Best 8 Simple Nuoc Cham Recipes

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Nuoc cham, a ubiquitous Vietnamese dipping sauce, is a delicious and versatile condiment that can elevate the flavors of a wide range of dishes, from grilled meats and spring rolls to fresh vegetables and rice noodles. Made with a combination of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, garlic, and chili peppers, this sauce strikes a perfect balance between sweet, sour, salty, and spicy. Preparing nuoc cham is incredibly simple, requiring just a few pantry staples and a few minutes of your time. In this article, we will guide you through the process of creating the best-tasting, most authentic nuoc cham, sharing tips and tricks to ensure that your sauce is bursting with flavor and perfectly complements your favorite Vietnamese dishes.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE (NUOC CHAM)



Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nuoc Cham) image

This sauce is delicious on just about anything including plain white rice. Wonderful on grilled shrimp. It is the sauce used for the Grilled Vietnamese Jumbo Shrimp on Sugarcane Sticks that I posted. Great recipe with many variations!

Provided by NcMysteryShopper

Categories     Sauces

Time 10m

Yield 1 Cup

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/4 carrot (2-inch piece)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1/4 cup asian fish sauce
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 red Thai chile, thinly sliced (2-3 more if you like it hot)
1 green onion, chopped

Steps:

  • Peel carrot lengthwise with a vegetable peeler. Stack carrot slices and cut into very fine long julienne strips.
  • In a bowl, mash the garlic with the sugar. Add remaining ingredients and carrot slices and mix well.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 164.1, Fat 0.1, Sodium 5673.2, Carbohydrate 37.7, Fiber 1.2, Sugar 30, Protein 4.7

SIMPLE NUOC CHAM



Simple Nuoc Cham image

This is the basic sauce that almost always appears on the Vietnamese table, where it serves somewhat the same function as salt and pepper in the West. Nuoc cham is frequently presented in individual saucers and diners dip their food in the sauce before eating it.

Provided by Nancy Harmon Jenkins

Categories     condiments

Time 10m

Yield serve 4, 6 or 8 people

Number Of Ingredients 6

10 tablespoons nuoc mam
4 tablespoons sugar
2 lemons
1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
Water to taste
3 tiny hot green or red chili peppers, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • In a 4-cup measuring jug, place the nuoc mam, sugar and the juice of the lemons. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved.
  • Add garlic and stir to mix.
  • Note the quantity of liquid in the measuring jug and add one and a half times that amount in water. Stir well and taste. You may add more of any ingredient. The nuoc cham should have a delicately fishy flavor, sweet and tart at the same time.
  • Add chili peppers.

NUOC CHAM SAUCE



Nuoc Cham Sauce image

A classic Vietnamese dipping sauce. Serve with grilled lemon grass beef (Bo Nuang Xa).

Provided by Ben S.

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes

Time 5m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
3 tablespoons white sugar
2 tablespoons lime juice
4 tablespoons fish sauce
1 cup water

Steps:

  • In a medium bowl combine the garlic, red pepper flakes, sugar, lime juice, fish sauce and water. Mix all together, adjusting to taste.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 31.9 calories, Carbohydrate 7.6 g, Fat 0.1 g, Fiber 0.2 g, Protein 0.6 g, Sodium 731.1 mg, Sugar 6.7 g

NUOC CHAM (VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE)



Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce) image

My personal take on a traditional dipping sauce. A little bit sweet, but mostly savory with a nice bit of heat. I make this a minimum of 24 hours before I use it to let the flavors mingle. Leftover sauce can be kept for three to four weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator. If this isn't to your taste as written, experiment! Everyone's tastes are different! Some like their nuoc cham really sweet and mild, some like it tangy with heat. Mine tends to be more towards the tangy heat side. So, before you add the garlic, onion, and vinegar, sample it and adjust the ingredient amounts to suit your liking. Keep in mind that this recipe is LOUD when you first make it. The flavors mingle and mature a bit after the first 24 hours. I hope you enjoy!

