Nuoc mam is a fish sauce-based dipping sauce used for many Vietnamese dishes. It is as ubiquitous in Vietnamese cooking as salt and pepper in American cooking. These are some dishes you would serve with nuoc mam:

• vermicelli noodle salad
• fried egg rolls
• spring rolls
• meat-filled crepes (banh xeo)
• rolled stuffed noodles (banh cuon)

Mastering a nuoc mam recipe, or fish sauce for dipping is a must if you are going to be making Vietnamese food. In this post, you will learn how to make a balanced fish sauce/nuoc mam recipe. Oftentimes, nuoc mam is overly sweet. This recipe has more of a tang from lemon juice.

Nuoc man is a fish sauce-based dipping sauce that is a sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy. It is usually made from:

• fish sauce
• lime juice/lemon juice
• garlic
• chile
• sugar
• water
• (sometimes) vinegar

For other Vietnamese cooking ideas, check out my spicy garlic shrimp recipe.

How to Make Nuoc Mam

This nuoc mam recipe has fish sauce, lemon, sugar, chile, garlic, and water.

You can modify it depending on your taste. Add more sugar for more sweetness. Or add more fish sauce for more salty flavor. Add more lemon juice or even vinegar for more of a sour tang.

This prepared fish sauce is best when you give it time for its flavors to meld together. I recommend making the sauce the night before for best results. If not, then at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

How to Store Nuoc Mam

Always keep nuoc mam refrigerated and stored in a clean jar with a lid. This nuoc mam recipe is the same that is used for dipping in many Vietnamese salad and noodle salad dishes, so it is handy dandy to have some lying around if you are a fan of Vietnamese food.

You can keep it in your refrigerator for several months as long as you do not contaminate the jar of fish sauce with oils or any other foods.

Do not leave at room temperature as it will spoil and upset your tummy when you consume it.

Print

Nuoc Mam (Fish Sauce for Dipping)

A sweet, savory, spicy, and tangy Vietnamese dipping sauce that is commonly used for noodle, rice, and other dishes.

Course Sauces

Cuisine Asian, Vietnamese

Keyword dipping sauce, fish sauce, nuoc mam, Vietnamese food

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Rest Time 1 hour hour

Total Time 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

• 2 cloves garlic finely minced
• 1.5 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon or lime juice
• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 tsp sambal chile sauce

Instructions

• Make fish sauce by adding minced garlic, sugar, fish sauce, lemon juice, hot water, and sambal. Allow to sit refrigerated at least 1 hour before serving.

Happy cooking! Tag me on Instagram @Jennskitchendiary if you’ve made this!