Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce, or nước chấm, is a simple mix of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and peppers that delivers a TON of complex sweet and savory flavors. While the basic ingredients remain the same, you can easily customize the ratios slightly to better fit your taste preference using our recipe below.
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During dental school my friends and I often frequented the local Vietnamese restaurant. (Luckily my buddy Peter was able to translate everything the owner said!). I would load up on their deep-fried spring rolls and be too full to eat my enormous bowl of pho when it finally came.
The rolls were pretty delicious on their own, but it was the tangy, sorta’ sweet, and slightly spicy special Vietnamese dipping sauce (which Peter instructed us to pour into the middle of the roll!) that had this incredible umami flavor.
Fast forward a few years, and guess what? I finally cracked the code on that amazing sauce — fish sauce, my friends!
Now, whenever I whip up a batch of spring rolls (or, more realistically for busy weeks, this epic Spring Roll in a Bowl), a Vietnamese fish dipping sauce is a MUST. (Which is also called nước chấm.) It’s the perfect sidekick to the classic peanut sauce, offering a delightful contrast of flavors!
What Makes This Vietnamese Fish Sauce So Great?
- The big selling point of this recipe is that it’s easily customizable. Some people like their sauces on the spicy side, others more sweet. Some LOVE the flavor of fish sauce, others not-so-much. So feel free to play with the proportions and think of the recipe below as more of a flexible blueprint than a rigid plan.
- So much better than store-bought: in nutrition AND flavor.
- Will last for up to a week if stored in the refrigerator.
- Relatively low in calories and carbs if needed for dietary requirements.
What is in a Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce?
- Fish sauce. Yes, this recipe is called fish sauce, but it’s so much more. This condiment comes from salted krill that has marinated for months, imparting an amazing umami flavor. If you don’t like it too fishy, you can decrease the amount. While you can leave it out, I recommend using at least some.
- Chilis. Here’s where you can get creative! Bird’s eye Thai chilis will give this sauce the most authentic flavor. But, you can use chili sauce instead, or even Sriracha.
- Lime juice. The tangy lime juice balances out the salty savory fish sauce beautifully. Fresh is best here!
- Carrots. These are optional, but add a little something extra.
- Garlic. Like the lime juice, you’ll want to go with fresh minced garlic, as opposed to garlic powder.
How to Make Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce
Please see the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and more detailed instructions.
1. Make the Base
To start, grab a medium-sized mixing bowl. Add the fish sauce, room temperature water, and sugar. You can customize the amount of fish sauce and sugar to your liking.
Stir until the sugar completely dissolves. If needed, microwave the mixture for about 10 seconds.
2. Add Remaining Ingredients
Once the sugar has dissolved, stir in the juice of two limes, minced garlic, sliced chilis (or chili sauce), and shredded carrots.
Taste the sauce. If needed, add more fish sauce or lime juice.
3. Let It Rest, then Serve
Once you get the flavor just right, let the sauce rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the flavors to really meld together.
Garnish the sauce with some chopped green onions or chives. It is perfect with your favorite seafood dishes, spring rolls or spring roll in a bowl, or grilled meats and veggies.
FAQs
The short answer—it can be! Vietnamese dipping sauces often have chilis, either whole or from a sauce. The amount of chilis affects how spicy the sauce is.
This dipping sauce is perfect to make ahead of time! Simply whip it up and leave it in the fridge until you’re ready.
If you really don’t like the flavor of fish sauce, try reducing the amount used. If you don’t want it at all, use additional soy sauce.
What to Serve with Fish Dipping Sauce
This simple sauce adds so much flavor to a variety of dishes.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with Vietnamese Spring Rolls or Spring Roll in a Bowl.
Or, try it with Air Fryer Fish, Honey Sriracha Salmon, or Sheet Pan Chicken and Asparagus.
More Easy Sauce Recipes
Check out these easy sauces you can make yourself!
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Vietnamese Fish Dipping Sauce
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Ingredients
- ¼-½ cup fish sauce can sub half for soy sauce
- ½ cup water room temperature
- 2-4 Tbsp. sugar to taste
- 2 limes juice
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 1-2 Bird’s eye Thai chilis or 2 tsp. chili sauce optional
- 1 Tbsp. carrots thinly shredded, optional
Instructions
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine ¼ cup fish sauce, room temperature water, and 2 to 4 tablespoons of sugar, adjusting the amount based on desired sweetness. Stir until the sugar dissolves completely. (If needed, microwave the mixture for 10 seconds to aid dissolution.)¼-½ cup fish sauce, ½ cup water, 2-4 Tbsp. sugar
- Mix in the juice of 2 limes, minced garlic, sliced chilis, and shredded carrots. Adjust the flavor by adding more fish sauce or lime juice, to taste.2 limes, 2 cloves garlic, 1-2 Bird’s eye Thai chilis or 2 tsp. chili sauce, 1 Tbsp. carrots
- Allow the sauce to rest for at least 10 minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Garnish with chopped green onions or chives. Serve the fish dipping sauce alongside your favorite seafood dishes or use it as a flavorful dip for spring rolls, grilled meats, or vegetables. Enjoy!
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Notes
- Nutrition information is calculated based on using ½-cup fish sauce. A serving size is 2 tablespoons of sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
