“The Enchanting Vegan Fish Sauce: A Secret Ingredient Unveiled”

13 October, 2024

Fish sauce is an indispensable seasoning in many Vietnamese dishes. Typically, fish sauce is made from fish that are fermented with salt, resulting in a salty liquid with a distinct aroma. In addition, Vietnamese cuisine boasts a variety of other types of “mắm,” a term used for fermented foods.

Among all these varieties, the most commonly used and popular one is still the traditional fish sauce. Some people believe that following a vegetarian diet means abstaining from fish sauce. However, vegetarians can opt for vegetarian fish sauce, which is made from plant-based ingredients instead of fermented shrimp, fish, or squid.

There are numerous recipes for vegetarian fish sauce, and each individual may have their own preferred method of preparation based on their tastes and circumstances.

Vegetarian Fish Sauce Made from Red Wolfberries:

Red wolfberries can be used to make vegetarian fish sauce.

This type of vegetarian fish sauce is made by taking red wolfberries (with the seeds removed), washing and mashing them, then combining the mashed berries with salt in a clean jar. The mixture is then left to sunbathe for about a month, with the suggested ratio of ingredients being 5kg of wolfberries to 500 grams of salt.

After this period, the mixture is filtered to remove the solids, and the resulting liquid is again left to sunbathe for about 100 days, yielding vegetarian fish sauce made from red wolfberries.

Vegetarian Fish Sauce Made from Mushrooms:

Vegetarian fish sauce can also be made from oyster mushrooms.

Another straightforward method for preparing vegetarian fish sauce involves using mushrooms, specifically oyster mushrooms. After cleaning and rinsing the mushrooms, place them in a clean jar and seal it shut. In a separate container, boil and then cool a mixture of water and salt (a suggested ratio is 2kg of mushrooms, 3 liters of water, and 5 cups of salt). Pour this brine solution into the jar containing the mushrooms and let it ferment for about three months. Finally, filter the mixture to obtain the vegetarian fish sauce made from mushrooms.

Vegetarian Fish Sauce Made from Shiitake Mushrooms and Pineapple:

Vegetarian fish sauce made from pineapple and shiitake mushrooms has a rich flavor and aroma.

This method requires less fermentation time and yields a ready-to-use product. The ingredients include fresh pineapple, shiitake mushrooms, salt, and soy sauce. Peel and core the pineapple, then cut it into small pieces or mince it, depending on your preference. Choosing ripe pineapples will result in a more flavorful sauce.

Clean and soak the dried shiitake mushrooms in water to soften them. Sauté the pineapple in a pan until softened, then add the mushrooms and their soaking liquid. Simmer this mixture over low heat for about an hour, then season with salt and soy sauce to taste. Once all the ingredients are tender, turn off the heat and allow the mixture to cool before filtering out the solids. Bottle the resulting liquid, which is your vegetarian fish sauce made from pineapple and shiitake mushrooms, and store it in the refrigerator for future use.

Vegetarian Fish Sauce Made from Tamarind:

Soak tamarind in warm water and crush it to extract the pulp. Combine the tamarind pulp with sugar and soy sauce in a pot and simmer over low heat. Once the mixture comes to a boil, remove it from the heat and let it cool. Pour the cooled mixture into a clean jar and store it in the refrigerator. Tamarind fish sauce will have a sour and salty taste, and you can add chili peppers to adjust the spiciness according to your preference.

Frequently asked questions

Fish sauce is a seasoning made from fermented fish and salt, resulting in a salty liquid with a distinct aroma. It is widely used in Vietnamese cooking and is considered indispensable in many dishes. The term ‘mắm’ refers to a variety of fermented foods, of which fish sauce is the most popular and commonly used type.

Yes, vegetarians can opt for vegetarian fish sauce, which is made from plant-based ingredients. It is a great alternative for those who follow a vegetarian diet and wish to avoid fish, shrimp, or squid-based sauces.

There are several recipes for vegetarian fish sauce using different ingredients. You can make it from red wolfberries by mashing and combining them with salt, then leaving the mixture to sunbathe for about a month. Another method is using oyster mushrooms, which involves fermenting them in a brine solution for around three months. You can also make vegetarian fish sauce from shiitake mushrooms and pineapple, resulting in a rich flavor and aroma, or from tamarind, which gives a sour and salty taste.

Remove the seeds from red wolfberries and wash and mash the berries. Combine the mashed berries with salt in a clean jar. Leave the mixture to sunbathe for about a month, using a suggested ratio of 5kg of wolfberries to 500 grams of salt. After this, filter the mixture to remove solids, and leave the liquid to sunbathe for an additional 100 days to get your vegetarian fish sauce.

Clean and rinse oyster mushrooms and place them in a sealed jar. Prepare a brine solution by boiling water and salt, then cooling it down. Pour the brine into the jar containing the mushrooms and let it ferment for approximately three months. Finally, filter the mixture to obtain your vegetarian fish sauce.

Peel and core a ripe pineapple, then cut it into small pieces or mince it. Clean and soak dried shiitake mushrooms in water to soften them. Sauté the pineapple until softened, then add the mushrooms and their soaking liquid. Simmer this mixture for about an hour, seasoning with salt and soy sauce to taste. Once tender, turn off the heat and allow it to cool before filtering out the solids. Bottle the liquid and store it in the refrigerator.

Soak tamarind in warm water and crush it to extract the pulp. Combine the tamarind pulp with sugar and soy sauce in a pot and simmer over low heat. Once it boils, remove from heat and let it cool. Pour the mixture into a clean jar and refrigerate. You can adjust the spiciness by adding chili peppers to taste.