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Recipes by Category » Pastes & Sauces » Thai Chili Dipping Sauce – Nam Jim Jaew

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

Thai Chili Dipping Sauce – Nam Jim Jaew

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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 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

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 24 votes
Print Rate
Course: Sauces
Cuisine: Thai
Prep Time: 10 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!
« Thai Grilled Pork Neck (Kor Moo Yang)
How To Make Sticky Rice (Stovetop Method) »

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SHANIKA says

    June 16, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    5 stars
    You always need a great dipping sauce and this Thai Chili sauce looks amazing and so flavorful!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:44 pm

      Exactly! Thank you so much 🙂

      Reply
  2. Katherine says

    June 16, 2020 at 8:36 pm

    5 stars
    So many amazing flavors. And such a versatile dipping sauce.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Safira says

    June 16, 2020 at 8:01 pm

    5 stars
    Healthy, delicious and perfect with chicken. We love this and will be making it over and over again!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:43 pm

      Thank you so much! That’s great to hear!

      Reply
  4. Pam says

    June 16, 2020 at 7:53 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this, and can think of so many ways to use this sauce!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:42 pm

      Yeah, you can use it with so many types of grilled or fried meats 🙂

      Reply
  5. Toni says

    June 16, 2020 at 7:09 pm

    5 stars
    I loved it! A new staple sauce at my house!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      June 23, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      Thank you so much! So glad to hear that!

      Reply
  6. Cassidy says

    April 08, 2020 at 6:19 pm

    Wow! This looks so yummy, the photos have me drooling.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 10, 2020 at 9:42 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  7. Kari Anderson says

    April 08, 2020 at 7:03 am

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness – this sauce is going to live in my kitchen. Sounds amazing!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 08, 2020 at 8:14 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  8. Cate says

    April 08, 2020 at 7:01 am

    These photos are so gorgeous! This looks so flavorful and yummy, can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 08, 2020 at 8:15 am

      Thank you so much! Please enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Jere Cassidy says

    April 08, 2020 at 5:36 am

    5 stars
    I love the flavors you use in this sauce, the colors are also amazing and so many uses. Glad you shared this recipe,

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 08, 2020 at 8:15 am

      Thank you so much!

      Reply
  10. Kushigalu says

    April 08, 2020 at 5:20 am

    5 stars
    Thai sauce is one of my favorite. This looks so delicious

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 08, 2020 at 8:15 am

      Thank you! Mine too!

      Reply
  11. Biana says

    April 07, 2020 at 8:23 am

    5 stars
    This sauce looks amazing! I am looking forward to making a batch to serve with some grilled meat.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 07, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Thank you! Enjoy!

      Reply
  12. Patty at Spoonabilities says

    April 07, 2020 at 7:41 am

    5 stars
    This sounds so incredibly flavorable! I can’t wait to try it with our favorite Asian-inspired appetizers!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 07, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Thanks so much. Enjoy!

      Reply
  13. Christie Gagnon says

    April 07, 2020 at 7:38 am

    5 stars
    Healthy, authentic, and delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 07, 2020 at 9:52 am

      You’re welcome! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Beth Pierce says

    April 07, 2020 at 7:24 am

    5 stars
    One of my favorite sauces for dipping grilled chicken!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 07, 2020 at 9:52 am

      Same here!!

      Reply
  15. Tawnie Kroll says

    April 07, 2020 at 6:01 am

    5 stars
    This was so amazing and flavorful – thank you!

    Reply
    • Nart says

      April 07, 2020 at 9:53 am

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply
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