Description
Crying Tiger Sauce is a vibrant and flavorful Thai dipping sauce made from a perfect blend of fish sauce, lime juice, palm sugar, toasted rice powder, and fiery dried chilies. Traditionally served alongside grilled meats, this sauce balances tangy, sweet, salty, and spicy elements to elevate your dishes with an authentic Southeast Asian flair.
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 dried bird chile
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (from 2 or 3 juicy limes)
- 3 tablespoons palm sugar
- 2 dried chili pequin, crushed
- 1 tablespoon finely sliced green onions
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped cilantro stems and/or leaves
- 1 teaspoon toasted rice powder
Toasted Rice Powder
- 1/4 cup uncooked sticky rice or jasmine rice
Instructions
- Prepare Toasted Rice Powder: Heat a dry skillet over medium-low. Add the uncooked rice and toast it, stirring frequently to prevent burning, until the rice is golden brown and aromatic. Remove from heat promptly if it starts to become too hot, shaking the pan to evenly toast the grains. Allow the rice to cool completely.
- Grind Toasted Rice: Once cooled, place the toasted rice in a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, food processor, or a sturdy plastic bag (like a Ziploc) and crush until the texture is coarse — not powdery. This toasted rice powder adds a nutty flavor and slight texture to the sauce.
- Mix Sauce Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the dried bird chile, fish sauce, fresh lime juice, palm sugar, crushed chili pequin, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro stems/leaves, and the prepared toasted rice powder. Stir well until the palm sugar is fully dissolved.
- Let Sauce Rest: Allow the sauce to sit for several minutes before serving to let the flavors meld together fully.
Notes
- Adjust the quantity of dried chilies to your preferred spice level.
- Toasted rice powder can be prepared in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to several weeks.
- The sauce pairs exceptionally well with grilled beef, especially Thai flank steak, but also complements chicken, pork, and seafood.
- If you cannot find palm sugar, substitute with an equal amount of light brown sugar.
- Use fresh lime juice for the best vibrant flavor—avoid bottled lime juice.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sauce/Dip
- Method: No-Cook (except for toasting rice)
- Cuisine: Thai
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons (30g)
- Calories: 35
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Crying Tiger Sauce, Thai dipping sauce, spicy Thai sauce, fish sauce dip, toasted rice powder sauce, Thai grilled meat sauce
