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    Home » Recipes by Category » Pastes & Sauces

    Published: Apr 4, 2020 · Modified: May 6, 2021 by Nart · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Thai Chili Dipping Sauce - Nam Jim Jaew

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew is sweet, sour and a little spicy and crunchy. It's very quick and easy to make and great with any type of grilled or fried meat, sticky rice, and fresh vegetables. If you're a fan of Thai food, you're definitely going to love this flavorful sauce!

    a bowl of Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew

    Nam Jim Jaew

    What Is Thai Chili Dipping Sauce or Nam Jim Jaew?

    Nam jim jaew is a dipping sauce originating from the Isan or Northeastern region of Thailand. Though, you can easily find it throughout the country. People from that region move to different parts of Thailand. And a lot of them open an Isan restaurant or become a street food vendor selling Isan food. To many Thais, this sauce is a favorite because it's got everything you need. It's sour, sweet, spicy, and comes with a smoky flavor and crunchy texture. While a few other Thai sauces use fresh chilies, nam jim jaew is different in that it uses roasted Thai dried chili flakes or prik bon.

    In this post, I'll explain what other ingredients you need, how to make nam jim jaew, and what you can enjoy it with.

    ingredients for Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew
    sliced shallots and chopped green onion

    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 shallots
    • 1 green onion
    • 2 tablespoons of fish sauce
    • 1 ½ tablespoons of granulated sugar
    • 2 ½ tablespoons of lime juice
    • 1 tablespoon of roasted Thai chili flakes
    • 1 tablespoon of toasted rice powder
    a cup of roasted Thai chili flakes
    Thai Chili Flakes
    toasted rice powder on a plate
    Toasted Rice Powder

    Notes on Thai Chili Flakes and Toasted Rice Powder

    In order to make the best version of this Thai chili dipping sauce, I highly recommend you make your own toasted rice powder (khao kua) and Thai chili flakes (prik bon). You can click these links to visit my how-to guides and learn how to make them. As everyone's level of tolerance to spicy food is different, you can use more or less Thai chili flakes than suggested. Keep in mind that nam jim jaew isn't supposed to be super spicy. However, if that's what you like, then go for it!

    As for the toasted rice powder, you can adjust the amount you want to use. This ingredient brings a crunchy texture and some thickness to the sauce. So, if you want your jaew sauce to be thicker, use more toasted rice powder. If you want it runnier, use less of it.

    a bowl of unmixed nam jim jaew or Thai chili dipping sauce

    Instructions

    1. Remove the root of the green onion and finely chop the rest.
    2. Peel the shallots and thinly slice them.
    3. Pour the fish sauce, lime juice, and granulated sugar into a bowl and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
    4. Add the chili flakes, toasted rice powder, chopped green onion, and sliced shallots and mix with a spoon. Enjoy the sauce with your main dish!

    a spoon of Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew

    What Can You Eat with Jaew Dipping Sauce?

    Usually, jaew dipping sauce is eaten with grilled and deep-fried meats. If you go to a somtam (papaya salad) stand or Isan restaurant and order grilled chicken, grilled catfish, grilled pork neck or grilled beef, they'll give you this sauce. Oftentimes, stuff enjoyed with jaew sauce is Isan food and accompanied by sticky rice. However, you can also enjoy it with steamed rice and dishes like:

    • Thai garlic pork (moo gratiem)
    • Thai omelette (kai jeow)
    • fried sun-dried beef (nua dad deaw) Thai dishes to enjoy with nam jim jaew

    How Long Can You Keep This Sauce?

