fish sauce

[Ivy-Alice]

I have a recipe with fish sauce in it but I don't want to buy a whole bottle - if I don't like the finished dish the rest will never get used. Does anyone know what else I could use instead?

[jack daniels]

fish stock - fresh or cube (needs to be very concentrated like the fish sauce (nam pla)

[Ivy-Alice]

Thanks but I really meant something other than fish altogether. People always say it doesn't taste fishy anyway.

[coccinelle]

Could you make a bechamel sauce?

[pastafreak]

Are you talking about a cream sauce....in which case it is easy to make.......or Thai fish sauce....which keeps FOREVER in the fridge. If you don't have that, then soy sauce is fine.

[Ivy-Alice]

No it's not a white/cream sauce, it's for chicken dumpling soup. It goes in the dumplings rhemselves and the broth. If it can't be replaced by something that isn't fishy could I just leave it out?

[pastafreak]

If this is an Asian recipe,just use Soy sauce as I mentioned above,or use nothing. The dumplings MIGHT need a bit more seasoning,as the fish sauce is fairly salty.

[Ivy-Alice]

Thank you. I realised after I wrote my last answer that you had said to just use soy sauce instead.

[maggiefoodie]

i hate to say it, but there really is no substitution for fish sauce and your asian dishes won't be the same without it. do you like thai food? if you've ever had a thai curry and liked it, then don't be afraid to use the fish sauce b/c you undoubtedly have had it before if you've ever had thai!

fish sauce smells pretty bad but the smell goes away after cooking. don't let the initial smell put you off. also, don't be tempted to use it liberally - just use what is called for in the recipe.