Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Jaew แจ่ว)

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This Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (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.

Jaew แจ่ว: Thai Dried Chilli Dipping Sauce

Ingredients You Need for Jaew (Thai Chili Dipping Sauce)

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.

Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Jaew แจ่ว)

How to Make Thai Chili Dipping Sauce 

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. 

Tips for Buying Thai Ingredients

You can buy most of these Thai ingredients online at stores such as Amazon, or at your local Thai Market, or Asian market. We tend to go once in a while and stock up on my essentials so I’m ready to cook any type of Thai meal. I love to purchase Thai shallots, fish sauce, palm sugar, Thai dry red chili flakes, oyster sauce, Thai seasoning sauce, and more! 

lamb chops with jaew

Thai Mains to Serve with Jaew Sauce

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

Find more Thai recipes in our archives!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Jaew sauce made of?

This popular Thai sauce is used as a dip for proteins (like steak, pork, or chicken), and vegetables, or can even be used as a marinade. It’s made with a base of shallots and cilantro, fish sauce, and lime juice.

More Sauce Recipes

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A bowl of vibrant, chunky salsa with a wooden spoon and fresh greens.
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Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Jaew แจ่ว)

This Thai Chili Dipping Sauce (Jaew แจ่ว) is one of our favorite Thai condiments. It’s tangy, spicy, zesty, and umami-filled. This popular Thai sauce, also called Nam Jim Jaew, is used as a dip for proteins (like steak, pork, or chicken), and vegetables, or can even be used as a marinade.
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 0 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

  • 4 to 5 shallots, finely chopped, preferably Thai shallots
  • 1 medium bundle finely chopped cilantro
  • 1 tablespoon dried Thai red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon rice powder
  • 1 teaspoon fish sauce, plus more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon palm sugar
  • Juice of 2 large limes

Instructions 

  • In a medium mixing bowl, place your chopped shallots, cilantro, red pepper flakes, rice powder, fish sauce, palm sugar, lime juice, and salt.
  • Mix until completely combined. Adjust to taste with 1 tablespoon of cold water, if needed.
  • Set aside in the fridge until ready to use.

Nutrition

Calories: 24kcal, Carbohydrates: 5g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 0.3g, Saturated Fat: 0.1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 154mg, Potassium: 127mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 594IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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