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Jeow Mak Len (Lao Tomato Dipping Sauce)
5 from 10 votes

Jeow Mak Len (Lao Tomato Dipping Sauce)

Jeow Mak Len is a Lao-style tomato dipping sauce featuring grilled tomatoes, shallots, garlic, and spicy Bird's eye chilies mashed together with fish sauce and fresh cilantro. It has a smoky, tangy, and spicy flavor profile with a coarse texture that pairs well with sticky rice or grilled meats.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 4 Servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: Laos

Ingredients

  • 3 tomato medium
  • 2 shallots unpeeled, small
  • 4-7 Red Bird's eye Chilies
  • 4 garlic unpeeled, cloves
  • 3 green onions divided
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fish sauce
  • Pinch salt
  • 1/4 cup cilantro roughly chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Arrange the tomatoes, shallots, chilies, unpeeled garlic cloves and two of the green onions over a grill pan or on a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Cook, turning occasionally, on a heated grill or under a broiler until blistered and charred on all sides (but not completely burnt). Remove the garlic, green onions, chilies, and shallots as they become charred before the tomatoes. Set aside until cool enough to handle.
  3. Using a large mortar and pestle, peel the garlic cloves and mash into a paste.  
  4. Remove the stems (and seeds for less heat) from the chilies, chop, and add to the garlic. Peel the shallots and chop along with the charred green onions, then mash with the garlic and chilies.
  5. Roughly chop, and mash the tomatoes with the rest of the vegetables to form a textured sauce. Mix in the fish sauce, salt, and cilantro. Adjust seasonings to taste.
  6. Thinly slice the remaining green onion and sprinkle over the sauce for garnish along with a few pieces of cilantro.
  7. Serve with sticky rice, grilled meat, and vegetables.