Are There Different Types Of Fish Sauce?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Most Southeast Asian countries have their own version of fish sauce

, although the Thai and Vietnamese varieties are the ones we tend to see on the shelves and use most often. While the process for making each one is similar, these two fish sauce varieties are set apart by their flavor and level of saltiness.

Is Thai fish sauce different from Filipino fish sauce?

Vietnamese fish sauce tends to be lighter and sweeter,

Thai skews saltier, and Filipino fish sauce is heavier

, each reflecting and complementing the cuisines themselves, Nguyen says. So, if you cook a lot of Thai food, a Thai fish sauce might make sense.

What is the most common sauce for fish?

The

white wine sauce

is one of the most basic sauces for fish and seafood dishes.

Which sauce is the best for fish?

  • Parsley Sauce. This easy, lemony sauce is fantastic with crisp, butter-fried sea bass or snapper.
  • Smoked-Almond Romesco Sauce. …
  • Fresh Herb Sauce. …
  • Rich Ketchup Sauce. …
  • Mint Sauce. …
  • Lemon Cream Sauce. …
  • Salmoriglio Sauce. …
  • Red Wine Sauce.

Are all fish sauce the same?

What’s important to know is that

not all fish sauce is created equal

; this condiment has distinguishing characteristics that can vary from region to region.

What’s the difference between Thai fish sauce and fish sauce?


Vietnamese fish sauce is usually lighter in flavour than the Thai version

, with the highest quality sauce being transparent and lightly amber coloured, with a delicate smell. Fish sauce is graded, like olive oil, in levels of quality and price.

What does the N mean in fish sauce?

There are two grades, 35°N and 40°N; the degrees refer to the amount of

nitrogen per liter

, a measure of the sauce’s intensity, with 40°N more concentrated. Red Boat Fish Sauce is $8 for 24 ounces of the 35°N, and $10 for 17 ounces of the 40°N, from redboatfishsauce.com .

Does fish sauce expire?


Properly stored, unopened or opened fish sauce will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 years at normal room temperature

. To maximize the shelf life of fish sauce, keep the container tightly closed when not in use.

Is nam pla the same as fish sauce?

Saiphin ‘Rosa’ Tips:

Fish sauce is used in most Thai dishes, but you can also make a dipping sauce called ‘Prik Nam Pla’ (literally means chilli and fish sauce)

, which is found at most street stalls and restaurants across Thailand.

What can I use instead of fish sauce?

  1. Soy sauce. Soy sauce, which is made from fermented soybeans, water, salt, and wheat, is an excellent alternative to fish sauce. …
  2. Tamari. Tamari is a type of soy sauce. …
  3. Oyster sauce. …
  4. Vegan fish sauce. …
  5. Seaweed. …
  6. Coconut aminos. …
  7. Worcestershire sauce. …
  8. Mushroom and soy sauce broth.

What is the thickening ingredient in most sauces?


Wheat flour

is the thickening agent to make a roux. A roux is a mixture of flour and fat and is a classic way to thicken soups, gravies, and sauces like bechamel or stews like gumbo. Equal parts of wheat flour and typically butter are cooked in a heated vessel, forming different colored pastes depending on use.

What is fish sauce made of?

Southeast Asian fish sauce is often made from

anchovies, salt, and water

, and is intensely flavoured. Anchovies and salt are arranged in wooden barrels to ferment and are slowly pressed, yielding the salty, fishy liquid. The salt extracts the liquid via osmosis.

Is seafood sauce the same as fish sauce?

Is oyster sauce the same as fish sauce? Oyster sauce is made from a mixture of carmelised oyster juices, salt, sugar and soy sauce that’s been thickened with corn starch. Fish sauce is made with just two ingredients: fermented fish and salt. As a result,

the sauces are totally different in taste, flavour and aroma

.

Is fish sauce any good?

It’s an ingredient that gives you a little bit of everything when thrown into marinades, stir-fries, and salad dressings, and it’s just as useful in non-Asian cooking too.

A little fish sauce can boost salty, savory flavor in sautéed greens, pastas, roast chicken, or broths.

Is oyster sauce the same as fish sauce?

Taste:

Fish sauce is much fishier and saltier in flavor than oyster sauce

, which has more of a sweet and briny taste to it. Ingredients: Fish sauce typically is made out of a base of fermented anchovies. As its name reflects, oyster sauce is made out of reduced and caramelized oysters.

Why does fish sauce taste so good?


Fish sauce is packed with glutamate, which our tastebuds pick up as a distinctive savory sensation known as umami

. Use it judiciously (more on this later) and all traces of fishiness fade, making way for a beguiling background. In plain words, fish sauce makes food taste meatier.

Why is fish sauce so popular in Vietnam?

It is based on available raw materials such as fish, shrimp, crab … but the most popular is still fish sauce made from sea fish. Perhaps

because living in the hidden nature of the ocean, the fishes in Vietnam bring a delicious, rich taste that is hard to resist when they become the fish sauce

.

Does fish sauce taste like anchovies?

Fish sauce tastes much better than it smells. And

while you will get a hint of fish from the anchovies, the tastes you’ll quickly experience are salty, savory, tangy, and umami-based

. It’s a sauce that is enjoyed in many cultures and for good reason.

What is pla ra sauce?

Fermented Fish Sauce or Pla Ra is

a traditional northeastern Thai and Lao seasoning produced by fermenting fish with rice bran or roasted rice powder and salt fermented in a closed container for at least six months

. It is mostly used in northeastern and Lao food such as green papaya salad.

Can I substitute fish sauce for oyster sauce?

Fish sauce

Although it’s not a perfect substitute,

you can use fish sauce in place of oyster sauce in some recipes

. This sauce, made from fermented fish, has a thinner consistency and fishier taste than oyster sauce. It’s also saltier and less sweet.

Is Korean fish sauce the same as Thai fish sauce?

Though it is sometimes called ‘Korean Fish Sauce’, it is not really a ‘sauce’ at all and is

NOT the same thing as Thai fish sauce

– they CAN NOT be used interchangeably.

Which country has the best fish sauce?

Among all the varieties,

Vietnamese

fish sauce is the most refined. Since Vietnamese food is more restrained in flavour and herb-based, it largely rests on the freshness of ingredients and the fish sauce to bring the umami level up a notch.

Where is Viet Huong fish sauce made?

When I last spoke to members of the Chung family that owns Viet Huong, they revealed that their fish sauce company has operations on Phu Quoc Island and in Thailand. The company takes fish sauce produced from those two sources and carefully blends them at their state-of-the-art factory in

Hong Kong

.

What is Filipino fish sauce?

Fish sauce, locally known in the Philippines as patis, is likewise a staple in Filipino households,

used to add flavor and taste to Filipino soup dishes, seafood, meat and vegetable stew

. It is also used as a condiment or dip, and sometimes mixed with spices, such as pepper and chilli, and/or vinegar.

Should fish sauce be refrigerated after opening?

Fish Sauce

Fish sauce already has a long production and fermentation time, and

it will sit just fine unrefrigerated

. It may continue to ferment a bit and change slightly in flavor, but it is still safe to eat.

Is fish sauce healthy?


Provide A Healthy Source Of Amino Acids

According to studies, traditional fish sauce contains 5/8 essential amino acids for the body, namely Valine, Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, Methionine, and Lysine. Specifically, Valine helps to regulate the body, support sleep, and work up a great appetite.

Can you freeze fish sauce?

Unopened fish sauce has a shelf life of 3-5 years when kept out. Refrigeration will keep fish sauce fresh for 3 years after it’s been opened.

Freezing is not advisable as your freezer is not cold enough to freeze fish sauce

.

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.