2 tablespoon sugar, or 3 to 4 tablespoons pure maple syrup 3 tablespoon fresh lime juice ½ cup warm water, or as needed 2 teaspoon unseasoned Japanese rice vinegar (optional) 3 tablespoon fish sauce 1 large clove garlic, minced 1 Thai or serrano chiles, thinly sliced (with seeds); or 2 or 3 tsp. chile garlic sauce (optional)
