Fish sauce recipes
A powerful thin brown sauce used in numerous Asian cuisines. It is made by fermenting small whole fish in brine and drawing off the liquid, which is then bottled. It smells pungent and tastes very salty, although cooking greatly reduces its ‘fishiness’ and simply adds a richness and a layer of flavour to cooked dishes. It's frequently used in Thailand, where it is known as nam pla. In the Philippines it’s known as patis, in Vietnam it's called nuoc nam, and it's known as shottsuru in Japan.
Blend authentic ingredients into a quick homemade paste or use shop bought for a Thai green curry easy enough to pull together on weeknights. Jo uses chicken in her Thai curry, but prawns and extra firm tofu also work.
More fish sauce recipes
Buyer's guide
If you can’t find fish sauce, substitute a light soy sauce.













