Thai Nam Jim Jaew Sauce is the perfect accompaniment for Thai grilled meats.
Nam jim jaew sauce is served with meats in Thailand. Any meats! This sauce is so good!
In fact, even if you just cook a roast chicken or steak, dipping it into the magic sauce will take you basic dinner and make it Thai!
Nam jim jael is so easy to make too. Though there is one special ingredient which is roasted rice or khau khua. This ingredient is available at Thai grocers.
You can easily make it at home though as I show in the following photos. From my taste tests, it’s worth making your own and it only takes minutes.
Homemade khau khua is far superior to anything you can buy. Traditionally, Thai roasted rice is made with sticky rice (glutinous rice) but I have made it with other varieties with good results.
If you can get sticky rice, however it’s worth buying. Sticky rice goes so well as a side with meats and tastes amazing dipped into this sauce.
How to get this recipe right…
Cooking the perfect Thai dishes is all about balance. That is especially so with this nam jim jaew sauce.
You want right balance of salty, sweet, sour and spicy for your tastes.
So use this recipe as a guide but feel free to experiment. Taste it as you prepare it adding more of ingredients that will give you the taste you’re looking for.
A word about glutinous rice…
Many people assume that because it is called glutinous rice that it contains gluten. Rice is gluten free.
The misunderstanding comes from the spelling. Glutenous means that the ingredient contains gluten. Glutinous refers to the starch that is naturally on the rice.
So if you are gluten free, you are safe to use glutinous rice in you nam jim jaew!
Want to make your own Khao Khua?
Just follow the easy instructions below.
Take some raw Thai glutinous rice and place it in a pan over medium high heat.
Roast the rice until light brown and fragrant. Then transfer to a plate to cool slightly
Grind the rice in a spice grinder or small food processor to a fine powder.
The recipe I have photographed above will make more than you need for your nam jim jaew sauce. It can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 2 months.
A word about tamarind water…
You can purchase the required tamarind water at Asian shops.
It is also easy to make. Simply soak block tamarind in some water until the water turns dark and strain.
Place the tamarind water, sugar and dried chillies in a bowl.
Add the rice powder and stir well to combine.
Add the lime juice to taste.
Add the sliced shallots and spring (green) onions.
If you want to try this recipe with a delicious meat course, try this…
Thai Nam Jim Jaew
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp Thai fish sauce
- 4 tbsp. Tamarind water
- 1 tbsp palm sugar or white sugar
- 1 tbsp dried chilli flakes
- 1 tbsp roasted rice powder – Recipe below in method
- 1 ½ tbsp. lime juice
- 2 shallots
- 2 tbsp coriander stems – finely chopped
- 2 spring onions – cut into thin rings
Instructions
- This one couldn't be easier! Simply place all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk to combine. I have photographed each step of this process but you really can wing it!
- It is important to taste as you go so that you get the perfect blend of sweet, sour and spicy.
