No, “crying tiger” isn’t a sequel to the movie: Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, but it does pack a punch in the flavor department, though. And based on its literal translation, it is supposed to bring tears to your eyes, but you can cool it down by adding cucumbers. The sauce is frequently used as a marinade for grilling sirloin but isn’t limited to marinades. It works equally well as a dipping sauce or dressing. In fact, I prefer it as a dressing for a salad. On a bed of rice combined with lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, and cucumbers, the vibrant explosion of flavor distributes more evenly.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 tsp uncooked white or brown rice
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• 3 tablespoons fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped shallots
• 1 Tbsp finely chopped scallions
• 1 tsp cayenne
• 1 tsp palm or light brown sugar

Preparation:

In a dry skillet, toast rice on medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Transfer to spice mill and grind into a coarse powder.

In mixing bowl, combine all ingredients, cover, and refrigerate.