Fish sauce

น้ำปลา nam pla / nước mắm

Flavor and role

A clear liquid made by fermenting anchovies or other fish in salt. It gives strong saltiness and deep savoury flavour, and the fishy smell fades with heating.

Typical dishes and uses

Pad thai, pho broth, pad kra pao, Vietnamese braised pork, nuoc cham

Substitutes

1 tbsp fish sauce = 1 tbsp Korean anchovy fish sauce (closest), or 1 tbsp soy sauce + a pinch of salt + a little minced anchovy.

Storage

Unopened: 2-3 years at room temperature. Opened: 1 year in a cool place; refrigerated, the aroma lasts longer. Salt crystals forming is normal.

Main countries

Thailand · Vietnam · Philippines

Used in this book

Pad ThaiPho Bo (Vietnamese Beef Noodle Soup)Pad Kra Pao with Fried EggThit Kho (Vietnamese Caramel Pork and Eggs)Bai Cha (Cambodian Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage)Bai Sach ChroukBánh Mì Thịt Nướng (Grilled Pork Bánh Mì)Bánh Xèo (Vietnamese Crispy Sizzling Crêpes)Beef Lok Lak (Cambodian Stir-Fried Beef)Bò Lúc Lắc (Vietnamese Shaking Beef)Bún Bò Huế (Spicy Hue Beef Noodle Soup)Bún Chả (Hanoi Grilled Pork with Rice Noodles)Bún Thịt Nướng (Vietnamese Lemongrass Pork Noodle Bowl)Burmese Chicken Curry (Kyet Thar Hin)Cá Kho Tộ (Vietnamese Caramelised Fish in a Clay Pot)Canh Chua (Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Soup)Chai Tow Kway (Singapore Fried Carrot Cake)Cơm Tấm Sườn Nướng (Broken Rice with Grilled Pork Chop)Fish Amok (Amok Trey)Gai Yang (Isan-Style Thai Grilled Chicken)Thai Green Curry with Chicken (Gaeng Keow Wan)Hokkien Mee (Singapore Prawn Noodles)Kare-KareKhao Pad Gai (Thai Chicken Fried Rice)Khao SoiKuy Teav (Cambodian Pork Noodle Soup)Lahpet Thoke (Burmese Tea Leaf Salad)Larb Gai (Thai Minced Chicken Salad)Massaman CurryMohinga (Burmese Fish Noodle Soup)Nan Gyi Thoke (Burmese Thick Rice Noodle Salad)Num Banh ChokOhn No Khao Swe (Burmese Coconut Chicken Noodles)Panang Chicken Curry (Phanaeng Gai)Samlor KorkoSinigang na Baboy (Pork Tamarind Sour Soup)Som Tam (Green Papaya Salad)Thieboudienne (Senegalese Fish and Rice)Tinola (Filipino Ginger Chicken Soup)Tom Kha GaiTom Yum Goong (Hot and Sour Shrimp Soup)Thai Red Curry Coconut AlbóndigasGreen Curry Coconut Arroz con Pollo (Colombian × Thai)Asado Negro Bánh Mì (Venezuelan × Vietnamese)Thai Coconut-Lemongrass AsopaoPrawn Bai Cha with Crispy Garlic and Tuk Trey Dipping SauceCrispy Rice-Paper Bai Cha Parcels with Lime-Chilli DipCharcoal Bai Sach Chrouk with Crispy Egg and Scallion OilCoconut-Garlic Pork Quesadillas with Khmer Pickle Pico (Cambodian × Mexican)Coconut Grilled Pork Rice BurgerBakso Laksa (Indonesian × Malaysian)Bánh Mì Rice BowlCrispy Mekong-Style Bánh Xèo with Mung Beans and Coconut CreamKimchi Bánh Xèo with Pork Belly and Gochujang Dipping SauceCrispy Bánh Xèo Shrimp Salad BowlKampot Pepper Lok Lak with Butter Pan SauceLok Lak Crispy Rice Salad with Lime-Pepper DressingCoconut-Water-Braised Crispy Pork Belly Bicol ExpressBifana Bánh Mì (Portuguese × Vietnamese)Fillet Bò Lúc Lắc with Tomato Butter Rice (Cơm Đỏ)Shaking Beef Steak Frites with Lime-Pepper Butter (Vietnamese × French)Bún Bò Huế Đặc