Simple Nuoc Cham

• 10 tablespoons nuoc mam
• 4 tablespoons sugar
• 2 lemons
• 1 tablespoon finely minced garlic
• Water to taste
• 3 tiny hot green or red chili peppers, thinly sliced

1. In a 4-cup measuring jug, place the nuoc mam, sugar and the juice of the lemons.
2. Mix well until the sugar has dissolved.
3. Add garlic and stir to mix.
4. Note the quantity of liquid in the measuring jug and add one and a half times that amount in water.
5. Stir well and taste.
6. You may add more of any ingredient.
7. The nuoc cham should have a delicately fishy flavor, sweet and tart at the same time.
8. Add chili peppers.

nuoc mam, sugar, lemons, garlic, water, red chili peppers

Taken from cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/9977 (may not work)