Classic Vietnamese Dipping Sauce

This might be the pound-for-pound champ when it comes to popular Southeast Asian sauces. It is Vietnamese in origin, but it goes with just about anything: proteins, vegetables, rice, noodles, you name it. Every little Asian kid has a story about it, and every Asian adult has a healthy obsession with it. It works so well because it combines umami, sweetness, tanginess, and spice all in one cohesive blend. Although there are several variations, our version is pretty standard, and as the recip