Nam Jim Jaew Isan Tamarind Dipping Sauce

📍 Where this dish comes from: Bangkok · Wat Phra Kaew (Emerald Buddha)
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Nam Jim Jaew is the Northeast Thai dipping sauce that transforms any grilled meat. It is thicker than a typical dipping sauce — the toasted rice powder gives it body and a nutty flavour — and the combination of tamarind sourness, dried chili heat, and fish sauce saltiness creates something that compulsively draws you back for more.

What You’ll Need

Nam Jim Jaew Isan Tamarind Dipping Sauce

The Isan dipping sauce for grilled meats — toasted rice, tamarind, fish sauce, dried chili, and shallots in perfect balance.

Print Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Thai

Servings: 6 servings

Calories: 40kcal

Ingredients

• 3 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp tamarind paste
• 1 tbsp toasted rice powder
• 1 tbsp dried chili flakes
• 2 shallots finely diced
• 1 spring onion sliced
• 1 tbsp lime juice
• 1 tsp erythritol
• 1 tbsp coriander leaves

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Instructions

• Combine fish sauce, tamarind, lime juice, and erythritol.
• Add dried chili flakes and toasted rice powder.
• Mix until the rice powder is incorporated.
• Stir in shallots and spring onion.
• Garnish with coriander.
• Serve with any grilled meat — ideal with Moo Ping and Gai Yang.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 40kcal | Protein: 1g | Fiber: 0.5g

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Health Benefits

• Tamarind’s hydroxycitric acid has been studied for its potential to support fat metabolism.
• Toasted rice powder adds a nutty flavour and satisfying texture to the sauce.
• The combination of citric acid from lime and tartaric acid from tamarind contributes to the sauce’s bright, sour profile.