Thai Green Chili Sauce Recipe For Seafood
Thai green chili sauce recipe for seafood, a MUST-TRY for any seafood lover! Spicy, savory, and tangy flavors all rolled into one easy-to-make condiment. Thai green chilies, fresh lime juice, and salty fish sauce meld together into the ultimate shrimp dipping sauce that’s great with literally anything.
Craving more heat? Try some of these irresistibly spicy Thai dipping sauce recipes: Mookata sauce (for Thai BBQ), Thai sweet chili sauce, and make your own sriracha with this Thai hot sauce recipe.
What is green seafood sauce
Green seafood sauce is a Thai dipping sauce made primarily from green chilies, giving it its spicy kick. Enriched with lime juice and fish sauce, this is Thailand’s go-to for seafood dishes like shrimp, grilled fish, and crab.
Nam jim talay
Nam jim talay translates to dipping sauce for seafood. It’s a staple in Thai cuisine, coming in two variations – green and red.
- Nam jim: ‘Nam jim’ refers to a collection of Thai dipping sauces.
- Talay: ‘Talay’ means seafood in Thai.
This is the green Thai chili sauce recipe, with the focus on fresh, zesty flavors.
Check out its counterpart, red nam jim seafood, where crushed peanuts add a delightful twist.
Let’s take a quick look at the differences between both.
Green nam jim seafood
- Chilies: Made with green chilies, giving the sauce its fresh green color.
- Fresh herbs: Full of fresh herbs like coriander and mint.
- Spiciness: Offers a moderate amount of heat that’s easy to customize.
- Texture: A smooth texture of blended spices and herbs.
- Citrusy: The taste of fresh lime juice adds a zesty, refreshing note.
- Pair with: Lighter seafood like grilled shrimp or fish.
Red nam jim seafood
- Chilies: Full of red chilies, this dip has a dark color.
- Peanuts: Includes peanuts for a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture.
- Spiciness: Often spicier, depending on the amount of chilies used.
- Texture: A chunkier texture with bits of peanuts.
- Balanced: Uses lime juice, but not as prominently as the green sauce.
- Pair with: Meatier seafood like lobster or crab.
- Slight sweetness: Sometimes has a subtle sweetness, dependent on the recipe.
Why try Thai green sauce recipe
- Customize the heat: You can easily adjust the spiciness to your liking, making it a crowd-favorite. For a mild sauce, simply use a mild type of chili pepper.
- So quick and easy: It’s simple to make with readily available ingredients, likely in your kitchen pantry right now. If not, you can get them in a single trip to any Asian grocery store or larger supermarket.
- Fresh and fiery: A blend of green chilies and fresh lime juice brings a spicy, refreshing flavor that’s so good you could have it with anything.
- It’s healthy: This Thai green chili sauce recipe is packed with the freshest ingredients, making it a guilt-free addition to any meal.
- Authentic: This is our traditional family recipe! My family was born in Isan, the Northeast of Thailand, where Thai BBQ and this dipping sauce is immensely popular.
- Versatile: This chili dipping sauce is perfect for dipping, drizzling, or dressing up your favorite seafood dishes.
Ingredients
For the exact measurements, please scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Green chilies – Thai green chilies are the key ingredient. Use Thai chilies like bird’s eye chilies or Jinda chilies for a spicy dip. If you can’t find them, you can use an easy substitute like serrano peppers.
- Fish sauce – Fish sauce adds umami and a salty balance. A little goes a long way. For a saltier flavor, increase with 1/2 tablespoon at a time.
- White sugar – Sugar is necessary for balancing the heat and salty flavors in Thai green chili sauce with a subtle sweetness.
- Coriander – Fresh coriander and mint add a cool, refreshing and herbal freshness.
- Mint
- Garlic – Offers a subtle pungent note, melding great with the other ingredients.
- Lime – It’s important to use fresh lime juice, not the bottled alternatives.
Short recipe video
How to make Thai green chili sauce
Food processor method
1. Gather all your ingredients – green chilies, fish sauce, white sugar, coriander, mint, garlic, and fresh lime juice – in a food processor or blender.
2. Pulse for 10 seconds, until the sauce turns into a smooth consistency.
Mortar and pestle method
1. Pound garlic and chilies into a fine paste.
2. Add coriander and mint, pound until crushed.
3. Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, and white sugar. Serve with your favorite seafood!
Kitchen tools
- Mortar and pestle or food processor: A food processor is quick and easy, but the mortar and pestle will release the natural juices and aroma of the ingredients.
Recipe tips and tricks
- Use fresh ingredients: Fresh herbs, fresh green chilies, and fresh lime juice make all the difference.
- Let flavors meld: Let the sauce sit for 10–20 minutes before serving. This allows the flavors to meld together.
- Freeze for later: Any leftovers can be frozen.
- Spice control: If you’re sensitive to spice, remove the seeds from the chilies before blending. This reduces the heat without compromising flavor.
- Taste-test: Make sure to balance the flavors of spicy, sweet, and salty. Start with this recipe’s measurements, then adjust to taste. More chilies for heat, a bit more sugar for sweetness, or extra lime juice for zing.
How to serve
Green nam jim seafood is typically found as a condiment out on the table of Thai restaurants like BBQ tents.
It’s the perfect spicy dipping sauce for seafood:
- Pla pao (grilled fish)
- Grilled squid
- Lobster
- Shrimp
- Crab
But it doesn’t stop at seafood! Thai green chilli sauce is great with grilled meats too:
- Moo yang (Thai grilled pork)
- Thai chicken wings
- Moo ping
- Thai ribs
For something lighter, try Thai shrimp rolls and fresh spring rolls, which can be dipped in just about anything!
This spicy sauce makes everything better, trust me.
One last tip – make sure to whip up this green chili sauce at your next backyard BBQ. Your barbecue spread will never be the same again!
How to store
Transfer your leftover sauce into an airtight container. Keep it in the fridge and it’ll last you about 2 weeks. The flavors will intensify over time!
Freezing instructions: Portion it into smaller freezer-safe containers for easy use later. When you’re ready, just thaw in the fridge.
More Thai chili sauce recipes you’ll love
- Prik nam som (Thai chili vinegar sauce)
- Nam prik noom (Thai roasted chili dip)
- Thai tamarind dipping sauce
- Nam jim jaew
- Prik nam pla
- Thai chili oil
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Thai Green Chili Sauce Recipe For Seafood
Ingredients
- ±10 green chilies add to taste
- 4 tablespoons fish sauce
- 0.35 ounces coriander
- 0.35 ounces mint
- 4 tablespoons lime juice
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 5 cloves garlic
Instructions
FOOD PROCESSOR METHOD
- Gather all your ingredients - green chilies, fish sauce, white sugar, coriander, mint, garlic, and fresh lime juice - in a food processor or blender.
- Pulse for 10 seconds, until the sauce turns into a smooth consistency.
MORTAR AND PESTLE METHOD
- Pound garlic and chilies into a fine paste.
- Add coriander and mint, pound until crushed.
- Stir in fish sauce, lime juice, and white sugar. Serve with your favorite seafood!
Video
@hungryinthailand.com How to make nam jim seafood - Thai green chili sauce recipe. #thaifoodrecipe #spicydippingsauce #namjimseafood
♬ Mexico Cruise (Interlude) - DJ Zone
Notes
- Use the nutrition card in this recipe as a guideline.
- Add chilies to your taste. I use a handful, but this amount makes the green chili sauce very spicy.
Lovely! Very easy but délicieux
Delicious taste