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Small bowl of Vietnamese nước chấm sauce with garlic and chili slices.

Nước Chấm (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce)

Sweet, tangy, savory, and spicy — this easy Vietnamese dipping sauce enhances everything from grilled meats to spring rolls.
Servings 4
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup fish sauce
  • 1/4 cup warm water
  • 3 tbsp lime juice or rice vinegar
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1 Thai chili or red chili, thinly sliced
  • 1 tbsp shredded carrot optional

Instructions

  • In a bowl, stir sugar into warm water until fully dissolved.
  • Add lime juice or vinegar and mix well.
  • Pour in fish sauce and stir to combine.
  • Add garlic and chili. Let the sauce sit for 5–10 minutes to infuse.
  • Optional: Mix in shredded carrot for added color and mild sweetness.
  • Taste and adjust balance of sweet, sour, and salty if needed.

Notes

Serving Size: 2 tbsp Calories: 25 Carbohydrates: 5g (2% DV) Protein: 1g (2% DV) Total Fat: 0g (0% DV) Saturated Fat: 0g (0% DV) Sodium: 700mg (30% DV) Sugar: 4g
*Nutrition facts are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portion size.
Course: sauce, Side Dish
Cuisine: Vietnamese
Keyword: fish sauce dressing, nuoac mam cham, nuoc cham recipe, nước mắm chấm, Vietnamese dipping sauce, Vietnamese sauce for spring rolls