As I mentioned in a previous post, I wanted to post more vegetarian alternatives to Vietnamese dishes, and you can’t have Vietnamese food without nuoc cham. The original recipe calls for fish sauce, and honestly, there’s no taste like fish sauce since it’s so unique. But I did find a good alternative in soy sauce. It still gives you that umami flavor and is animal friendly.
Ingredients, Substitutions & Adjustments
- Soy sauce – Soy sauce serves as a substitute for the fish sauce. It doesn’t taste the same, but it does give the sauce an umami flavor. To make the sauce gluten free, use tamari instead.
- Lime – Adds brightness to the sauce. Lemon also works for this sauce.
- Garlic – Adds more flavor to the sauce.
- Granulated sugar – Adds sweetness to the sauce. For a healthier option, you can substitute coconut sugar for granulated sugar.
Making my vegetarian Vietnamese dipping sauce
This is literally the easiest sauce recipe ever and takes less than 5 minutes. Combine all the ingredients into a bowl or jar. Mix and serve! Make sure to taste the sauce for seasoning and adjust to your tastes. Add more sugar for more sweetness and soy sauce for more salty/umami flavor.
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Vegetarian Vietnamese Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup lime juice
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a jar or bowl.
- Mix until combined and serve.
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by Becca Du