Nuoc Cham - Classic Vietnamese Dipping Fish Sauce

Sweet, sour, spicy, yet refreshingly light, this is the best Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham) you'll ever have! It's so tasty, you'll want to sip it! It's my secret flavor bomb, that adds that perfect zing to almost any recipe!

Nuoc Cham (nước chấm) is a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce that is made from fish sauce (nước mắm chấm), water, sugar, lime juice, garlic and chili peppers.  A staple of Vietnamese cuisine, Nuoc Cham is typically used as a dipping sauce but is also a key flavor ingredient for a variety of Vietnamese dishes, from crepes and noodles to seafood and beef.

Don't quite know what it is? If you have had Vietnamese food before, it’s that beautiful, light honey colored sauce sprinkled with minced garlic and chilis that is served as a dipping sauce with spring and summer rolls. 

The sauce consists of an addictive range of delicious flavors ranging from just the right amount of sweet and sour, followed by a little salt and ending with pops of spicy chili notes that tantalize your taste buds. I like mine because its sweet and garlicky with a burst of lime and the best part of this recipe is that you can easily customize the proportion of each flavor component to suit your own preference.

Why make this sauce?

Ready in under 5 minutes, this sweet-chili-lime-garlic dipping sauce is not only great with Asian cuisine like fried wontons, Banh Xeo and Vietnamese egg rolls, but is a game changer with everyday foods like chicken wings, fish tenders and nachos. Alone or combined with olive oil or drops of sesame oil, it transforms into a finger licking dressing that is delicious, drizzled on cold rice noodles or salad based pizzas.  

Adding a little grated ginger and Sambal Olek to the base nuoc cham recipe is one of my favorite variations to add a little pizzazz to weeknight dinners like juicy pan fried salmon with crispy skin. If you love Asian dipping sauces, its a delicious, lighter alternative to peanut sauce.

The primary ingredient in this recipe is fish sauce which, if you have never tried before, warrants a special introduction. The first time I opened a bottle of fish sauce, I was at a bit of a loss about how this would work as an ingredient. Fish sauce straight from the bottle has a very fishy flavor, is extremely salty and you've-gotta-be-kidding pungent. 

After a little experience though, I found that used correctly, fish sauce adds a serious umami punch that can add an ovation-worthy range of possibilities to my day-to-day menu. Because of its potency, a little fish sauce goes a very long way. Also, recipes like Nuoc cham, which calls for larger amounts of fish sauce, typically include other components like lime juice, garlic and water, which balances out the strong straight-out-of the-bottle flavor.

What is Vietnamese dipping sauce made of?

A pantry staple in the Vietnamese kitchen, Nuoc Cham or Vietnamese Dipping Sauce is made of water, sugar, lime juice and fish sauce. Its basically a limeade or lemonade with an umami punch. Optional flavoring ingredients such as minced garlic and chilis enhance the flavor. 

Most of the sauce is water. Because the sweet component is so important, its critical to make sure that the sugar dissolves completely.  I typically boil (or microwave) a small amount of the water first, then add the sugar and stir to make sure that every grain melts into the liquid. Once the sugar has dissolved I add the rest of the water which should be cooler because the final sauce tastes best at room temperature.

While white sugar offers a sweet, yet neutral canvas to this sauce, other types of sugars work well too.  Brown sugar, for example, adds a wonderful caramel-like flavor while a drizzle of honey can add a fruity or floral flavor depending on its nectar source.  Palm sugar adds a smoky butterscotch taste.  I have successfully made this recipe with commonly available sugar substitutes like Splenda and Truvia.

The juice of fresh limes adds a fresh, citrusy flavor that gives the sauce its lighter than air feel.  Fresh lemon juice of course, is an obvious substitute.  I typically juice the limes in a manual citrus juicer, because I like having a little bit of the pulp in the sauce. If you don't have a citrus juicer and want that texture, just scrape off a little bit of the pulp with a spoon or knife, into the sauce. Bottled lemon and lime juice have never worked for me because the taste and fragrance of the brands that I have tried did not have that "fresh" taste.

