Vietnam · Sauces and Dips

Nuoc Cham

Nuoc cham is the essential Vietnamese dipping sauce — a bright, balanced mix of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili that ties together spring rolls, grilled meats, rice bowls, and noodle salads with sweet…

5 min✻4 servings✻35 kcal
Nuoc Cham

Ingredients

  • fish sauce3 tbsp
  • lime juice3 tbsp
  • sugar2 tbsp
  • warm water3 tbsp
  • garlic2 cloves
  • red chili1

Method

  1. 1Dissolve the sugar in the warm water by stirring for about 30 seconds until no crystals remain. This is easier than dissolving sugar in cold liquid.
  2. 2Add the fish sauce and the lime juice to the sugar water and stir to combine.
  3. 3Finely mince the garlic cloves. Thinly slice the red chili into rounds, removing seeds if you prefer less heat.
  4. 4Add the garlic and chili to the sauce. Stir everything together and taste — the sauce should be a balanced blend of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy. Adjust by adding more sugar for sweetness, more lime for acidity, or more fish sauce for depth.
  5. 5Let the sauce sit for at least 5 minutes before serving so the garlic and chili can infuse. Serve at room temperature alongside spring rolls, grilled meat, rice, or noodle bowls.