- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 cup warm water
- 1/4 cup Asian fish sauce, preferably nuoc mam
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1 fresh Thai chile (2 to 3 inches; preferably red) including seeds, thinly sliced crosswise
- Stir together sugar and water in a bowl until sugar is dissolved. Stir in remaining ingredients and chill, covered, at least 2 hours to allow flavors to develop. Bring to room temperature before serving (this will take about 1 hour).