If the lime juice is too acidic, replace part or or all of it with rice vinegar for a milder sour taste without the bite.  Different vinegars such as white vinegar, rice vinegar and apple cider vinegar have different intensities and flavors so taste frequently while adding small amounts to determine the amount which produces the most pleasing flavor to you.

Fish sauce is the last of the core ingredients and is primarily made up of anchovies and sea salt. Many brands of vietnamese fish sauce are sold in bottles in Asian grocery stores and the international section in supermarkets. Since some varieties have added ingredients like water, sugar and other additives, it is important to take a look at the label to make sure it suits any dietary concerns.

My Vietnamese friends love Red Boat fish sauce as it has a high protein content and is made purely with anchovies and sea salt. A fun fact is that it is made on the Phu Quoc a beautiful beach destination island which many Vietnamese say produces the best fish sauce in the country. For those looking for a substitute, soy sauce is a good alternative, especially for vegetarians. Since the level of saltiness and flavor intensity can vary by brand and sauce type, add a little bit at a time and taste to make sure you use just the right amount. I have also had great results with Squid brand and Three Crabs brand fish sauce.

Optional ingredients such as chilis, minced garlic and thinly sliced carrots adds a little bit of extra zing.

While any type of chilis will work in this sauce, I added serrano chilis because it adds a rich, bright smoky flavor to this dish.  I love the red ones because they add a lovely color. If you prefer a milder taste, use less chilis or remove the veins and seeds of the chili to dramatically reduce the hot, spicy rush.  You can also use milder peppers like jalapeno or poblano. Grinding the chilis with a mortar and pestle intensifies the heat.

A good rule of thumb is to remember that smaller size chilis typically translates to more fiery heat. For example, smaller chili peppers like Thai chilis, which is more commonly used in Vietnamese recipes, tend to be hotter than bigger ones like poblano. I do not use Thai chilis in my recipe, because they are too spicy for me and also not easily available in my local supermarket.

When handling very hot chilis, I usually make sure that I only touch them with a utensil since slicing 1-2 chilis may not warrant using gloves. If you are out of chilis, you can substitute with bottled ground chili paste like Sambal Olek.

The finely minced garlic is the best part of this sauce.  For everyday meals I typically use my garlic press because it’s such a time saver! Making large batches for a party of course, is a completely different matter. In this case, using a food processor, if you happen to have one, to mince the garlic makes the job a lot easier. If you aren’t into raw garlic, a great way to reduce the bite is to pre-soak the minced garlic in the fresh lime juice.

Finally, adding a few thin slivers of fresh carrot adds another punch of color and texture. I see this garnish often in Asian restaurants and even though its only decorative - I just love that explosion of orange in the sauce!

Do you need any special equipment to make Nuoc Cham?

This easy recipe requires the most basic of equipment, a cutting board, knife, bowl and spoon. For large batches, I might use a food processor to quickly mince the garlic but for everyday meals I just use my knife for prep work and a garlic press to save time on mincing.

How do you make Nuoc Cham?

Step 1: Combine the hot water and sugar in a small bowl.  For optimal results, heat about ⅓ of the water and sugar in a pot over medium heat until fully dissolved.  Once the sugar has dissolved, add the remaining water to cool the mixture. 

Step 2: Add the fresh lime juice - the mixture will taste like a sweet lemonade.

Step 3: Add the fish sauce.  At this point, you can add more of less of the different flavor ingredients to suit your preference. For example, if you add too much fish sauce, dilute with a little water, add sugar to make the mixture sweeter or more lime juice as needed.

Step 4: Add the minced garlic cloves and chilis right before serving. Mix well. Garnish with thin slivers of carrot to add color (optional). To intensify the flavor of the garlic and chilis, use a mortar and pestle to grind into a fine paste before adding to the the sauce. Alternatively you can also add a little store bought chili paste like sambal olek.

Recipe variations and Whole30/Paleo/Keto/Vegan tips

At its heart, this easy-to-make sauce is a flavor play of sweet (sugar), sour (lime juice), salty (fish sauce), garlicky and spicy (chili peppers).  The taste can be easily changed by varying the proportion of each ingredient. 