    As it contains fresh ingredients like shallots, green onion, and lime juice, this sauce is best when still fresh. If you let the sauce sit for a long time, the toasted rice powder will soak up the liquid and make the sauce dry and thicker.

    a bowl of Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew

    📖 Recipe

    a bowl of Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew

    Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Nam Jim Jaew) Recipe

    This Thai chili dipping sauce or nam jim jaew is sweet, sour, a little spicy and has got that smoky flavor from a secret ingredient. It's very quick and easy to make and great with any type of grilled or fried meat, sticky rice and fresh vegetables. If you're a fan of Thai food, you're definitely going to love this flavorful jaew sauce!
    5 from 25 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Sauces
    Cuisine: Thai
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Author: Nart

    Ingredients

    • 2 shallots
    • 1 green onion
    • 2 tablespoons fish sauce
    • 2 ½ tablespoons lime juice
    • 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1 tablespoon Thai chili flakes buy these here or learn how to make them from this post
    • 1 tablespoon toasted rice powder buy this here or learn how to make it from this post

    Instructions

    • Remove the root of the green onion and finely chop the rest.
    • Peel the shallots and thinly slice them.
    • Pour the fish sauce, lime juice, and granulated sugar into a bowl and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
    • Add the chili flakes, toasted rice powder, chopped green onion, and sliced shallots and mix with a spoon. Enjoy the sauce with your main dish!

    Notes

    Depending on how spicy you want your sauce to be, you can add less or more chili flakes than suggested. If you want to increase thickness, add more toasted rice powder. For the sauce to be runnier, use less toasted rice powder.
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookingwithnart or tag #cookingwithnart!
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Nick says

      April 01, 2023 at 4:56 pm

      5 stars
      Some fab recipes Nart, thank you. I have to say, what a well presented site! 5* Good luck x

      Reply
      • Nart says

        April 08, 2023 at 8:01 pm

        Thank you so much, Nick!

        Reply
    2. Bella says

      July 05, 2021 at 1:06 am

      While the recipe is solid I can’t imagine nam Jim jaew in front of me without any cilantro!

      Reply
      • Nart says

        July 22, 2021 at 7:41 am

        Hi! Yes, some people do prefer cilantro 🙂

        Reply
    3. Sila says

      May 01, 2021 at 9:39 pm

      You are missing tamarind water to make it authentic!

      Reply
      • Nart says

        May 02, 2021 at 11:07 am

        You can make it authentic without that too. There are variations 🙂

        Reply
    4. Pauline says

      May 01, 2021 at 11:15 am

      This was so good! Thank you for sharing your recipe!

      Reply
      • Nart says

        May 02, 2021 at 11:05 am

        You're very welcome!

        Reply
    5. James says

      March 12, 2021 at 8:48 am

      This certainly sounds delicious and I will give it a try over the weekend. However, I was wondering whether I could substitute the sugar for honey for extra thickness and consistency? What do you think?

      Reply
      • Nart says

        March 16, 2021 at 11:41 am

        Thank you so much and yes, could definitely do that 🙂

        Reply
    6. Nisha says

      December 02, 2020 at 3:14 am

      5 stars
      This sounds very flavorful to go along with the Thai dishes. Lovely captures and presentation of the sauce preparation .

      Reply
      • Nart says

        December 03, 2020 at 10:57 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
    7. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

      October 16, 2020 at 5:20 pm

      5 stars
      Now this sounds like a dipping sauce I absolutely have to try! It sounds so full of flavour and so tasty.

      Reply
    8. Jeannette says

      October 16, 2020 at 4:22 pm

      5 stars
      This is EXACTLY what everyone needs to pour all over their food. I love how you've used so many aromatic ingredients for an extra flavor kick. Yum!

      Reply
      • Nart says

        December 03, 2020 at 10:56 am

        Thank you so much lovely!

        Reply
    9. Dannii says

      October 16, 2020 at 4:21 pm

      5 stars
      I love anything Thai and this dipping sauce looks amazing. Perfect for dumplings.

      Reply
    10. Jacqueline Meldrum says

      October 16, 2020 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      That sounds flipping tasty! I really have to try this soon!

      Reply
    11. Michelle says

      October 16, 2020 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a great recipe for Thai dipping sauce! Packed with flavour and so delicious!

      Reply
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