Nuoc Cham

Nuoc Cham is a common seasoning at the table for many Vietnamese meals. It goes together pretty simply too.

Juice of 1 lime

4 cloves garlic, peeled and sliced thinly

4 tablespoons fish sauce

3-4 tablespoons water

sugar

thinly sliced red chiles for heat to taste

I'll often simplify and add about 1 tablespoon of sweet chili sauce instead of the sugar and chile. Just simpler though it shifts the color of the sauce.

Let the garlic steep in the mixed sauce for at least 20 minutes. At home, I often just leave the garlic in the sauce. For more formal presentations you should strain out the garlic, but include a few slices of chile for color.