The use of PATIS (Fish Sauce)..
By raijin
@raijin (10345)
Philippines
February 6, 2007 9:55am CST
Most filipinos use this as a good substitute for salt, actually I only use salt for frying. Fish Sauce is a fermented fish use mostly in countries around South East Asia. In the Philippines it is a by-product of bagoong, which is also known as fish paste. I think Vietnam also have something similar to our very own PATIS, it's called Nuoc Mam. It has a strong fish taste that foreigners found this smell very strange and unusual to them. But believe me, this is really a good condiments and can be added to soups, porridge, casseroles and stews.
Any foreigners, especially westerners here that is familiar to Patis? What's your experience? Have you tried using this on some of your dishes?=)
2 people like this
6 responses
@GardenGerty (162036)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I am not familiar with this. Does it provide some of the same nutritional boosts as eating fish, or is it too processed to do that? Is it used kind of like soy sauce? I like fish, and seafood. I hope I get to try it sometime.
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
7 Feb 07
hello gardengerty. i have searched this site so you can understand patis more:
source link: http://www.ochef.com/60.htm
and it says: Fish sauce is a Southeast Asian staple, made by fermenting small, whole fish in brine, drawing off the liquid, and steeping that in the sunlight before it is bottled. In Vietnam, it is called nuoc nam, in Thailand, nam pla, and in the Philippines, patis. It has a very pungent, salty taste, and is an essential ingredient in many dishes in these and neighboring countries.
Fish sauce is also used as a condiment, and plays a broad role similar to that of soy sauce in Chinese and Japanese kitchens. Different varieties of fish sauce are available in most Asian markets, as well as online.
and yep, you should try it sometime!
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
7 Feb 07
Hi GardenGerty!;)
I suggest you try fish sauce, it is good and nutritious when used properly. Fish sauce has a salty taste and too much use of it can also not be good for our health.
Thanks for giving more info, maryannemax. You're such a good friend to have!;)
@mari61960 (4893)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I've heard of it and seen it in the store, but I never knew what you were supposed to do with it. So thank you for the information. I wish I knew someone who used it so I could give it a try. I'm not sure what to do with it if I bought it myself. I may have had it in a dish out at a restaurant without even knowing it..I just thought of that..lol Thanks again my friend.
1 person likes this
@maryannemax (12156)
• Sweden
7 Feb 07
i like patis especially when poured a little amount of it over my palabok! it makes the taste of palabok (rice noodles with a special sauce) really irresistable!
i dip fried fish and pork in a patis and lemon mix.
@rjbass (1422)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I am very familiar with patis and while I like the taste when blended and cooked in food, I don't like the smell.
Like in most Filipino dishes, it is added as a flavor and substitute for salt and this is ok, but many Vietnamese dishes serve it on the side in a small dish and I always have to place it on the other side of the table.
Another ingredient that I feel the same way about is bagoong.
1 person likes this
