Vietnamese Dipping Sauce (Nuoc cham) - 1 cup

Basic Vietnamese Dipping Sauce [Nước chấm]
Culinary Vietnam by Daniel Hoyer

Makes 1 cup

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup warm water
• 3-4 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 cup fish sauce (nuoc mam)
• 1/4 cup lime juice or rice vinegar
• 2-3 Thai chiles or 1-2 serrano chiles (red or green), thinly sliced
• 1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced or minced (optional)

Directions

1. Mix the water and sugar, stirring until the sugar is dissolved. 
2. Combined with the rest of the ingredients and serve.

This sauce is typically made fresh for each meal, but leftovers will keep several days in the refrigerator.