Spicy Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Nam Jim Jaew)

This Spicy Thai Chili Dipping Sauce, also known as Nam Jim Jaew แจ่ว, is one of our favorite Thai condiments. It’s tangy, spicy, zesty, and umami-filled. This Thai sauce, also called Nam Jim Jaew, is used as a dip for proteins (like grilled meats such as steak, pork, or chicken), and vegetables. We even use it as a marinade. It’s made with a base of shallots and cilantro, fish sauce, and lime juice. Serve alongside sticky rice!

We first had this dip when we went to Thailand, we always ordered it!

Specifically, this dipping sauce is paired nicely with Thai Grilled or Fried Chicken, or with Thai Basil Lemongrass Rack of Lamb.

Recipe Ingredients

Shallots: We are using Thai shallots here, which tend to be a tad sweeter and have a rounder texture. If you can’t find Thai shallots, you can most definitely use any shallots you have available. 

Cilantro: We are using finely chopped cilantro is added with the shallots as the base of this dipping sauce. 

Red pepper flakes: We are using Thai red pepper flakes, which tend to be a little hotter than other types of red pepper flakes.

Rice powder: This is an essential component of traditional Jaew sauce. Toasted rice powder adds nuttiness, crunchiness, and all-around umami to this dipping sauce.

Fish sauce: Another umami flavor added to the depth of this dipping sauce is fish sauce, adjust according to your preference. If you want to keep this dipping sauce vegetarian, you can omit this, although it will lose some of its depth of flavor, it will still work and taste delicious! 

Palm Sugar: Palm sugar melts nicely into this dipping sauce, but you can use white granulated sugar if you don’t have this available. You can find palm sugar online, or at your local Thai or Asian market.

Lime juice: Freshly squeezed lime juice finishes off this dipping sauce bringing brightness, zest and citrus to this sauce. It’s tangy and balances out perfectly with all the other flavors.

Kosher salt: No need to salt here, as the fish sauce should be enough, but if you did want to add some more saltiness, feel free to adjust with salt, if preferred.

How to Make Nam Jim Jaew

Add everything in a mixing bowl: In a medium mixing bowl, place your chopped shallots, cilantro, red pepper flakes, rice powder, fish sauce, palm sugar, and lime juice.

Mix until completely combined: Adjust to taste with 1 tablespoon of cold water, if needed.

Set aside in the fridge until ready to use. 

Serving Recommendations

What to serve with this Thai dipping sauce to make it into an easy dinner? There are so many options! 

• Try out our Thai Basil & Lemongrass Rack of Lamb! It is a really wonderful dipping sauce to serve alongside these grilled lamb chops.
• Marinated Thai Steak with Jaew is another main meal that pairs really beautifully with Jaew.
• Along with any mains served with Jaew sauce, here are some of our favorite Thai food and Thai-inspired recipes: Thai Chicken Larb is a wonderful weeknight dinner that is really easy to come together. Same goes for this Thai Basil Chicken (Gai Pad Krapow)!

Find more Thai recipes in our archives!

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Easy Chimichurri Mayo Potato Salad

Meat

Cast Iron Ribeye Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

If you do make this Nam Jim Jaew recipe, leave a comment and give this recipe a rating, we would love to hear what you think! Don’t forget to tag us on Instagram, we love to see what you’re making! If you’d like to stay in touch and get the latest in your inbox, sign up for our Newsletter. We can also be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest!