The BEST Sauce
The BEST Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons palm sugar, depending on desired sweetness
- 7 to 10 fresh chili peppers
- 1 pinch crushed chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon roasted crushed sticky rice
- 2 shallots, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
Instructions
- 1
In a mortar, combine the 7 to 10 fresh chili peppers, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 of the finely sliced shallots. Using a pestle, pound these ingredients until they form a coarse, chunky paste.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Add the juice of 1 lime and 1 to 2 tablespoons of palm sugar to the mortar.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Stir in 1 tablespoon of tamarind paste, a pinch of crushed chili flakes, and 1 tablespoon of roasted crushed sticky rice.
⏱️ 1 min
- 4
Add 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro and the remaining 1 finely sliced shallot to the mortar. Pour in 3 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in the mortar using a spoon until the palm sugar completely dissolves and all components are well combined.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Taste the sauce and adjust the flavors (salty, sweet, sour, spicy) to your preference. Add more fish sauce for saltiness, palm sugar for sweetness, lime juice for sourness, or chili for heat, as desired.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Transfer the finished sauce from the mortar to a serving bowl. This bold and balanced sauce is excellent with seafood, grilled meats, roasted proteins, or tossed into a fresh salad.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
The BEST Sauce
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 to 2 tablespoons palm sugar, depending on desired sweetness
- 7 to 10 fresh chili peppers
- 1 pinch crushed chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon roasted crushed sticky rice
- 2 shallots, finely sliced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1 lime, juiced
- 3 tablespoons water
- 1 tablespoon tamarind paste
Instructions
- 1
In a mortar, combine the 7 to 10 fresh chili peppers, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 1 of the finely sliced shallots. Using a pestle, pound these ingredients until they form a coarse, chunky paste.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Add the juice of 1 lime and 1 to 2 tablespoons of palm sugar to the mortar.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Stir in 1 tablespoon of tamarind paste, a pinch of crushed chili flakes, and 1 tablespoon of roasted crushed sticky rice.
⏱️ 1 min - 4
Add 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro and the remaining 1 finely sliced shallot to the mortar. Pour in 3 tablespoons of water and 2 tablespoons of fish sauce.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly in the mortar using a spoon until the palm sugar completely dissolves and all components are well combined.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Taste the sauce and adjust the flavors (salty, sweet, sour, spicy) to your preference. Add more fish sauce for saltiness, palm sugar for sweetness, lime juice for sourness, or chili for heat, as desired.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Transfer the finished sauce from the mortar to a serving bowl. This bold and balanced sauce is excellent with seafood, grilled meats, roasted proteins, or tossed into a fresh salad.