Rolls starter
Dal Tadka main

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