5 from 9 votes
Nuoc Cham
You're 5 minutes from a big batch of homemade Nuoc Cham. This lively Vietnamese dipping sauce and dressing is incredible tossed with noodles, in meat marinades, as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, and more.
Prep Time
5 mins
Total Time
5 mins
Servings:
8
servings (2 tablespoons each)
Calories:
16 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
Asian, Vietnamese
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water warm
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce or more to taste
- 2 tablespoons lime juice (see note 1)
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Chili garlic sauce
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together warm water and sugar until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in garlic, fish sauce, lime juice, and chili garlic sauce.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Fish sauce: Fish sauce is a funky and powerful condiment used in Vietnamese and Thai cooking. Make sure it’s a clear, amber color when you hold it up to the light. Anything that looks murky, is dark brown, or has sediment is likely not so good. I use Three Crabs brand or Red Boat.
- Lime juice: Or substitute 1 tablespoon rice vinegar or white vinegar for the 2 tablespoons lime juice. The flavor will change, but it’s still delicious.
- Chili garlic sauce: A little goes a long way with this tangy, spicy, and aromatic condiment. Think of it like sriracha's sharper, chunkier cousin. While sriracha formulas include some sugar to balance the heat, chili garlic sauce is sugar-free and contains visible chili seeds and diced garlic. It's thinner than chili paste but thicker than drizzly sriracha. Look for chili garlic sauce in jars in the condiment aisle. Huy Fong and Lee Kum Kee are two brands that I trust.
- Yield: My homemade Nuoc Cham recipe makes 2 cups, or 8 servings of dipping sauce, 2 tablespoons each.
- Storage: Keep Nuoc Cham in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, in the fridge.
Nutrition Information
Serving
2 tbsp
Calories
16kcal
(1%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
532mg
(22%)
Potassium
41mg
(1%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
3g
(6%)
Vitamin A
323IU
(6%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
7mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 8 servings (2 tablespoons each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 16
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 2 tbsp | |
| Calories | 16kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 532mg | 22% |
| Potassium | 41mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 323IU | 6% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 7mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.