Vietnamese Sauces Recipe

Master two essential Vietnamese sauces in 40 minutes! This recipe features classic Nuoc Cham (with vegetarian options) and a rich Vietnamese Peanut Sauce, perfectly balanced with hot, sour, salty, and sweet flavors. Elevate your Vietnamese cooking with these easy-to-follow recipes from the best cookbook!

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 40 mins
Calories 82.3 kcal
Protein 5g
Rating 5.0 (2 Reviews)
Vietnamese Sauces 21

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Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for Vietnamese Sauces

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How to Make Vietnamese Sauces

  1. **Nuoc Cham (makes about 1 cup):**
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup fish sauce (or vegetarian substitute: 1/4 cup soy sauce + 1 tbsp nutritional yeast), 1/4 cup rice vinegar, 2 tablespoons sugar (or stevia to taste), 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1-2 finely minced garlic cloves.
  3. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Add more sugar for sweetness, lime for tartness, or fish sauce/soy sauce for saltiness.
  4. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
  5. **Vietnamese Peanut Sauce (makes about 1 1/2 cups):**
  6. In a food processor, pulse 1 cup roasted peanuts until coarsely ground. Set aside 1/4 cup for garnish.
  7. In a small bowl, combine 1/2 cup tamarind paste with 1/2 cup warm water. Strain, reserving the liquid and discarding the solids.
  8. Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a wok or skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and stir-fry for 15 seconds until fragrant.
  9. Add 1/2 pound ground pork (or substitute with 1 cup cooked chickpeas for vegetarian option) and cook until browned and cooked through.
  10. Stir in 2 tablespoons soybean paste and the tamarind liquid. Cook for 1 minute.
  11. Add 1/2 cup water, then stir in the remaining ground peanuts.
  12. Add 2 tablespoons sugar (or to taste) and 1-2 finely chopped chilies (adjust to your spice preference).
  13. Add more water to reach your desired consistency.
  14. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  15. Remove from heat and stir in the reserved peanuts.
  16. Serve warm or at room temperature. Squeeze fresh lime juice over before serving.
  17. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 1 month. Reheat gently before serving.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

47 g

Sugar

14g

Fat

3g

Carbs

2g

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