Fish sauce anchovies among other ingredients. Fish sauce Fish sauce is a liquid condiment made from fish that have been coated in salt and fermented for up to two years. It is used as a staple seasoning in the cuisines of Southeast and East Asia, particularly Indonesian, Burmese, Cambodian, Filipino, Thai, Lao, and Vietnamese. Following widespread recognition of its ability to impart a savory umami flavor to dishes, it has been embraced globally by chefs and home cooks. The "umami" flavor in fish sauce is due to its glutamate content. Soy sauce is regarded by some in the West as a vegetarian
Fish sauce considered high-grade, and 40N is optimal. "Nước chấm" is a Vietnamese prepared fish-based condiment (also referred to as a "sauce") that is savory, lightly sweet and salty tasting, and can be sour and spicy if lime and chili peppers are added. The main components are fish sauce, water, and sugar. "Nước mắm" is made much like fish sauce, except that it is not fermented as long, and the fish is kept along with its liquid extract, not just the extract. "Mắm" can be used as a base condiment in dipping sauces with additional ingredients or used in soups or stir-fries.