fish sauce
Southeast Asian condiment
Fish sauce is a pungent, salty liquid made from fermented fish, essential to Southeast Asian cooking.
It functions like soy sauce—adding depth and umami to dishes rather than a fishy taste.
Thai, Vietnamese, and Filipino cuisines each have their versions.
A few drops transform soups, stir-fries, and dipping sauces: The recipe calls for two tablespoons of fish sauce.
Appetizing, not sweet
- glutamateExcitatory neural transmitter
- richnessState of abundance
- depthDistance below surface
- meatyRich in content
broth · fermented · pungent · funky · anchovy · complexity · salty · aged
Southeast Asian stir-fried noodles
- phoInformal fake spelling
- green papaya saladThai unripe fruit slaw
- spring rollsWrapped fried appetizers
- stir-fryQuick-cook in hot oil
fried rice · curry · kimchi · bánh mì · tom yum · satay · marinade · dressing
Small, oily, cured fish
- saltSodium chloride compound
- brineWater saturated with sodium
- agingGrowing older over time
- barrelsCylindrical storage vessels
enzymes · hydrolysis · protein · breakdown · preservation · traditional · artisanal · first press
Container for liquids
- drizzleVery light precipitation
- splashLiquid scattering on impact
- dashQuick burst or pinch
- pantry stapleRegularly kept food item
shelf-stable · substitute · dipping · finishing · cooking · ingredient
savory
Appetizing, not sweet
meaty · broth · fermented · pungent · funky · anchovy · complexity · salty · aged · concentrated
pad thai
Southeast Asian stir-fried noodles
- phoInformal fake spelling
- green papaya saladThai unripe fruit slaw
- spring rollsWrapped fried appetizers
stir-fry · fried rice · curry · kimchi · bánh mì · tom yum · satay · marinade · dressing · glaze
anchovies
Small, oily, cured fish
barrels · enzymes · hydrolysis · protein · breakdown · preservation · traditional · artisanal · first press · amber
bottle
Container for liquids
pantry staple · shelf-stable · substitute · dipping · finishing · cooking · ingredient
- pungent smellsgarlic, onion, skunk, ammonia, sulfur
- ancient foodsemmer, spelt, millet, sorghum, lentils
- Asian condimentssambal, chili paste, sriracha, shrimp paste, tamarind paste
- Khmer foodamok, jasmine rice, sticky rice, rice noodles, papaya salad
- Korean cuisinegochujang, sesame oil, red pepper paste, soybean paste, napa cabbage
- preserved seafoodsmoked salmon, salt cod, salted cod, stockfish, dried anchovies
fish saucesimple syrup
Sugar dissolved in water
honey · maple syrup · agave · plain water · rice vinegar
fish, sauce, fishy, fishing, fisherman, fished, fishermen, fisher, fishier