Provided by Calamity in the kitchen

Categories     Side Dish     Sauces and Condiments Recipes     Sauce Recipes

Time 15m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 8

¼ cup white sugar
½ cup warm water
¼ cup fish sauce
⅓ cup distilled white vinegar
½ lemon, juiced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 Thai chile peppers, chopped
1 green onion, thinly sliced

Steps:

  • Stir the sugar and warm water together in a bowl until the sugar dissolves completely; add the fish sauce, vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Thai chile peppers, and green onion to the mixture.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 14.9 calories, Carbohydrate 3.7 g, Fiber 0.3 g, Protein 0.4 g, Sodium 219.8 mg, Sugar 3 g

NUOC CHAM



Nuoc Cham image

Categories     Sauce     Citrus     Fish     Side     Quick & Easy     Lime     Summer     Gourmet     Fat Free     Pescatarian     Dairy Free     Wheat/Gluten-Free     Peanut Free     Tree Nut Free     Soy Free

Yield Makes about 1/2 cup

Number Of Ingredients 4

1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

Steps:

  • Stir together all ingredients in a bowl until sugar is dissolved.

NUOC CHAM



Nuoc Cham image

A classic Vietnamese condiment with a base of fish sauce, nuoc cham brings a bouquet of garlic and chile notes to everything that absorbs it. Extremely versatile, it's served alongside a wide range of dishes, adding heat, sweetness and savor to rice, grilled meat and fish.

Provided by Yewande Komolafe

Categories     sauces and gravies

Time 5m

Yield About 3/4 cup

Number Of Ingredients 5

2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1 garlic clove, minced
1 to 2 bird's-eye chiles, minced with seeds

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, whisk the sugar into 1/4 cup water until dissolved. Stir in the lime juice, fish sauce, garlic and chiles to combine.
  • Use immediately or refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Serve as a dipping sauce for fried spring rolls, and as a topping for noodle and rice salads, or grilled meats and fish. Mix with soups, greens or cooked vegetables to perk them up.

NUOC CHAM



Nuoc Cham image

(Vietnamese Lime Sauce) This recipe is used to prepared Grilled Lemongrass Beef and Noodle Salad. Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Categories     Sauce     Garlic     Pepper     Quick & Easy     Lemongrass     Gourmet

Yield Makes about 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 6

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce (preferably nuoc mam)
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup warm water
1 garlic clove, forced through a garlic press
2 small thin fresh red or green Asian chilies (1 to 2 inches long) or serrano chilies, seeded and chopped fine (wear rubber gloves)

Steps:

  • In a small bowl stir together all ingredients until sugar is dissolved.

NUOC CHAM (VIETNAMESE SPICY FISH SAUCE)



Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Spicy Fish Sauce) image

A delicious sauce that goes well with Vietnamese soups and appetizers; if you find it too strong, try increasing the sugar in the recipe a little bit and adding a little water.

Provided by PalatablePastime

Categories     Sauces

Time 15m

Yield 1 1/2 cups

Number Of Ingredients 6

2 red chili peppers, minced
4 cloves garlic, pressed
3 teaspoons sugar or 1 1/2 packages artificial sweetener
1/2 cup fish sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, to taste
1 cup water

Steps:

  • Mash peppers, garlic and sugar into a paste, using mortar and pestle.
  • Add the fish sauce, lime juice and water.
  • Blend well.
  • Seal and refrigerate.

Tips:

  • Choose the right fish sauce: Not all fish sauces are created equal. For the best flavor, look for a fish sauce that is made from anchovies that have been fermented for at least 6 months. The longer the fermentation process, the more complex and flavorful the fish sauce will be.
  • Use fresh limes: The lime juice in nuoc cham should be fresh and tangy. Avoid using bottled lime juice, as it will not have the same flavor.
  • Add sugar to taste: The amount of sugar you add to nuoc cham is a matter of personal preference. Start with a small amount and add more to taste until you reach the desired sweetness.
  • Use fresh herbs: The herbs in nuoc cham add a lot of flavor and freshness. Use fresh cilantro, basil, and mint for the best results.
  • Let the flavors meld: Nuoc cham is best when it has had time for the flavors to meld. Make it ahead of time and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before using.

Conclusion:

Nuoc cham is a delicious and versatile dipping sauce that can be used with a variety of dishes. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own personal preferences. Whether you are using it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, grilled meats, or seafood, nuoc cham is sure to add a burst of flavor to your meal.

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