Why I Love Red Boat Fish Sauce (and Recipes)
I love Red Boat Fish Sauce and here’s a post about why I like it, plus some great low-carb recipes using fish sauce! And definitely Fish Sauce can add that extra something to Asian dishes, but see my suggestions for vegetarian or low-sodium options if you prefer.
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Today I’m adding Red Boat Fish Sauce to my list of Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks, where I feature the products I love and buy over and over! And I hope this post will help you understand why this is the fish sauce I always buy, because it really is something special.
Years ago I started hearing talk about this brand of fish sauce, and when I saw it in a market in Salt Lake, I had to try it. And when I tried it I was convinced that this was the best fish sauce I’d tried!
Why is Red Boat Fish Sauce so good?
Some of the buzz about Red Boat Fish Sauce comes from the fact that it contains only fresh caught wild black anchovies and sea salt, so it has zero carbs and is also Paleo and Whole 30 approved. But I mostly love this fish sauc´ for the taste, which is amazingly smooth and has just the right combination of fishy-salty flavor notes.
Is Red Boat Fish Sauce expensive?
Red Boat Fish Sauce is not that expensive, although maybe slightly higher than some brands. And Fish Sauce is not something you use in huge amounts, and this will last for years in the fridge!
Where Can You Buy Red Boat Fish Sauce?
Most natural foods stores will carry Red Boat Fish Sauce but you can also get Red Boat Fish Sauce (affiliate link) online if you can’t find it where you live.
Want Vegetarian or Lower-Sodium Fish Sauce?
If you’re vegan or vegetarian and don’t want to use fish sauce, Vegetarian Fish Sauce (affiliate link) is available online or at many Asian markets, and many of the vegetarian fish sauce products are lower in sodium too. You can also make your own vegan fish sauce. And in many recipes you can replace the fish sauce with more soy sauce and the flavor will still be tasty, although not quite as authentic as it would be if you used fish sauce.
Low-Carb Recipes Using Fish Sauce:
Thai-Inspired Turkey Larb Salad is one of my long-time favorite dishes that use fish sauce.
Cucumber Noodle Salad with Shrimp is refreshing and delicious!
I’m pretty crazy about this Thai Cucumber Salad and I make this as a side dish all year.
Thai Turkey Lettuce Wraps are so delicious and easy to make, and this makes a lot so you might have enough for another meal!
In this tasty Caesar Salad with Kale, Romaine, and Shaved Parmesan you can use fish sauce to replace anchovies that are traditional in Caesar Salad dressing!
Sriracha Beef Lettuce Wraps are something I’ve made over and over for a quick low-carb dinner option.
Thai-Inspired Ground Turkey Stir-Fry is a stir-fry recipe that’s been super popular on the blog!
Asian Lettuce Cups with Spicy Ground Turkey are a favorite dinner in my extended family, and this is a dinner that’s always so tasty!
More Recipes using Fish Sauce:
- Thai Cabbage Salad
- Stir-Fried Tofu with Eggplant
- Asian Broccoli Salad
- Sriracha Beef Cabbage Bowl
- Thai Eggplant and Zucchini Salad
- Vietnamese Chicken Salad with Cabbage
About Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks:
I purchased the Red Boat Fish Sauce myself and this company has no idea that I’m writing about their product. All items featured as Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks are things I happily buy over and over, and because I want readers to know that my opinions are completely unbiased, I don’t accept review products from the many companies who offer to send them to me. You can see the complete list of products I’ve chosen at Kalyn’s Kitchen Picks.
8 Comments on “Why I Love Red Boat Fish Sauce (and Recipes)”
Shirley, you're welcome, and I bet you will love it.
Kalyn, I was just given some of this sauce by Danielle Walker (Against All Grain) when she sent me her new cookbook to review. Now I have some more great recipes to sample it in! Thanks. 🙂
Shirley
Katie, hope you enjoy; I think it's really quite wonderful.
I love fish sauce when a recipe needs a little somethin-somethin. It really just makes everything a lot more interesting and as you put it umami. I haven't tried Red Boat, so now I'll have to give it a whirl!
Lydia, I really think you will like it!
Now I really have to try this, as I'm a confirmed Three Crabs user. I've been reading lots about it, too, and will see if my local Asian markets carry it.
Thanks Sam; I think you will really enjoy the Red Boat. It is just so tasty.
A bottle of fish sauce is always on my shelf and we use it but not as often as we should. Great round-up of dishes and you've given me some good ideas on how to use fish sauce more often. I will keep my eye out for Red Boat brand.
Sam