This Sauce Makes All Meats Better!

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt + water

Soy sauce is easier to find and offers a similar umami flavor.

Thai bird's eye chilies

🥗Healthier: jalapeño

💰Cheaper: serrano peppers

Jalapeños provide a milder heat while being more accessible.

sugar

🥗Healthier: honey

💰Cheaper: agave syrup

Honey adds sweetness with a unique flavor.

fresh cilantro

🥗Healthier: fresh parsley

💰Cheaper: dried cilantro

Parsley can mimic the flavor profile when fresh cilantro is unavailable.

Make the toasted rice powder by adding the raw rice into a small dry skillet over medium high heat. Stir constantly until the grains are dark brown. Remove from the pan immediately to stop the toasting, and grind into a powder using a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder.

In a small bowl, combine the tamarind paste, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar; stir until the sugar is mostly dissolved. If using chopped palm sugar, any stubborn chunks that won’t dissolve after a good stirring should dissolve in 5 minutes or so as they sit in the liquid.

Add the shallots and chili flakes and stir to mix.

Close to serving time, add the toasted rice powder and all of the fresh herbs; stir to mix.

For the Mellow Tomato Jaew, stir in the diced tomatoes along with the fresh herbs. Let it sit for a few minutes before serving to allow flavours to mingle.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary