Mam Ruoc is Vietnamese fermented shrimp paste, a staple condiment in Southeast Asian cuisines. It can also be effectively used to disperse a crowd. You wouldn't expect this jar of pungent-smelling ground shrimp to taste any good, but it acts in the same as anchovy paste. A little goes a long way and once cooked with aromatics, the taste is surprisingly well-rounded, bringing tons of umami flavor to a dish.

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