Adding grated ginger (Nuoc cham gung) for example makes a sauce that is great with duck and grilled seafood. A little olive oil or sesame oil turns Nuoc Cham into a delicious salad dressing. Once I substituted the water-sugar-lime juice base with apple juice and it was surprisingly good! Below are some tips to consider when converting the recipe to Whole30, paleo, keto and vegan diets.

Paleo, Whole30 and Keto: replace the sugar with your favorite diet approved sweetener.  For paleo and keto it is important to make sure that the fish sauce brand used does not include added sugar. Artificial sweeteners like Splenda and Truvia works very well for a keto version of this sauce.

Vegan Nuoc Cham: Replace the fish sauce with soy sauce or vegan fish sauce. Add the soy sauce or vegan fish sauce in small increments until the taste it to your liking.

Hot Honey: Replace the the 2 tablespoons of sugar with 4 teaspoons of hot honey.

Keto Nuoc Cham: substitute the 2 tablespoons of sugar with about 3 packets of your favorite sugar substitute.

How do you serve Nuoc Cham?

Nuoc cham is best served at room temperature because colder temperatures tend to mute the complex flavor layers.  Vietnamese cooking expert Andrea Nguyen, describes Nuoc Cham as the Vietnamese version of a vinaigrette.

In addition to serving it in small bowls as a dipping sauce for various Vietnamese dishes, it is versatile enough to be used in unconventional ways like in lieu of maple syrup for southern fried chicken and waffles! I often make large batches in the summer because its works with a range of main dishes, salads and appetizers. Examples include:

• Chicken and Shrimp Fried Wontons
• Banh Xeo - Crispy, Sizzling Vietnamese Crepe Recipe
• Banh Cuon (Vietnamese rice rolls)
• Basted on grilled meat, pork (e.g., lemongrass pork) and chicken
• Soaked in vermicelli bowls (thin rice noodles) and vegetables
• As a dipping sauce for savory crepes, spicy fish cakes and vegetables
• With roasted duck, Fried Rice and sticky rice
• Various Thai recipes
• As a dressing for Vietnamese salads e.g., mango and roasted peanut salad
• Drizzled over Arugula Pizza or inside a sandwich
• As a seafood or steak marinade

How long does Nuoc Cham last in the fridge?

Stored in a glass airtight container, Nuoc Cham lasts about 2-4 weeks in the refrigerator. Its shelf life can vary based on the freshness of ingredients and the chili and garlic flavor will get stronger over time. For optimal freshness, store it in the coldest part of the fridge and use a clean spoon to prevent cross-contamination.

We recommend making smaller batches and consuming them within a shorter time frame for optimal flavor.

When making large batches of Nuoc Cham, refrigerate the liquid separately. Add the chilis, lime juice and garlic right before serving. Using vinegar instead of the lime juice can also help extend the life of this sauce.

Freshly made Nuoc cham can be frozen in an airtight container for up to three months. Leave about a half inch on the top of the container as the sauce will expand once it is frozen. Defrost the Nuoc Cham sauce in the refrigerator overnight and use within 2-3 days.

Nutrition

A single serving of this Nuoc Cham fish dipping sauce has about 17 calories, 0.3 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, and 4.4 grams of carbohydrates.

This recipe yields approximately eight servings. The nutrition guidance is intended for informational purposes only. Please use it as a general guideline. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should independently verify it using your preferred tool.

What are some different types of Vietnamese dipping sauce recipes?

• Fermented Shrimp Sauce (Mam Tom) – Made of a mixture of fermented shrimp paste, crushed fresh garlic, chili, sugar, lemon juice and water, this sauce has a very pungent smell and is traditionally served with Chả Cá Lã Vọng (Hanoi fried fish) or as an ingredient in Bun Dau Mam Tom (pork and tofu with leaf shaped noodles).
• Vietnamese peanut sauce (Tuong Cham Goi Cuon) – A wonderfully creamy, sweet yet spicy peanut sauce typically served with spring rolls.
• Anchovy Dipping Sauce (Mam Mem) – a particularly pungent Vietnamese sauce made with anchovies, crushed pineapples, chilis, sugar and lemon juice. Mam Mem is an acquired taste and often served with beef dishes.

All About Fish Sauce

Looking for more recipes?

Search

What to eat with Nuoc Cham