Biệt with Oxtail and Homemade Chả HuếBún Bò Huế Birria TacosBún Bò Huế Trộn (Spicy Lemongrass Beef Dry Noodles)Charcoal Bún Chả with Homemade Caramel and Crispy ShallotsBún Chả Burger with Pickled Carrot and Sriracha MayoCrispy Vermicelli Cake with Bún Chả MeatballsCharcoal Bún Thịt Nướng with Caramel Pork and Crispy ShallotsLemongrass Pork Belly Ssam with Gochujang Nước Chấm (Vietnamese × Korean)Lemongrass Pork Bánh Tráng Nướng (Rice Paper Pizza)Burmese Chicken Curry with Shallot Oil, Lemongrass and Crispy ShallotsBurmese Chicken Curry Doria (Burmese × Japanese)Burmese Curry Chicken Egg Palata Rolls with Lime-Onion SlawClay-Pot Cá Kho with Pork Belly and Homemade Nước MàuCá Kho Salmon DonburiCá Kho Crispy Rice Bites with Chilli MayoCanh Chua with Fish-Bone Broth and Crispy-Skin Sea BassCanh Chua Seafood Cioppino with Garlic Toast (Vietnamese × Italian-American)Canh Chua Crispy Fish Rice Bowl with Tamarind-Pineapple GlazeThai Red Curry Cazuela with Coconut, Pumpkin and CornHawker-Style Black Chai Tow Kway with Dried Shrimp Radish CakePenang hawker-style char kway teow with crispy lardThai Garlic-Pepper Chicken Vesuvio (Chicago × Thai)Coconut Lemongrass Clam ChowderCharcoal Cơm Tấm Sườn Chả with Steamed Egg MeatloafCơm Tấm Tacos with Lemongrass Pork and Scallion OilCơm Tấm Rice BurgerKhao Soi-Style Coconut Curry Dak-kalguksuThai Red Curry Coconut Dal with Lemongrass TadkaTom Yum Egg Drop Soup (Thai x Chinese)Silky Amok with Toasted Kroeung and Coconut CreamAmok Moules Marinière with BaguetteBaked Amok Fish Toasts with Lime MayoThai Red Curry Coconut FiskesuppeThai Red Curry Frikadeller (Danish × Thai)Charcoal Turmeric Gai Yang with Charred-Shallot JaewGai Yang Pita with Jaew Yogurt (Thai × Greek)Gai Yang Wings with Khao Khua CrunchGalbi Pho (Vietnamese Pho × Galbitang)Thai Lemongrass GambasCrispy Rice Paper Shrimp DumplingsGreen Curry with Hand-Pounded PasteGreen Curry Shrimp Spaghetti (Thai-Italian)Green Curry Fried Rice with Crispy Fried EggHokkien Mee with Lard Crisps and Roasted Prawn-Head StockHokkien Mee Omelette Wrap with Sambal MayoThai-Style Coconut Chicken and Squash CurrySmoky Seafood Jjamppong with Homemade Chili OilOxtail Kare-Kare with Hand-Roasted Peanut Sauce and Homemade Ginisang BagoongKare-Kare Beef Puff Turnovers with Bagoong MayoKhao Pad Pu (Thai Crab Fried Rice)Khao Pad Omurice (Thai × Japanese)Sheet-Pan Crispy Khao Pad with Jammy EggsChiang Mai Khao Soi with Hand-Made PasteKhao Soi Curry UdonKhao Soi Fried RiceKongnamul Haejang Phở (Korean × Vietnamese)Phnom Penh-Style Kuy Teav with Crispy GarlicKuy Teav Kalguksu (Cambodian Broth with Korean Knife-Cut Noodles)Garlic Pork Kuy Teav Toastie with Lime-Pepper Dipping BrothLahpet Thoke with Homemade Crunchy Bean MixLahpet Soba Noodle Salad (Burmese x Japanese)Prawn Laksa SpaghettiLaksa Butter Fried RiceHand-Chopped Larb Gai with Lemongrass Khao Khua and Crispy Chicken SkinLarb Gai Tacos with Pickled Red Onion and Sriracha CreamCrispy Larb Gai Rice Paper Dumplings with Lime-Chilli DipLechon Kawali Pad Kra Pao (Filipino × Thai)Light Soup Rice Noodle Bowl (Ghanaian × Vietnamese)Red Curry Coconut Lion's