Thai Seafood Dipping Sauce (Nam Jim Seafood)
This Thai Seafood Dipping Sauce, or Nam Jim Seafood, is the bold, vibrant sauce Western seafood buffets are missing! It’s all about balancing heat and acidity to let seafood truly shine. If you’ve ever thought your shrimp cocktail needed a kick, this sauce is what you’ve been craving.
Chilies for Nam Jim Seafood
In Thailand, this sauce is often a beautiful green color, thanks to milder green Thai chilies that allow you to add more for a fresh, herbaceous heat. If you prefer using red chilies, simply reduce the quantity to keep the spice level in balance while still enjoying that bold, zesty flavor. Read more about different heat levels from Thai chilies from Thaifoodonline.co.uk.
Substitution for Thai Chilies
If you can’t find Thai chilies, Serrano or Cayenne peppers make good substitutes for both fresh and dried chilies. If those are also unavailable, you can use Jalapeños instead. Follow the same method, and you’ll still end up with a delicious dipping sauce! Just be sure to use slightly less of these substitutes, as they have more flesh than Thai chilies.
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Traditional VS Modern Method for Making the Sauce
Traditionally, garlic, chilies, and cilantro are pounded together in a mortar. Then, salt, sugar, lime juice, and warm water are added and stirred to combine, making the sauce ready in just 5 minutes! For a modern twist, simply blend all the ingredients in a small blender for about 30 seconds. It’s that easy!
What to Serve with Nam Jim Seafood.
As the name suggests, this delicious sauce is perfect for any seafood dish! In the photo above, I served it with grilled or air-fried shrimp. For a fun twist, you can also pair it with store-bought shrimp cocktail. Thai people commonly enjoy this sauce with dishes like fresh spring rolls and “Goong Ob Woon Sen,” a flavorful Thai noodles and shrimp dish.
How to Store Thai Dipping Sauce
It’s best to enjoy more of the main dish than the condiment, but any leftover dipping sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The sauce stays fresh for up to one week, though the color may change slightly after the third day.
Thai Seafood Dipping Sauce (Nam Jim Seafood)
Equipment
- 1 pestle and mortar set (or a small blender)
Ingredients
- 15 green Thai chilies (or 5-7 red chilies)
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 TBSP lime juice
- 2 TBSP sugar (or palm sugar or granulated monk fruit)
- 2 TBSP warm water
- 2 tsp salt
- 2 TBSP cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
For Pestle and Mortar Method
- Pound the garlic, chilies, and chopped cilantro together into a paste for about 3–5 minutes. Add the salt, sugar, lime juice, and warm water, then stir to combine. Serve with your favorite seafood dish and enjoy!
Blender Method
- Simply add all of the ingredients from the list above to a blender and blend about 30 seconds or until smooth. Enjoy!
