TANGY-SWEET SHRIMP SAUCE

Tangy-Sweet Shrimp Sauce image

Yield makes about 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 7

6 tablespoons fresh lime juice (3 limes)
1 tablespoon unseasoned Japanese rice vinegar (optional)
1 tablespoon fine shrimp sauce
3 tablespoons fish sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup water
2 or 3 Thai or serrano chiles, thinly sliced (optional)

Steps:

In a small bowl, combine the lime juice and vinegar. Whisk in the shrimp sauce, blending well. Add the fish sauce, sugar, and water and whisk to dissolve the sugar. Taste and adjust as needed to arrive at a pleasantly tangy, sweet, salty, pungent sauce. A little more lime (up to 1 tablespoon) will tame the pungency and sweetness. If the overall flavors are too intense, add water by the teaspoonful. If you like shrimp sauce, whisk in more. When you are satisfied with the balance, add the chiles and set aside for 30 minutes to let the flavors develop before serving.
Put the sauce on the table so that diners can serve themselves, or divide among individual dipping sauce bowls. It may be prepared 2 to 3 hours in advance and left at room temperature until serving.