By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 12, 2026

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Thai-Style Dipping Sauce

Serves 2

93 cal · 5 min

Thai-Style Dipping Sauce

Recipe GLPRe2fda27fa3464a

3.8(1)
Thai
Sauce & Condiment
5 min
93 cal
Servings: 2
No-Cook
SNAP eligible

A bright and tangy Southeast Asian-inspired dipping sauce combining savory fish sauce, fresh lime juice, and aromatic garlic with a subtle heat from chili flakes. The brown sugar balances the flavors while fresh cilantro adds herbaceous notes. Perfect for dumplings, spring rolls, or grilled vegetables.

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Ingredients

8 teaspoons finely minced garlic (about 8 medium cloves)

4 tablespoons Asian fish sauce

4 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from about 4 limes)

2 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves and fine stems

1 teaspoon red chili flakes

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the minced garlic, fish sauce, fresh lime juice, brown sugar, cilantro, and chili flakes.

  2. Stir the mixture vigorously for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, until the brown sugar is completely dissolved and all ingredients are well blended.

  3. Taste and adjust seasonings if desired—add more chili flakes for extra heat, lime juice for tanginess, or fish sauce for depth.

  4. Transfer to a serving bowl and serve immediately as a dipping sauce for dumplings, spring rolls, or fresh vegetables.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff3.75

Fish sauce is the sticking point: Harris Teeter carries it in the Asian aisle, but Food Lion and most Walmarts do not, so plan for that specific stop if your regular store is one of the others. The actual cost runs about $1.50 per serving, driven entirely by the fish sauce bottle (roughly $5–6 for a small jar you'll use a teaspoon of). The stated five minutes is honest for whisking, but budget another minute to juice the lime by hand. This is a condiment, not a meal, so the real question is what you're dipping—it keeps refrigerated for a week and brightens grilled chicken, shrimp, or vegetables.

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