This ubiquitous, must-have sauce unifies the different flavors in many a Vietnamese dish and makes the entire composition come together and “pop.” Nuoc cham can effortlessly pull together a dish, making it a godsend for anyone looking to get breakfast/lunch/dinner on the table ASAP. I have a small airtight container of this stuff in my… Continue reading Nuoc Cham (Vietnamese Basic Dipping Sauce)
Tasty, easy, and fast, “Catfish” Tofu — which contains no catfish — is my primary go-to dish on nights when I’m too tired to do anything but am having one of those gotta-get-dinner-on-the-table-NOW-or-else-hungry-toddler-is-gonna-have-a-meltdown nights.
Fish sauce should never have more than fish, sugar, and salt as its ingredients. Tra Chang, a smaller, venerable label that has a long history and is family-owned and-run, fits the bill. The flavor is well-balanced and nice. I use Tra Chang both for cooking and for making dipping sauces. My son, who is allergic… Continue reading Ingredient Spotlight: Tra Chang Fish Sauce