FISH SAUCE · PHU QUOC SPECIALTIES
Phu Quoc ready-to-eat shrimp paste: from green mango to the dinner table
Ready-to-eat shrimp paste transforms green mango, boiled meat and simple meals. Each producer's seasoning creates a different balance of salt, sweetness and heat.
A crisp slice of green mango can feel complete with just a little intensely savoury mắm ruốc. Phu Quoc producers sell seasoned versions ready to eat from the jar, but the flavour varies widely with each maker's recipe.
Sea flies and familiar spices
The journey of a jar of fish sauce starts with batches of fresh sea flies brewed with salt, then added sugar, chili, minced lemongrass or fried garlic to produce an instant version. There are jars with a dense aroma of fish sauce, and there are jars that stand out with their smooth sweetness and stimulating spiciness. That is the quintessence of each fish sauce maker, there is absolutely no common pattern representing all fish sauce products on Phu Quoc island. If you are curious to know what flavor you are going to taste, the fastest way is to carefully read the ingredients on the label.
Dip the fruit, serve with boiled meat, add to stir-fry
Instant fish sauce is often a good "co-star" of plates of toad, mango, crispy and sour guava or thinly sliced boiled meat. Not only that, just dot a little fish sauce in a pan of stir-fries or a pot of braised meat, the dish will immediately explode with rich flavor. When bringing it to your kitchen, you should taste it a little before rushing to add sugar, salt or chili. Because the fish sauce is already seasoned, if you still carelessly use the same amount as pure mussels, the dish is very easy to overdo, becoming unexpectedly salty or sweet.
Buy it as a gift, remember to read the label correctly
When choosing fish sauce as a gift, don't be blinded by huge jars of fish sauce or gorgeous packaging. Be alert to carefully consider the place of production, ingredient list, expiration date, tightness of the lid and storage notes right on the product. In particular, because sea mussels are a type of crustacean, people with allergies need to read the ingredients carefully before tasting them. Choosing jars with a moderate capacity will be much more convenient, especially when you are just buying them to try them for the first time.