Mastering the art of mixing a sweet and sour fish sauce dip is the key to successfully creating dips for various dishes such as snails, salads, fried fish, and meat. There are two essential rules to remember to ensure that the garlic and chili always float on top.
Firstly, garlic and chili should be chopped when completely dry, with no moisture absorbed. Secondly, it is crucial to select a fish sauce with an appropriate level of nitrogen content. The quality of the fish sauce significantly impacts the taste of the dip.
A 40-degree nitrogen fish sauce is an excellent choice due to its moderate saltiness, resulting in a delicious dip.
How to Mix a Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce Dip
Preparation
- Finely chop the garlic and chili. You may remove the chili seeds if desired.
- Squeeze the lime to extract the juice.
- In addition to chopping the garlic and chili, you can also crush a portion of them to create a thicker consistency when mixed.

Mixing the Sweet and Sour Fish Sauce Dip
Use 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic, half a tablespoon of chopped chili, 6 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cooled boiled water, and the juice of half a lime. Mix well. Finally, add fish sauce and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
It is important not to add the fish sauce first, as the garlic and chili may sink. Adding lime juice before the water and fish sauce helps the garlic and chili float better.
For the fish sauce, opt for a high-nitrogen variety, preferably a traditional one, to achieve the best flavor. Once the mixture is ready, if you wish to enhance the sweetness, you can add sugar directly to the dip. However, if you want to adjust the saltiness or sourness, it is advisable to mix a separate batch rather than adding these ingredients directly to the large bowl, as the garlic and chili may sink due to uneven proportions.
With these simple tips, you can create a delicious and visually appealing sweet and sour fish sauce dip. By following this recipe and ensuring that the garlic and chili are always floating on top, you can avoid them becoming discolored and soggy. Additionally, with this method, they will remain floating even after extended storage.

Tip for Making a Long-Lasting Garlic Chili Dip
To make a large batch of the dip for future use, combine sugar and water in a pot and bring it to a boil. Add about half a teaspoon of salt to preserve the dip for a longer period. Boil for approximately 3 minutes to achieve a syrupy consistency, then turn off the heat. After turning off the heat, add fish sauce (since salt has been added, you can adjust the amount of fish sauce to your taste preferences without worrying about making the dip too salty). Adding the fish sauce at the end helps retain its flavor.
While waiting for the fish sauce to cool down, you can chop the garlic and chili. Soak them in lime juice or vinegar to ensure they float in the dip.
Once the fish sauce has cooled completely, add the garlic and chili.
After mixing, transfer the dip to a clean container, seal it tightly, and store it in the refrigerator. Over time, the garlic and chili may sink slightly, but they will retain their delicious flavor.
Good luck with mixing your sweet and sour fish sauce dip!
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