Fish sauce is a great addition to any meal. It adds depth and complexity to dishes with just a few dips of its umami richness. In this article, we will discuss some amazing yet simple fish sauce recipes and examine the wide variety of dishes it can elevate through its distinctive taste combination. Whether you are an experienced chef or a home cook, these recipes will help you complete and enhance your meals in no time. So, let’s get started!
1. Fish Taco Sauce
Fish taco sauce, also known as Baja sauce, is a popular dipping sauce in Mexican cuisine. It complements the flavors of the fish and other toppings in tacos by giving them a tangy and somewhat spicy twist.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sour cream
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup minced cilantro
- 2 tablespoons chipotle in adobo sauce
- 2 limes (zest and juice)
- 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
Instructions:
- Use a mid-sized bowl to combine the sour cream and mayonnaise.
- Add the cilantro, adobo sauce, sea salt, lime zest, juice, and garlic to the mixture.
- Mix everything thoroughly.
- Either use the sauce immediately or place the bowl in your refrigerator.
- Note that this sauce tastes best after resting for 20 minutes.
This creamy and tangy fish taco sauce recipe will add a kick to your food and will surely leave you wanting more.
2. Vietnamese Nuoc Cham
This traditional Vietnamese dipping sauce called nuoc cham is extremely simple to prepare. It is known for its harmonious blend of sweet, sour, salty, and occasionally spicy flavors.
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons fish sauce
- 3 tablespoons warm water
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
Instructions:
- Mix fish sauce with warm water in a bowl and combine well.
- Add fresh lime juice to the fish sauce mixture.
- Add white sugar and stir until dissolved. You can adjust the sugar content depending on the level of sweetness you enjoy.
- Add the minced garlic for a burst of flavor and stir again.
- Then add the finely chopped Thai bird’s eye chilies to your nuoc cham sauce if you like it spicy. The number of chilies should be adjusted according to the level of heat you prefer.
- You can give the sauce a little extra sharpness by adding a teaspoon of rice vinegar.
- Taste the sauce, and feel free to modify the ingredients as you please. If you want it saltier, tangier, or sweeter, add additional lime juice, fish sauce, or sugar.
- Before using, let the sauce sit for 15 to 30 minutes.
The nuoc cham sauce is frequently served with rice noodle bowls, spring rolls, grilled meats (like bun cha), and other dishes.
3. Filipino Fish Sauce
Patis, or Filipino fish sauce, is a condiment with a significant role in Filipino cooking. It is a salty, flavorful sauce prepared with fermented fish.
Ingredients:
Patis:
- 1 cup small fish (anchovies or mackerel), cleaned and gutted
- 1 cup coarse sea salt
Dipping Sauce:
- ¼ cup patis
- Juice of 1-2 calamansi (or fresh lime or lemon juice)
- 1-2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1-2 Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely chopped
Instructions:
Patis:
- Place a layer of the cleaned fish at the bottom of a clean glass jar or container and top with a layer of coarse sea salt.
- Keep repeating. Remember, the last layer should be of salt.
- For fermentation, tightly screw the lid on the jar and keep it somewhere cool and dark. The fermentation process will take a few weeks to a few months, depending on the desired flavor.
- Inspect the jar frequently. The mixture may darken in color, and the fish may begin to release liquid. This indicates that fermentation is taking place.
- Remove the liquid from the solid fish and salt combination when the necessary fermenting time has passed.
- This liquid is your homemade patis.
- Pour it into a clean jar.
- To slow the fermentation process and maintain the flavor, store it in the refrigerator.
Dipping Sauce:
- Combine patis and calamansi juice in a small bowl. If calamansi is not available, you can use fresh lime or lemon juice.
- Then add the minced garlic.
- Next, add the Thai bird’s eye chilies to the mixture. Adjust the number of chilies according to the level of heat you prefer.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly to make the sauce.
Serve and enjoy!
4. Tamarind Fish Sauce
The tamarind-infused fish sauce combines the savory complexity of fish sauce with the vivid tanginess of tamarind. Incorporate it into marinades for meats and vegetables, serve it as a dipping sauce for spring rolls, or drizzle it over grilled fish.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup fish sauce
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
- 2 tablespoons tamarind paste
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1-2 Thai bird’s eye chilies, finely chopped (optional)
Instructions:
- Using a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, tamarind paste, and fish sauce.
- Keep cooking the mixture while stirring continuously for about 3 to 5 minutes. This will allow the sugar and tamarind paste to dissolve completely and the sauce to blend well.
- Take the mixture off the heat and let it cool down for a bit. Then, introduce the minced garlic, fresh lime juice, and Thai chilies. Mix well.
- After trying the sauce, adjust the flavors by adding more sugar or lime juice if needed, aiming for the ideal balance of sweetness and sourness.
- Once the sauce has cooled down entirely, transfer it to a glass jar or a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator.
Conclusion
Fish sauce, which ranges from the sharpness of tamarind to the harmonic sweet and sour interaction of nuoc cham, continues to fascinate the taste buds of food enthusiasts worldwide. Even a tiny bit of these powerful sauces can transform your food. So, give the aforementioned recipes a try today to elevate your meals and savor extraordinary flavors.
