Sample Intermittently As You Cook . . . Flavors Evolve

At first, fish sauce may seem to have a foul aroma and an overwhelming taste, but not for long. When used in conjunction with other foodstuff, the alchemy begins and the combination is greater than the sum of its parts. As ingredients move through the preparation and cooking process, their flavor evolves, and they adapt to their environment. Think garlic—raw garlic’s flavor can be overwhelming; mince and combine with fish sauce, sugar, and lime juice and a lovely dresing is born; stir-fry the garlic with some greens and heat has transformed the sharp raw edge into a rounded savory flavor; or take whole cloves of garlic and simmer them for an hour, and the natural sweetness is revealed.