Dr. Dane's Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce: Tasty, Versatile & Hot!

Sa Tế is a traditional Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce, and in the Vietnamese city of Huế, they are well known for their use of strong flavors with chiles, fermented shrimp paste, and various sauces. Recently, I've been using a new Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce as a condiment and ingredient for a variety of dishes. It's tasty, versatile, hot and full of flavor. 

I received media samples of Dr. Dane’s Kitchen Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce, including their Vegan version. These sauces were created by Dr. Dane Hoang, a pediatric dentist in Texas, a first-generation immigrant who learned to prepared Vietnamese cuisine in her mother's kitchen. Working with her daughter Isabella, Dr. Hoang has produced a line of Vietnamese dipping sauces and chili sauces. 

The first chili sauce is the Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce (8 oz/$15), a Huế-style Mắm Ruốc Ớt Sã Sa Tế, which is made with chopped garlic, lemongrass, chili flakes, salted shrimp paste and Thai chili peppers. It's also 100% all-natural and gluten-free. without any GMOs, MSG, added preservatives. 

The second chili sauce is the Vegan version, a Huế-style Ớt Sã Sa Tế, which is made without the salted shrimp paste and adds flaked sea salt instead. 

Dr. Hoang states, “We prioritize flavor over everything and are excited to offer the first all-natural line of authentic Vietnamese lemongrass chili sauces. From top-to-bottom, every jar is rich and full of chopped garlic, red chili flakes and heat from Thai chili peppers that is well balanced by zesty lemongrass. It’s our take on the chili sauce craze – inspired by our native city of Huế – that motivated us to create a bold-tasting, crave-worthy condiment that is not overly oily, dried out or inedibly hot.” 

She has also stated, “The infused flavors from lemongrass, chili and fresh spices add a distinct personality, turning any dish into a thrilling and aromatic experience. We’re excited to offer this new line of sa tế that dares to cross all culinary boundaries to liven up dishes around the world.” 

I first tasted the two Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauces on their own, and the first version was spicy hot, with a complex blend of flavors, a pleasant lemongrass element, and lots of umami. Delicious and intriguing. The Vegan version had a similar complexity and fiery heat, but was lacking in umami, likely due to the omission of the shrimp paste. There's still plenty of flavor, but it is different from the original version. My preference was for the non-vegan version as I enjoyed the umami aspect, and believe it also enhances food better due to that aspect. 

The Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce is quite versatile and I've used it atop a variety of dishes, from onigiri (rice balls) to hamburgers. It was also delicious atop stuffed clams (pictured above) and salmon. You only need a small amount to add plenty of flavor and spicy heat. Just be wary that if you use too much, the heat level might be too great for you. Dr. Dane's Kitchen website also provides some recipes you can make with this sauce. You can simply use it as a condiment with almost any dish, or an ingredient to enhance almost any recipe. With summer coming, you could use it on grilled meats or seafood, atop salads, hotdogs, and more. Highly recommended!

In addition, a portion of the profits from the sales of the Chili sauces, and dipping sauces, benefit the Kids 4 Smiles organization and their work to improve communities, schools and the environment. Kids 4 Smiles partners with local and global non-profit organizations to raise awareness and funds for projects which will improve and change people’s lives and spread smiles along the way.

Put a Vietnamese spin on any dish, and enjoy this delicious Vietnamese Lemongrass Chili Sauce!