Nuoc Cham

Nuoc cham is a Vietnamese dipping sauce, a sweet, sour, salty and savory condiment that often, though not always, contains bird's eye chili for spiciness. The most common version, nuoc mam pha, is based on fish sauce, with a basic recipe of lime juice or vinegar, fish sauce, sugar and water, commonly enriched with minced garlic, chopped bird's eye chilies and sometimes pickled vegetables or fresh herbs; a vegetarian version, nuoc cham chay, substitutes Maggi seasoning or soy sauce for the fish sauce. Northern Vietnam typically adds a broth of pork and shrimp, central regions prefer a less diluted version with fresh chili, and southern Vietnam often adds palm sugar and coconut water as sweeteners. The sauce accompanies many Vietnamese dishes, including spring rolls, rice noodle bowls, crepes and rice dishes such as banh xeo, goi cuon, com tam and bun.