fish sauce recipe

[metlhead]

Some reason fish sauce seems to be popping into conversation quite often lately. Daughter loves the stuff. I always end up with more herring than I use, and a lot of mackerel in the summer. Anybody try their own, and trust it?

[Fidelk]

I like Thai Kitchen products (Fish Sauce, Red and Green Curry Paste, Coconut Milk)......rather just buy it form QFC, Safeway, Walmart than try and make it.

[Southpole]

I’ll stick with the commercial stuff. A little bit goes along way with me.

[NRA4LIFE]

I seen how they make that stuff in Malaysia.  I stopped using it after that.

[CP]

I’ve seen it (and smelled it) being made in Korea.

I believe that you just mix anchovies and salt in a fermenting vat and let that “stew” for 12 to 18 months.  Then press the liquid out.

Seems like a lot could go wrong with that process; I wouldn’t recommend DIY fish sauce. 

[Angry Perch]

I’ve seen it (and smelled it) being made in Korea.

I believe that you just mix anchovies and salt in a fermenting vat and let that “stew” for 12 to 18 months.  Then press the liquid out.

Seems like a lot could go wrong with that process; I wouldn’t recommend DIY fish sauce.

I can't imagine it being worth the effort, and I LOVE fish sauce. Use it almost daily.

I'll bet Merkaba has given it a whirl.

[Boss .300 winmag]

If you were only closer, this place is the bomb. It even has hot to go food plus frozen lumpia.👍

[metlhead]

Thanks. Seemed almost too easy to make. I do worry about the putrid factor. I've done kraut that seemed off, and tossed it out.

[pianoman9701]

Fish sauce is really cheap at Asian Food markets. You can get 750ml for $4 or something. I would imagine making your own would come with great food safety risk.

[Fidelk]

I use fish sauce fairly often when making Faux-Thai. The cool thing about it, just like adding anchovies to a pasta sauce, is that it pretty much disappears into and enhances the sauce.

[Angry Perch]

I use fish sauce fairly often when making Faux-Thai. The cool thing about it, just like adding anchovies to a pasta sauce, is that it pretty much disappears into and enhances the sauce.

Exactly. Just another flavorful way to add salt. And all those folks who say they hate anchovies seem to really like my red sauce! 

[merkaba93]

So I've tried it. It's an interesting process.

My favorite use is Nuoc Cham dipping sauce
3 tbs fish sauce
3 tbs white vinegar
2 tbs sugar
2 garlic cloves
1 Thai chili
2 tbs lime juice

[merkaba93]

It turned out great. But not any better than store bought. Not financially worth the work either.

It doesn't seem like the fermentation process is fully understood. A lot of the breakdown is thought to be done by enzymes in the digestive tracts of the salted fish.

Making soy sauce isn't worth it financially either but I still do that each year. I feel like it's better than store bought.

I've made oyster sauce before. Turned out good, but again not as good as store bought. And the way more expensive.

So in summary,
Homemade fish sauce, not better than store bought, more expensive.
Homemade soy sauce better than store bought, more expensive.
Homemade oyster sauce, not better than store bought, more expensive.

[LDennis24]

My best friend growing up is Italian and Thai and his Thai mother would scold me for using Kikkoman soy sauce and not fish sauce. She also said anything with carrots was not authentic Asian Cuisine. She was old school and hard core. Her and her friends would go up to Colville and pick roots to pickle for snacking on while they played Pai Gow! Salsify and what-not...     Didn't we have a thread on here about Worcestershire sauce?

[pianoman9701]

Red Boat is an excellent fish sauce I used to sell. The 40N is the top of the line. https://redboatfishsauce.com/collections/shop/products/fish-sauce-40n?variant=40644609605797

[Fidelk]

I use fish sauce fairly often when making Faux-Thai. The cool thing about it, just like adding anchovies to a pasta sauce, is that it pretty much disappears into and enhances the sauce.

Exactly. Just another flavorful way to add salt. And all those folks who say they hate anchovies seem to really like my red sauce! 

Viva La Putanesca.

