Muối Ớt Xanh Sauce (Vietnamese Green Seafood Sauce)

Muối Ớt Xanh green sauce is perfect for dipping seafood or grilled meats. Also known as Vietnamese green seafood sauce is a slightly sweet yet refreshing sauce. It has lime leaves, condensed milk, lime juice, sugar and salt. This combination of ingredients will surely give any seafood a pop of insane flavor. Let’s check out this easy recipe!

Anytime I think of a nice dipping sauce for cooked shrimp or seafood the first sauce that pops up is shrimp cocktail sauce. The red sauce is commonly known as the one sauce for parties and get-togethers that is placed neatly in the center of a shrimp cocktail ring. Shrimp cocktail has ketchup, mild chili sauce, horseradish, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce.

This Vietnamese seafood dipping sauce has very similar ingredients but this green sauce is sweet and refreshing compared to shrimp cocktail sauce. The contrast in color and taste will surely make you want to have this sauce available when you host a party.

Why we love this recipe

Everyone will enjoy it. This sauce is actually not spicy. I use green chili peppers which are not spicy compared to green Thai chili peppers. This sauce can be enjoyed by everyone since its not spicy. 

Easy to adjust. This recipe can be easily adjusted to make a spicy Muoi Ot Xanh sauce by swapping out the green chili peppers and use Thai green chili peppers.

Why make this?

Substitute for shrimp cocktail sauce. Want to be different and bring a completely new dipping sauce for the party you are hosting? This Vietnamese green dipping sauce pairs well with cocktail shrimp. 

Quick and easy recipe. This can be made in under 10 minutes. Chop up the green bell peppers and green chilli peppers and blend until it’s smooth or has a little pulp. The most time-consuming part is juicing the limes.

What is Muoi Ot Xanh?

Muoi Ot xanh is a sauce that is used commonly to dip seafood and grilled meats. It originated from Vietnam and is a great sauce that can be easy made when fresh seafood is caught from the waters. Try my Vietnamese Chili Salt recipe if you want a dry dip that’s great for fruit.

What does it taste like?

This recipe is a citrusy sweet flavor combined with the lime juice it adds a nice acidic kick to any foods you dip with. The green peppers are slightly bitter and grassy but the sugar and sweetened condensed milk adds a nice balance of sweetness to the sauce. Overall this sauce is a great pairing for and seafood from shrimp cocktail, grilled prawns, calamari, lobster or fish.

Ingredients, Substitutions and Adjustments

green chili peppers. For this recipe, I used green chili peppers. They are long and you can typical find them beside the thai chili peppers at Asian grocery store in the fresh produce section. If you want a bit of a kick substitute with Thai chili peppers to get the spiciness. Make sure to de-seed them so you don’t have the pepper seeds

green bell pepper. The green bell peppers will give the sauce a bright green color. 

lime juice. Using freshly squeezed lime juice will give a stronger citrus flavor. However if you have ready to use lime juice you can use that instead. 

granulated white sugar. Adds sweetness to the sauce. Adjust to your preference. If you would like ti sweeter add more. Substitute with brown sugar.

salt. Elevates all the flavors of the ingreidents.

lime leaves. The lime leaves are an aromatic Asian leaf. It will add a citrus flavor to the dipping sauce. If you don’t have lime leaves the best optin is to zest the lime before juice and adding the zest from 1 lime.

sweetened condensed milk. Condensed milk will add a sweet and milky flavor. If you don’t have condensed milk you can increase the amount of sugar and add 2 tbsp of milk. 

Equipment

Food processor. I use a food processor and pulse until it’s smooth as possible. I use my KitchenAid food processor.

Blender. The blender will blend the dipping sauce until it’s smooth. However, I do like a bit of pulp to add texture to my dipping sauce.

How to make this recipe

Wash and deseed the green chili peppers and the green bell pepper. Set aside

Cut the limes in half and juice. Set a side

Toss all the ingredients into a blender or food processor. Blend until smooth.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour so its nice and cold.

Enjoy with your favorite seafood or add it to your grilled meats

Success Tips to make the best Muoi Ot Xanh Sauce

Use fresh lime juice. Freshly squeezed lime juice can’t be beat and it does make a difference in the flavor of the dipping sauce. 

Chill. When I use this to dip seafood it’s best to refrigerate for at least 1 hour before consuming. Especially when using this as a substitute for shrimp cocktail dip having it chilled will make eating the shrimp for enjoyable.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make this spicy?

Yes, substitute this with Thai green Chilis. It will add a nice kick to the sauce.

How to serve

I love these replace these with shrimp cocktail sauce. Use it to dip your favorite seafood like shrimp. I’ve also use it to dip in my grilled meats like my Air Fryer Char Siu Pork Chops or Air fryer Vietnamese Chicken Wings.

This sauce is perfect for BBQ meats and dipping with any seafood like lobster, crab, fish and squid.

How to store

This can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 

I love these replace these with shrimp cocktail sauce. Use it to dip your favorite seafood like shrimp. I’ve also use it to dip in my grilled meats like my air fryer char siu pork chops, Air fryer Vietnamese Chicken Wings

This sauce is perfect for BBQ meats and dipping with any seafood like lobster, crab, fish and squid.

How to store

This can be stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week. 

If you make this recipe, and like it, please give it a rating in the recipe card below and let us know in the comments at the end of the post.

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