Vietnamese Shrimp Paste Sauce Recipe (Mam Tom)

As I promised earlier this week, here's the recipe for the condiment that traditionally accompanies the Northern Vietnamese dill fish dish. The dipping sauce is called mắm tôm, which literally translates to "fermented shrimp sauce". It's made from fermented shrimp paste sauce (mắm ruốc, whose aroma smells very pungent), garlic, sambal oelek chile paste, sugar and freshly squeezed lime juice. The preparation is very similar to mắm nêm, the dipping sauce used for bỏ nhúng dấm (Vietnamese beef fondue), except it doesn't contain pineapple. Both spicy sauces are very strong in taste, so if fermented paste is too overwhelming for your palate, you could ultimately use nước mắm chấm (fish sauce) for a milder flavor.

Enjoy this authentic recipe!

Kumquat Olive Relish Recipe

Mustard and ketchup don't have to be the only condiments on your table. You can make your own that are, dare I say, unique and more flavorful. For example, whenever I serve grilled chicken breasts, tuna or even grilled tofu, I like to enhance the usual bland dish with a flavorful relish. I recently served the relish with Gouda cheese  and crackers. The two pair wonderfully. 

I recently used kumquat marmalade from last winter and mixed it with large, meaty and slightly sweet olives. In addition to imparting a citrus flavor, this olive relish also adds a pleasant texture to the food. Best of all, it can be prepared way in advance.

Hot Dog Condiment Recipe

If you're planning on a barbecue this Memorial Day weekend, hot dogs might be part of your menu. Hot dogs, along with hamburgers, are the symbol and epitome of American food. The concept here is as simple as it is delicious: a sausage tucked in a long piece of bread.

Of course, I like to have fun with my food. I made my own version using garlic and spinach chicken sausages and a couple of unusual condiments. I used beet goat cheese sauce and a goat cheese spread made with French pickles (called cornichons), chives, curly parsley and mustard. It made for a refreshing change from regular ketchup and mustard. I could eat them by the dozen!

Horseradish Cream Sauce for Fish

Fish can have a strong taste, depending on the kind of fish and how it's prepared, which often necessitates a counter-balance of flavor. Horseradish sauce ("sauce au raifort" in French) is an excellent option.

Horseradish gives a depth of flavor to almost any fish due to its subtle tinge of heat, when added in small quantities. Whether you pair the sauce with a simple fish preparation cooked in butter, fish en papillote or steamed fish, this delicious horseradish sauce will be the highlight of your entrée.

Khatta Recipe: Indian Sesame and Tamarind Sauce

Khatta is an Indian condiment that is generally served as an accompaniment to khichdi (coral lentil basmati rice). Unlike raita (Indian yogurt sauce) or chutneys, khatta has a thin consistency. Toasted sesame seeds are ground into a thick paste (tahini) and mixed with green chiles and tamarind. The sauce is then diluted with water and mixed with thinly sliced onions. The finishing touch is the usual top layer of baghar, which consists of fried garlic, cumin seeds, curry leaves and dried chiles.

The recipe was provided by Lulu's aunt, Sheerin Auntie, who is an amazing, gifted cook. Love is the most important ingredient that is required in any dish, and she has it in boundless quantities. She has agreed to teach me several Indian dishes that I've been wanting to learn, and of course, I'll share them with you once I know them well. Thank you, Sheerin Auntie for teaching me so many valuable lessons, culinary and otherwise.