Nước chấm (Vietnamese dipping sauce) is a staple in Vietnamese cuisine, frequently accompanying everyday meals.
Known for its versatility, nước chấm is incredibly easy and quick to prepare, making it accessible for anyone to whip up a batch and store it in the fridge for weeks. In this post, I’ll show you how to make this essential condiment in just 15 minutes!
What Makes Nước Chấm Such A Wonderful Sauce?
Nước mắm (fish sauce), the main component of nước chấm, plays a vital role in Vietnamese cuisine. Not only is it a quintessential ingredient in cooking, but it’s also among the country’s most well-known products globally.
Moreover, this condiment has a perfect level of savoriness and umami taste that works exceptionally well when combined with other aromatics.
Since the premium fish sauce is typically quite salty, the locals usually add some form of sweetener, usually sugar, to balance the taste. Lime and chili pepper are also excellent choices to enhance the overall flavor.
Nước chấm is a highly customizable condiment with extreme versatility. There’s no fixed recipe for this dip, meaning that the taste will be slightly different in each household. Some might lean more on the sugary side, while others might be saltier or spicier.
Set Up Kitchen Tools for Making Nước Chấm
Vietnamese-style dipping sauce only asks for simple cookware that most people have already owned.
Prepare Nước Chấm Ingredients
As mentioned above, fish sauce is the base for nước chấm. In addition, you’ll need to prepare pineapple, sugar, and other spices.
Steps to Make Nước Chấm Easily
Below are the 3 steps to make Vietnamese nước chấm. You might be surprised to know how easy they are!
Step 1: Mince The Garlic
First, mince the garlic. You can also crush them using a mortar and pestle. However, crushed garlic will result in a more pungent sauce, which might not be to your liking.
Step 2: Boil The Sauce
Pour water into a saucepan and boil it until it reaches about 140-160 degrees F. Then, add fish sauce, pineapple, and rock sugar to the water and continue cooking over low heat. Stir gently until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Step 3: Finish The Sauce
Remove from heat and wait for the sauce to cool. Then, pour the sauce into a bowl and add the juice of one lime, minced garlic, and chili peppers. Stir well.
Note
You should only stir in the lime juice, garlic, and pepper right before you serve it. While these ingredients significantly elevate your nước chấm’s flavor, they will develop a strong and overwhelming taste over time.
If you want to make the sauce in advance, let it cool, pour it into a glass jar, and then refrigerate. You can store it this way for about 2 weeks.
Perfect Dishes To Serve With Nước Chấm
Below are 5 outstanding dishes served with nước chấm.
Give Your Meal A Vietnamese Twist with Nước Chấm!
Nước chấm is the ultimate condiment that captures the essence of the country’s cuisine. Thanks to its incredible versatility, there are numerous ways to utilize this dip in your meal. With just 15 minutes and simple ingredients, you’ll have a flavorful sauce at hand!
What’s your favorite way to enjoy nước chấm? Have you thought of any interesting ideas to use this delectable sauce? Please don’t hesitate to share them in the comment section below. Lastly, kindly share today’s recipe with other home cooks that you know.
Nước Chấm Recipe (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Spoon
- Lemon Squeezer
Ingredients
- 3.5 tablespoons premium fish sauce
- 6.5 tablespoons water
- 3 pineapple slices
- 4.5 tablespoons rock sugar
- Chili pepper
- Lime
- Minced garlic
Instructions
- Mince the garlic. Pour water into a saucepan and boil it until it reaches about 140-160°F.Add fish sauce, pineapple, and rock sugar to the water and continue cooking over low heat. Stir gently until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Remove from heat and wait for the sauce to cool.Pour the sauce into a bowl and add the juice of one lime, minced garlic, and chili peppers. Stir well.Enjoy the dip with your favorite Vietnamese dishes.
Video
Notes
- The total is for making 1 serving of dipping sauce.
- You should only stir in the lime juice, garlic, and pepper right before you serve it.
- To store the sauce, let it cool, pour it into a glass jar, and then refrigerate. The sauce will last for about 2 weeks.
Nutrition
Richie
Content Writer
Expertise
Home Cooking, Meal Planning, Food Styling, Food Photography, Cooking-video Maker, Beverage Evaluation Expert
Education
Saigon Culinary Arts Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Vietnam Australia Vocational School (VAAC), Hanoi, Vietnam
Richie, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, is a dynamic Content Writer with a talent for capturing the essence of culinary art.
Richie specializes in creating visually appealing and tasty content, offering a new angle on Vietnamese and other culinary traditions. With a background in graphic design and a love for food styling and photography, he expertly combines beauty with food narratives, encouraging his audience to discover the culinary world through his imaginative perspective.