Crying Tiger Sauce Recipe
Introduction
Crying Tiger Sauce is a vibrant Thai dipping sauce known for its balance of tangy, spicy, and sweet flavors. It pairs perfectly with grilled meats, especially beef, adding a punch of flavor that will keep you coming back for more.
Ingredients
- 1 dried bird chile
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (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
Instructions
- Step 1: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until the palm sugar is dissolved and everything is well combined.
- Step 2: Let the sauce sit for several minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld perfectly.
Tips & Variations
- To make toasted rice powder: Toast a small amount of rice in a dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring often, until golden brown. Let it cool, then crush it coarsely using a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, or by placing it in a sealed bag and crushing with a rolling pin.
- Adjust the heat by adding more or fewer dried chilies to suit your taste.
- If palm sugar is unavailable, brown sugar can be used as a substitute, though the flavor will be slightly different.
Storage
Store leftover Crying Tiger Sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Stir well before using. The toasted rice powder can be stored separately in a tightly sealed jar for several weeks.
How to Serve
Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.
FAQs
Can I use fresh chilies instead of dried ones?
Yes, fresh chilies can be used but the flavor will be more vibrant and less smoky. Adjust the quantity to control the heat level.
What dishes go best with Crying Tiger Sauce?
This sauce is excellent with grilled beef, pork, or chicken, and can also be used as a spicy salad dressing or dipping sauce for spring rolls.
PrintCrying Tiger Sauce Recipe
Crying Tiger Sauce is a zesty and flavorful Thai dipping sauce known for its bold combination of fish sauce, lime juice, chili, palm sugar, and toasted rice powder. It’s perfect for serving alongside grilled meats or as a tangy accompaniment to your favorite dishes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: About 1 cup of sauce 1x
- Category: Sauce
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: Thai
Ingredients
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 dried bird chile
- 1/4 cup fish sauce
- 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (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
- White rice (amount as needed for toasting)
Instructions
- Prepare Toasted Rice Powder: In a dry skillet, toast a small amount of white rice over medium-low heat. Stir frequently to ensure even toasting and prevent burning. Remove from heat as needed to control temperature, shaking the pan occasionally. Continue until the rice turns golden brown. Let it cool completely.
- Grind Toasted Rice: Once cooled, pulverize the toasted rice using a mortar and pestle, spice grinder, food processor, or place in a Ziploc bag and crush until it’s coarse but not a fine powder. Store any extra toasted rice powder in a tightly sealed jar for future use.
- Mix the Sauce: In a bowl, combine the dried bird chile, fish sauce, fresh lime juice, palm sugar, crushed dried chili pequin, sliced green onions, chopped cilantro stems and/or leaves, and the prepared toasted rice powder. Stir well until the palm sugar is dissolved and all ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Rest and Serve: Let the sauce sit for several minutes to allow the flavors to meld together before serving it as a dipping sauce, especially excellent with grilled meats or vegetables.
Notes
- Adjust the number of dried chilies according to desired spiciness.
- Toasted rice powder adds a unique nutty flavor and slight texture; don’t skip this step.
- Store leftover sauce in the refrigerator and use within a few days for best flavor.
- If palm sugar is unavailable, brown sugar may be used as a substitute, although flavor will differ slightly.
Keywords: Crying Tiger Sauce, Thai dipping sauce, fish sauce sauce, lime juice sauce, grilled meat sauce, Thai condiment
