By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 1
52 cal · 10 min
Diane's Vietnamese Fish Sauce Dip (Nước Mắm Chấm)
Recipe GLPR6b386e2c784295
A vibrant, tangy Vietnamese dipping sauce made with fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, and fresh chiles. This traditional nước mắm chấm balances salty, sour, and spicy notes and pairs perfectly with grilled meats, fresh vegetables, and spring rolls. Simple to prepare and keeps well in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
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Ingredients
¼ cup fish sauce
½ cup water
3 tablespoon fresh lime juice
3 large cloves garlic cloves, mashed or minced
1 tablespoon sugar
1 to 2 fresh thai chiles
1 teaspoon crushed fresh ginger root, optional
Directions
In a mixing bowl, combine the fish sauce, water, fresh lime juice, mashed or minced garlic, sugar, fresh thai chiles, and ginger (if using).
Stir the mixture vigorously until the sugar is completely dissolved and all ingredients are well incorporated. Alternatively, transfer all ingredients to a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake thoroughly until combined.
Serve the dip alongside grilled meats, fresh vegetables, spring rolls, or any desired accompaniments. Taste and adjust the balance of lime juice and sugar to your preference.
Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Comments
Fish sauce is a specialty ingredient that requires a dedicated trip to an Asian market like Saigon Market or H-Mart in Charlotte; Food Lion and Harris Teeter rarely stock it. The stated 10 minutes is honest for a dip that is literally mincing and mixing, and at roughly $1.50 per batch it is genuinely cheap. The one-serving yield is unusual and impractical for a household—this recipe makes enough sauce for a single person's meal, so a family cooking together will need to multiply it five or six times, which changes the appeal. Once made, the dip keeps refrigerated for a week and improves as flavors marry.
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