fried rice cooking in a wok
Fish Sauce Is The Secret To Irresistibly Savory Fried Rice

NEWS

By MATTHEW LEE
a bowl of fried rice
Fish sauce, a cornerstone in many Asian cuisines, brings an unparalleled depth of flavor to fried rice that you can't replicate with salt or even soy sauce.
someone pouring fish sauce into a bowl
Made of fermented fish, fish sauce works so well in fried rice dishes because of its umami characteristics, which help to amplify the dish's overall flavor.
a small bowl of fish sauce
A quality fish sauce has a clear, amber color, similar to black tea. These fish sauces, also called first-press, are made from the initial extraction of the fermenting barrel.
fried rice on a plate
Add fish sauce to your pan of steamed rice, starting slow and adding more as needed. For most people, using about half a tablespoon of fish sauce should hit the sweet spot.
a jar of fish sauce
Let everything cook together for a bit before tasting. If you want the rice to be a bit more savory, you can add a quarter tablespoon at a time until the flavor's just right.