Spicy Ginger and Lime Sauce

By
Nancy Lopez-McHugh
Nancy Lopez-McHugh
Author of two books, freelance writer, and photographer. She runs the popular blogs Spicie Foodie and Mexican Made Meatless.
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Updated on 07/22/21
Spicy Ginger and Lime Sauce

The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 15 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
37 Calories
3g Fat
2g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 37
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 3g 4%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 463mg 20%
Total Carbohydrate 2g 1%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 3mg 16%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 36mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This sauce was inspired by Thai and Vietnamese flavors. It is very easy to prepare and perfect for tweaking to not only your taste but also your heat tolerance. The recipe is for a small batch for two servings but you can quickly, and easily, double or even triple the ingredients. 

This zesty sauce has amazing fresh flavors that are slightly tart, sweet, gingery, and definitely spicy. You may use it for dipping fresh spring rolls into it, for marinading either poultry or seafood, or also as a condiment for grilled meat and fishes. Go on give it a try; you'll love the burst of flavors.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons lime juice, freshly squeezed, see note below on using limes

  • 1 teaspoon honey

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, or avocado oil

  • 2 tablespoons fish sauce

  • 1 splash soy sauce, to taste

  • 1 large clove garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chile pepper, seeds included, use Thai chile or any pepper with medium-high heat and as many as you'd like

  • 1 small handful cilantro leaves, roughly chopped, to taste

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Spicy Ginger and Lime Sauce ingredients

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  2. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Give the ingredients a good stir and then set the bowl aside.

    Combine all ingredients in a small bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

  3. Allow the sauce to sit on the counter for a minimum of 10 minutes. You may also allow the sauce to sit overnight and use the next day; just cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator. After the 10 minutes, or overnight, taste the sauce and see if it is to your taste or if it needs tweaking. You may at this time also want to think about what you'll be using it on and if you should add more soy sauce. 

    Spicy Ginger and Lime Sauce in a bowl

    The Spruce / Julia Hartbeck

Tip

  • Using lime is imperative as this is an important flavor for the sauce that is inspired by Thai cuisine. If you use lemons you will end up with a still delicious but completely different flavor.

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