Vietnamese Soy Sauce Dip Food

NUOC CHAM

Steps:

• In a small bowl, dissolve the sugar into the hot water. Once dissolved, stir in the fish sauce and rice vinegar.
• When you are ready to serve the nuoc cham, add the freshly squeezed lime juice, minced garlic, and chopped chilies. These items are best added fresh.
• If you like more heat, use fresh chopped Thai chili peppers instead of Holland chilies. They'll give the sauce a spicier kick!

VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Warm 3 tablespoons of the peanut oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet until nearly smoking. Add the peanuts and stir. Remove from the heat and continue stirring until the peanuts are toasted and then allow to cool.
• Place the peanuts in a food processor and puree to a rough paste. Add the chili peppers, ginger, garlic, coconut milk, soy and fish sauces, sugar, lime juice and salt. Puree until almost smooth. Place the peanut mixture into a bowl and, with a wooden spoon, stir in the remaining peanut oil until the sauce has a nice sheen. Stir in the minced coriander. Use the sauce as a dip for grilled meat, or as a sauce for cold noodle salad.

VIETNAMESE DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Cut the chilies into thin rings. Remove one-third of the chilies and set aside for garnish. Place the remaining chilies, garlic and sugar in a mortar, and pound into a coarse, wet paste. (If you don't have a mortar, just chop with a knife.) Transfer to a small bowl and add the water, lime juice and fish sauce. Stir well to dissolve. Add the reserved chilies and carrots. Set aside for 10 minutes before serving.
• NOTE: Nuoc cham is very amenable to variations and adaptations. In Vietnam, cooks like to use various vegetables to flavor the sauce, such as thinly sliced marinated daikon and carrots, ginger, scallion oil or peanuts and even slices of kohlrabi and the core of a white cabbage. Each imparts a distinctive savoriness.

VIETNAMESE SOY SAUCE DIP

Steps:

• Combine all ingredients and mix well. .