Head Meatballs (Chinese × Thai)Double-Fried Pork and Shrimp Lumpia with Sweet-and-Sour SauceSlow-Braised Beef Shin Massaman with Whole SpicesMassaman Chicken Pot PieMassaman Chicken Loaded FriesThai Red Curry Coconut Lentil SoupMohinga with Fish-Bone Broth, Toasted Rice and Crispy ShallotsMohinga Ramen with Soy-Marinated EggMohinga Fried Rice with Toasted Chickpea CrunchThai red curry moqueca with lemongrassThai Red Curry Coconut CouscousNan Gyi Thoke with Turmeric Shallot Oil, Garlic Chips and Jammy EggsNan Gyi Thoke Curry Abura Soba (Burmese × Japanese)Nan Gyi Thoke Noodle Salad Jars with Chickpea-Peanut CrunchSmoky Grilled-Fish Num Banh ChokKroeung Fish Tacos with Coconut-Lime Crema (Cambodian × Mexican)Kroeung Fish Cakes with Coconut Curry Dip and Herb WrapsOhn No Khao Swe with Toasted Chickpea Flour and Crispy Noodle CrownOhn No Khao Swe Coconut Curry Tteokbokki (Burmese × Korean)Ohn No Khao Swe Wonton NachosPad Kra Pao Omurice (Thai × Japanese)Pad Kra Pao Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe (Italian × Thai)Lard-Crisped Oyster Omelette with Garlic-Chilli VinegarHand-Chopped Pork Kra Pao with Crispy Fried BasilKra Pao Garlic-Butter SpaghettiKra Pao Cheese ToastiePad Thai Goong with Shrimp-Head OilGochujang Bulgogi Pad ThaiCrispy Pad Thai Rice Paper RollsTom Yum Seafood PaellaSlow-Braised Beef Panang (Phanaeng Neua) with Toasted SpicesPanang Beef Cottage Pie with Coconut Sweet Potato Mash (Thai × British)Panang Pork Smash Burger with Peanut-Lime SlawCrispy Pork Pancit Canton-BihonPeameal Bacon Bánh Mì (Canadian × Vietnamese)Pernil Bánh Mì (Puerto Rican × Vietnamese)Phở Đặc Biệt with 4-Hour Oxtail BrothPhở French Dip SandwichPhở-Spiced Beef Fried RiceTom Yum Shoyu Ramen with PrawnsTom Kha Coconut SamgyetangSamlor Korko with Slow-Simmered Pork Ribs and Smoked FishKroeung Miso Pork Hot Pot (Cambodian × Japanese)Kroeung Pork and Roasted Pumpkin Rice Bowl with Toasted Rice CrunchPho-Spiced Chicken Sancocho with Rice Noodles (Colombian × Vietnamese)Tom Yum Shabu-ShabuClear-Broth Pork Rib Sinigang with Fresh Tamarind ExtractSinigang Ramen with Seared Pork BellySinigang Tamarind WingsTam Thai with Grilled PrawnsSom Tam Chicken TacosSom Tam Summer RollsRed Curry Coconut Sopa de Fideo with Shrimp (Thai × Mexican)Hong Kong-Style Steamed Fish with House Seasoned SoyStegt Flæsk Bánh Mì with Parsley Herb Mayo (Danish × Vietnamese)Tom Yum Sundubu JjigaeTafelspitz Pho (Austrian × Vietnamese)Thit Kho To (Clay-Pot Caramel Pork Belly with Pickled Bean Sprouts)Thit Kho Ramen (Caramel Pork Belly and Jammy Eggs)Caramel Pork and Egg Mayo ToastCoconut-Lemongrass Chicken Thukpa (Nepali × Thai)Lemongrass Rice-Water Tinola with Garlic ChipsTinola Miso Udon (Filipino × Japanese)Tinola Ginger Chicken Rice Bowl with Green Papaya PickleTom Kha Gai with Quick Bone Stock and Charred AromaticsTom Kha Coconut Miso RamenTom Kha Creamy Chicken Rice BowlCreamy Tom Yum Goong Nam Khon with Shrimp-Head StockTom Yum Shrimp Cream SpaghettiCrispy Tom Yum Fried Rice with Jammy EggThai Coconut Lemongrass White Chicken ChiliTom Yum Prawn Soup Dumplings (Thai × Shanghai)

Updated 2026-10-10