[Angry Perch]

My best friend growing up is Italian and Thai and his Thai mother would scold me for using Kikkoman soy sauce and not fish sauce. She also said anything with carrots was not authentic Asian Cuisine. She was old school and hard core. Her and her friends would go up to Colville and pick roots to pickle for snacking on while they played Pai Gow! Salsify and what-not...     Didn't we have a thread on here about Worcestershire sauce?

I'm with her on the Kikkoman!
I started using light soy sauce (not to be confused with low sodium) and it's way better. I use Pearl River Bridge, and I agree with P-Man on the Red Boat fish sauce.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Here’s the one we get at that store.

Can’t get anymore Asian than the PI.🤣

[h2ofowlr]

I’ve seen it (and smelled it) being made in Korea.

I believe that you just mix anchovies and salt in a fermenting vat and let that “stew” for 12 to 18 months.  Then press the liquid out.

Seems like a lot could go wrong with that process; I wouldn’t recommend DIY fish sauce.

Sounds like the making of Worcestershire sauce.

[Angry Perch]

Here’s the one we get at that store.

Can’t get anymore Asian than the PI.🤣

Ah, that's a different animal. Filipino fish sauce was my first foray into the world of fish sauce. Saltier and less fishy, but still yummy. If you haven't already, try a Vietnamese sauce like Red Boat, as Pianoman suggested. I need to pick up a bottle of Filipino sauce soon as it's been a long time.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Here’s the one we get at that store.

Can’t get anymore Asian than the PI.🤣

Ah, that's a different animal. Filipino fish sauce was my first foray into the world of fish sauce. Saltier and less fishy, but still yummy. If you haven't already, try a Vietnamese sauce like Red Boat, as Pianoman suggested. I need to pick up a bottle of Filipino sauce soon as it's been a long time.

👍

[NOCK NOCK]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.         

[Angry Perch]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.       

Do you enjoy Thai food at all?

[NOCK NOCK]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.       

Do you enjoy Thai food at all?

Nope. Try not to eat food from countries that possibly eat dogs. 

[Southpole]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.       

Do you enjoy Thai food at all?

Nope. Try not to eat food from countries that possibly eat dogs. 

The usual Thai food you get in the U.S. is not scary mystery meat. It’s usually fresh stir fried, chicken, beef, fish, vegetable, curry/coconut/fish sauce, herbs and maybe a lot of spice if you want. I find U.S. type Thai food very refreshing, I love it.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.       

Do you enjoy Thai food at all?

Nope. Try not to eat food from countries that possibly eat dogs. 

The usual Thai food you get in the U.S. is not scary mystery meat. It’s usually fresh stir fried, chicken, beef, fish, vegetable, curry/coconut/fish sauce, herbs and maybe a lot of spice if you want. I find U.S. type Thai food very refreshing, I love it.

Thai food is the bomb, lots of it around the North Sound area.

[Southpole]

Always thought the name "fish sauce" sounded GROSS, and therefore have never tried it....After reading this thread, and seeing merkaba's pics



I have made a dang good choice.       

Do you enjoy Thai food at all?

Nope. Try not to eat food from countries that possibly eat dogs. 

The usual Thai food you get in the U.S. is not scary mystery meat. It’s usually fresh stir fried, chicken, beef, fish, vegetable, curry/coconut/fish sauce, herbs and maybe a lot of spice if you want. I find U.S. type Thai food very refreshing, I love it.

Thai food is the bomb, lots of it around the North Sound area.

I’ll miss it   

[NOCK NOCK]

Refer to pic in reply12.

ZERO part of me wants to eat anything that comes from a bucket that looks like this. 
Looks like a Lugable Loo users results. 

[Angry Perch]

How about this yummy stuff?

[merkaba93]

Ha! Usually the food threads don't go off the rails.

But Angry Perch is about to make a very good point, Worcestershire sauce uses fermented fish in it. Worcestershire is a very common ingredient in British/American dishes. So, chances are, we've all eaten something with some sort of fermented fish in it.

Also the Romans made fish sauce for a long long time, but they called it garum.

[NOCK NOCK]

yea but worchesterishchustrshire is fun to say  and does not sound gross. I dont care for either. 

[85yota]

Used the stuff for years never had a clue what was in it and I still don't really care lol.
Stalecracker on YouTube turned me onto this stuff and my dad seems to like it..