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Rice noodles are stir-fried with savory fish sauce to create traditional Pad Thai, a most-loved dish from Thailand.
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A key ingredient in the cuisine of Southeast Asia,
fish sauce is a condiment made from the liquid of fermented fish
(usually
anchovies). The light-brown liquid is quite pungent and salty,
and a small amount can wake up otherwise bland dishes with vibrant,
savory flavor.
Known as
nam pla in Thailand and
nuoc mam in Vietnam, fish sauce is also a popular flavoring and table salt substitute in Burma, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines.
A Little Bite of History
There's good evidence that fish sauce came to Asia from the Roman Empire
, where it was first made centuries ago.
Called
garum,
the Romans fermented fish in brine for several days under the sun and
then flavored the resulting liquid with oil, wine or spices.
Buying Tips
While many grocery stores carry fish sauce, brands vary greatly in quality
and flavor. Authentic imports have
a richer taste and are more likely found in Asian specialty markets. Wherever you shop, base your selection on these two
factors: clarity and price.
Good fish sauce has a nice, translucent amber color, similar to brewed tea. Avoid brands that are as dark as
soy sauce or cola.
When it comes to fish sauce, price reflects quality. Premium brands are
pleasantly fishy and moderately salty, making them suitable for raw vinaigrettes and dipping sauces, as well as cooked
dishes.
Storage Tips
Keep it in the pantry, away from light and heat. The condiment has a long shelf-life, but replace it if it starts to darken.
Usage Tips
Different brands vary greatly in strength and salt content, so use fish
sauce with caution in your recipes. Start with a small amount and add
more to taste. Never serve fish sauce straight up.
Once you have a handle on its distinctive flavor, experiment by adding
a few drops to your tomato soup, pasta sauce, meat
marinade, Caesar
salad dressing or
stir fry. Fish sauce is actually a secret, "go-to"
ingredient employed by many Western chefs when their recipes are
missing "that certain something."
For more traditional uses, try a simple Thai dipping sauce called
nam pla prik.
Just mix fish sauce with minced Thai chilies and use it as a topping
for burgers or pasta. For a healthy Thai dressing, whisk a few drops of
fish sauce with
lime juice, chili peppers,
sugar and
garlic.
Substitution Tips
When fish sauce is not available,
soy sauce is an acceptable substitute in most recipes.
