Nuoc Cham dipping sauce

Nuoc cham is a classic Vietnamese dipping sauce, typically made from a balanced blend of fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, water, garlic, and chili. It's a cornerstone of Vietnamese cuisine, served alongside almost everything from spring rolls and grilled meats to noodle dishes and rice plates.

🍳 View the full Nuoc Cham dipping sauce recipe →

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This sauce is primarily a source of quick energy from sugar and contains minimal fat or protein, with a rough calorie estimate of 15-25 calories per tablespoon. It provides a small amount of sodium and vitamin C from the lime juice and chili.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	15 kcal
Protein	0.2 g
Carbs	3.5 g
Fat	0 g
Fiber	0 g
Sugar	3 g
Sodium	350 mg
Sodium	350 mg
Potassium	15 mg
Vitamin C	2 mg
Iron	0.1 mg
Calcium	3 mg
Magnesium	1 mg
Manganese	0.05 mg
Vitamin B6	0.01 mg

Per 2 tablespoons (30 g) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, its perfect balance of salty, sweet, sour, and spicy flavors is a defining principle of Vietnamese cooking. Nutritionally, the capsaicin in the chili and the probiotics from traditional fish sauce fermentation offer unique, beneficial compounds.