Vietnamese sweet and sour fish sauce is a staple condiment in Vietnamese households, gracing the dining table at almost every meal. Whether it’s fried, boiled, or grilled dishes, a splash of this sauce elevates the flavors of any dish. With the following recipe for long-lasting sweet and sour fish sauce, you won’t need to prepare it daily, as it stays fresh and flavorful for up to a month.
Ingredients:
To make a delicious batch of sweet and sour fish sauce, gather the following ingredients:
1 liter of pure fish sauce
1 kg of white sugar
1 liter of filtered water
0.5 liters of passion fruit pulp (strained to remove seeds) or pineapple or kumquat juice
100-150gr of bird’s eye chilies or horn chilies
100gr of garlic
Instructions for making long-lasting sweet and sour fish sauce:
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
Rinse the passion fruits, cut them in half, and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Strain the pulp through a sieve to remove the seeds, retaining only the juice. If using pineapple, blend and strain to extract the juice.
Peel and mince the garlic and chilies. For a more aesthetically pleasing and aromatic sauce, consider grinding them by hand instead of using a blender.
Step 2: Mix the fish sauce base
Combine the fish sauce, sugar, water, and passion fruit/pineapple/kumquat juice in a ratio of 1:1:1:0.5. Note that you should not add the passion fruit juice at the beginning to prevent it from affecting the flavor during cooking. Adjust the ratio to your taste and the intensity of your fish sauce.
Step 3: Cook the fish sauce for a thicker consistency
Place the mixture of fish sauce, sugar, and water on the stove over medium heat. Stir continuously until the sugar dissolves completely. Once the mixture starts to simmer, reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for about 15-20 minutes. This process gives the sauce a slightly thicker consistency and develops its characteristic aroma.
Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down completely.
Step 4: Finalize the sweet and sour fish sauce
When the mixture has cooled, add the passion fruit/pineapple/kumquat juice and stir well. Then, add the minced garlic and chilies, mixing thoroughly until everything is combined. Adding the garlic and chilies at the end ensures that they float attractively on the surface.
Ideal Results:
The sauce should have an appealing amber color and a slightly thickened consistency. The garlic and chilies should be floating on the surface, creating a colorful and appetizing appearance.
The perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors should be achieved. The unique fragrance of passion fruit/pineapple/kumquat sets this sauce apart from regular sweet and sour fish sauce.
How to store sweet and sour fish sauce for longevity:
– Use clean glass bottles with tight-fitting lids: Avoid plastic containers, as they may alter the flavor over extended storage.
– Sterilize the bottles with boiling water: This step ensures the absence of bacteria and prevents natural fermentation or spoilage.
– Refrigerate the sauce: Storing the sauce in the refrigerator maintains its freshness and flavor for 2-3 weeks or longer without discoloration or fermentation.
– Avoid exposure to direct sunlight or heat: High temperatures can cause the sauce to spoil quickly and lose its desired consistency and unique flavor.
What dishes go well with sweet and sour fish sauce?
This versatile sauce pairs well with a variety of Vietnamese dishes, including:
Fried spring rolls, egg rolls, Vietnamese pancakes, and rice rolls
Summer rolls, grilled pork vermicelli bowls, and grilled pork patties
Boiled or steamed meat and seafood
Vietnamese-style mixed noodle or mixed rice dishes
A drizzle of this sauce enhances the flavors of these dishes, making them even more irresistible.
With this long-lasting sweet and sour fish sauce recipe, you’ll always have a delicious and authentic dipping sauce ready for any meal. The floating garlic and chilies, the subtle thickness, and the enticing aroma will delight your family and guests. Don’t hesitate to give it a try and elevate your everyday meals to the next level!
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