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    Home » Recipes » Salad Dressing Recipes

    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing

    Published: Jun 3, 2020 · Modified: Jan 13, 2021 by The Devil Wears Salad

    Jump to Recipe

    There is nothing more delectable than a combination of opposing flavours. Salty, pungent fish sauce is tamed by the sticky sweetness of palm sugar. A salad dressing with a difference!

    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing

    For all you sweet tooths out there, I have no doubt you would have crossed paths with the heavenly palm sugar. If you haven’t, please do yourself a favour and go and get some, pronto!

    Palm sugar is a sweetener that comes from the sap of the flowers of a palm tree. You would find palm sugar either in flat donut shaped discs or in a cylinder.

    Either way it comes in a hardened form and in most cases it needs to be dissolved and used as you would like any normal sugar. Personally I like grating it and sprinkling it on top of shredded coconut to make a dessert.

    The different flavours and colours are all dependent on what sort of palm it is derived from. You can get palm sugar from dates, palmyra, nipa, sugar and coconut.

    The coconut and date palm sugars are the ones that I grew up with in Malaysia and back home it is called gula melaka. Gula meaning “sugar” and Melaka is the name of a Malaysian state where it originated from.

    Gula Melaka plays an integral role in Malaysian desserts. It’s sweetness is like none other with all of its intense smokey, caramel, coffee and butterscotch undertones.

    Yes, all those flavours from the one ingredient! I simply couldn’t resist putting it in our salad dressings and it is a perfect recipe to use for any Asian inspired salads you may be creating.

    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing Ingredients

    Palm sugar: The sweetness you get from palm sugar is so different to regular sugar. It adds an amazing depth to the recipe and is one of my favourite things in the world!

    Fish sauce: Adding some salty flavours into the recipe. For really good fish sauce you can try Red Boat or Mega Chef.

    Lemon: Lots of strong flavours in this recipe so the lemon helps to balance out the sweet and salty. Watch the seeds when you’re squeezing the lemon.

    Garlic: We’re going to grate the garlic clove as we want the garlic to dispersed amongst the salad recipe. Really going for strong pungent flavours.

    Water: Water is used to dissolve the palm sugar so that it can be mixed through with the other ingredients to create this dressing.

    Very quick process in a small saucepan and enjoy the lovely smells as it wafts through your kitchen.

    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing Method

    The palm sugar or Gula Melaka is almost impossible to cut through as it is rock hard. The best way to get a small portion is to grate it.

    In a small saucepan, add 100g of water to 50g of palm sugar and mix on low heat for about 5 minutes or until fully dissolved.

    In a medium mixing bowl, add the palm sugar, juice of 1 lemon, fish sauce and grated garlic clove. Mix thoroughly.

    Best Salad for This Dressing

    Baby Cuttlefish Salad with Green Papaya

    Who doesn’t love a good seafood salad? This Asian inspired Baby Cuttlefish Salad is paired with the crunch of the green papaya, pungent fish sauce and tamed by aromatic palm sugar.

    Baby Cuttlefish Salad with Green Papaya

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    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing

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    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing
    Print Recipe
    5 from 48 votes

    Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing

    There is nothing more delectable than a combination of opposing flavours. Salty, pungent fish sauce is tamed by the sticky sweetness of palm sugar. A salad dressing with a difference!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time5 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Salad Dressing
    Cuisine: Asian
    Dietary: Dairy Free, Egg Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Pescatarian
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 51kcal
    Author: Amy Chung

    Ingredients

    • 100 g water
    • 50 g palm sugar
    • 1 lemon, juiced
    • 1 garlic clove, grated
    • 2 tsp fish sauce

    Click on the toggle below for conversion to US Cooking Units.

    Instructions

    • Grate the palm sugar. In a small saucepan, add 100g of water to 50g of palm sugar and mix on low heat for about 5 minutes or until fully dissolved.
    • In a medium mixing bowl, add the palm sugar, juice of 1 lemon, fish sauce and grated garlic clove. Mix thoroughly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 51kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 262mg | Potassium: 37mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg

    *Disclaimer: Nutritional information provided is an estimate only and generated by an online calculator.

    Tried this recipe? We’d Love To See It!Mention @thedevilwearssalad or tag #thedevilwearssalad!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jen Talley

      June 29, 2020 at 1:55 am

      5 stars
      I’m always looking for new homemade salad dressing ideas. Thank you!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:04 am

        You welcome Jen!

        Reply
    2. Debra

      June 28, 2020 at 12:39 pm

      5 stars
      This dressing is delish on salad. I’m going to try it with stir fry…..seems like it will be the perfect mix of flavors.

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:04 am

        You definitely can! Would work really well.

        Reply
    3. Mama Maggie's Kitchen

      June 28, 2020 at 11:26 am

      5 stars
      Incredibly delicious. I have to make this soon!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        July 03, 2020 at 9:04 am

        Thanks! It’s a winner that’s for sure!

        Reply
    4. Jar of Lemons

      June 28, 2020 at 12:46 am

      5 stars
      I’m intrigued by your title alone! Beautiful recipe!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        June 28, 2020 at 10:31 am

        LOL! Thanks! Yeah, something a little different. Salad dressings don’t all have to be boring!

        Reply
    5. Chef Dennis

      June 27, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      5 stars
      Oooh I am gonna try t his Palm Sugar and Fish Sauce Dressing on my salad!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        June 28, 2020 at 10:30 am

        Great! Let us know how you go!

        Reply
    6. Marina

      June 27, 2020 at 8:08 pm

      5 stars
      Love this dressing recipe, perfect for seafood salad!

      Reply
      • The Devil Wears Salad

        June 28, 2020 at 10:30 am

        Thanks Marina! Would definitely work well with seafood:)

        Reply
    7. Christie Gagnon

      June 27, 2020 at 8:33 am

      5 stars
      So fresh and delicious…and that’s a lovely looking salad!

      Reply
    8. Michele Peterson

      June 27, 2020 at 8:14 am

      5 stars
      This recipe was the perfect way to showcase the palm sugar I had in my pantry! Loved the colours of it all

      Reply
    9. Emily Flint

      June 27, 2020 at 1:55 am

      5 stars
      This salad dressing sounds so delicious, I can’t wait to use it on my next salad with fish!

      Reply
    10. Sue

      June 27, 2020 at 1:30 am

      5 stars
      This fish sauce dressing is perfect on a seafood salad!

      Reply

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    The Devil Wears Salad Team

    United by a common love for salads, us 3 girls decided to embark on a journey to show you that you CAN win friends with salad!

    Tried and tested, these recipes are designed for all discerning home cooks. We have everything from no cook recipes right through to showstoppers. Something for everyone!

    More About Us →

    Most Popular Recipes

    • Korean Cucumber Salad – Oi Muchim (오이무침)
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