Nước Mắm: Fish Sauce for Vietnamese Nuoc Cham Recipe

Nước Mắm (Vietnamese Fish Sauce) is made of anchovies, sea salt, and water, whereas hoisin is a thick sauce made from fermented soybean paste, sugar, garlic, and more. Nuoc Mam is the main ingredient for most of Vietnamese Cooking Recipe, especially when making Nước Chấm (Dipping Sauce) for many dishes used widely in Vietnam as meat, vegetable, spring rolls or summer roll dipping sauce or vermicelli noodle.

• Origin of Vietnamese Fish Sauce:

The origin of Nuoc Mam Fish Sauce in Vietnam dates back to ancient times as a primary source of protein. Early fishing boats were unable to venture into the deep ocean to catch larger fish for more fish meat. Instead, they mostly stayed close to the shore and net small fish. Later on, it was found that they could produce a richer protein sauce by layering these small fish in barrels with sea salt. Since then, there appeared such a delicious sauce!

• Ingredients and Recipe of Fish Sauce:

Only the fresh small anchovies fish makes good-quality fish sauce, which is found in clear color and good smell. In Vietnam, fish sauce is very popular and can be any of various mixtures based on the liquid of salted, fermented fish. First, small fish and salt are put in wooden boxes to ferment. Then, it is slowly pressed so as to yield the salty, fishy liquid.

This extremely pungent, strong-flavored and salty liquid can range in color. For the pure fish sauce, fresh anchovy fish sauce is selected and mixed with salt by applying the unique Vietnamese traditional process. Fermentation is started once a year, during the fishing season. After about 3 months in the barrel, the liquid drips from an open spigot, to be poured back into the top of the barrel. Six months under the sunlight will make the fish sauce of much better smell.

• Unique Characteristic of Fish Sauce:

The unique characteristic of Vietnamese Fish Sauce is salty flavor and fishy smell. An interesting characteristic of fish sauce is that it loses its fishy odor once mixed with other ingredients. It is commonly used for cooking and dipping seafood and many other Vietnamese Foods as well.In Vietnam, it is generally called nước mắm, well known by these brand names: Nước Mắm in Nha Trang, Phu Quoc, and Phan Thiet.

• Where to Buy Vietnamese Nuoc Mam?

You can now buy Fish Sauce in every Grocery Store, Convenience Shops and Supper Market through out the country of Vietnam, from Hanoi, Sapa, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City. You can also order online to get delivery to your home easily from anywhere.

Adventure Journey

See Also:

• Best Authentic Vietnamese Dishes You Should Never Miss
• Best Authentic Street Food You Should Not Miss in Ha Noi
• Best Authentic Street Food You Should Never Miss in Hue
• Best Authentic Street Food You Should Not Miss in Hoi An
• Best Authentic Street Food You Should Not Miss in Saigon