On hot summer days, enjoying a sour soup that is refreshing is truly wonderful, isn’t it? Today, let’s get cooking with TasteVN and immediately prepare 2 delicious and appealing sour fish soup dishes to treat the whole family!
1. Sour fish soup with starfruit
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Ingredients for Sour fish soup with starfruit Serves 4
Fish 500 gr Green starfruit 300 gr Minced shallots 1/2 tablespoon Fresh onion 6 cloves (about 50gr) Basil 2 sprigs (about 20gr) Cooking oil 1.5 tablespoons Lemon juice a little Chili powder 2 teaspoons Fish sauce 1 teaspoon Common spices a little (sugar/salt/MSG/seasoning)
What is fresh onion? Where to buy fresh onion?
- Fresh onion, also known as bulb onion, is a type of vegetable belonging to the onion family, primarily distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- Fresh onion has a spicy, slightly sweet taste, a strong aroma, and is often used as a seasoning to enhance the flavor of dishes.
- You can find fresh onions at major supermarkets, farmers’ markets, or reputable large e-commerce sites.
How to make Sour Fish Soup with Pomelo
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Prepare and Marinate the Fish
To remove the slime and fishy smell, after purchasing the fish, use a knife to cut off the gills and fins, scrape off the scales, then gut it, removing the intestines and the bloodline along the spine.
Soak the fish in water mixed with a little salt and a bit of lemon juice for about 5 – 10 minutes, then take it out and let it drain.
Marinate the fish with 1 teaspoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of fish sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of minced shallots, and 1 teaspoon of chili powder. Mix well and let the fish absorb the spices for about 15 – 20 minutes.
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Prepare the Other Ingredients
Wash the pomelo thoroughly with water, using your hands to scrub the crevices of the pomelo for dirt. Use a knife to peel off the fibrous parts on each edge of the pomelo, then use a slicer to cut the pomelo into bite-sized strips.
Trim the roots of the shallots and wash them clean. Chop the shallot heads finely, and cut the shallot leaves into sections.
Pick the basil leaves, wash them clean, and then chop them finely.
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Sauté the fish
Heat a pan on the stove, add 1.5 tablespoons of cooking oil and heat it up, then add the chopped scallions and 1 teaspoon of chili powder to the pan to sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the marinated fish and sauté, stirring continuously over medium heat until the fish is cooked and firm.
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Cook the soup
Add 1.3 liters of hot water to the pan, then add 1 teaspoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of salt, stir well and bring to a boil.
Tip: You should use hot water to cook the soup instead of cold water, as this helps reduce cooking time and prevents the fish from falling apart due to overcooking.
When the water boils, add the green starfruit, cook for another 5 minutes until the water boils again, season to taste, then turn off the heat.
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Final product
Scoop the soup into a bowl or into a small earthen pot, sprinkle a little basil and chopped scallions on top, then decorate it nicely to complete.
With just a few very simple steps, you have a hot, delicious dish of sour fish soup with starfruit.
The soup is seasoned just right, refreshing, with the characteristic sweet and sour taste of starfruit, and the fish is tender but not mushy, still retaining its sweetness and flavor.
This dish goes well with rice and is served with a bowl of salty fish sauce, which will be fantastic! Let’s invite everyone to enjoy this soup right away.
2. Sour fish soup with sour bamboo shoots
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Preparation
15 minutes
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Cooking
30 minutes
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Difficulty level
Easy
Ingredients for Sour Fish Soup with Sour Bamboo Shoots Serves 4
Catfish 200 gr Pineapple 1/4 fruit (fragrant) Starfruit 2 fruits Tomato 2 fruits Sour bamboo shoots 100 gr Sour gourd 100 gr Shallots 2 bulbs Red chili 1 fruit Rice paddy herb/coriander a little Calamansi juice 2 tablespoons Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Fish sauce 1/2 tablespoon Shrimp paste 1 teaspoon Common seasoning a little (seasoning salt/sugar)
How to Choose Fresh Ingredients
How to choose crispy sour bamboo shoots
- You can choose whole bamboo shoots or thinly sliced bamboo shoots salted with garlic and chili according to your preference.
- When buying bamboo shoots, select those with a light yellow outer skin, a characteristic fragrant smell, and no surface scum.
- Additionally, the bamboo shoots should not be soaked in chemicals, should not be overly shiny, and should look unappealing.
- You should avoid choosing sour bamboo shoots that have a foul smell, an unusual outer skin color such as too white or brownish-yellow, or a surface with spots or being mushy.
- Moreover, if you have time, you can easily make your own sour bamboo shoots at home following the recipe from TasteVN.
How to choose fresh and delicious pineapples
- Choose pineapples that have a bright yellow color from the crown to the tail, with a few eyes that may be slightly green; these are ripe fruits that will be sweet and tasty. Round and short pineapples will have more flesh compared to long ones.
- Choose pineapples with large, sparse eyes as this indicates that the pineapple is mature and naturally ripe, without being treated with chemicals.
- You can try smelling the end of the fruit; if it has a fragrant scent, it’s a good idea to buy it. Additionally, avoid choosing fruits that have a slightly sour, fermented smell, as they are overripe.
- The greener the crown of the pineapple, the fresher it is. Overripe pineapples will have a dry or brownish crown.
- Choose fresh and delicious pineapples that are not too hard or too soft; when you press your finger into them, they should not feel indented.
See details: How to choose fresh and delicious pineapples
How to choose fresh and delicious tomatoes
- When purchasing tomatoes, observe and select those with shiny skin, not too large, and with the stem still firmly attached to the fruit.
- You should choose tomatoes that feel firm in your hand and have a light fragrant smell. Ripe and delicious tomatoes will have yellow seeds inside and bright red flesh.
- Avoid selecting bruised or scratched fruits, or those without stems. Do not choose overly large and soft tomatoes.
See details: How to choose fresh and delicious tomatoes
How to make Sour Fish Soup with Sour Bamboo Shoots
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Prepare the catfish
First, briefly blanch the catfish in boiling water mixed with a little salt for about 5 minutes, then scrape off the scales, cut off the fins, head, and clean out the intestines, including the blood vessels along the fish’s spine.
Wash the fish several times with water and then let it drain.
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Prepare other ingredients
For the pineapple, you can buy a whole pineapple and peel it yourself, removing the eyes, or you can buy one that is already peeled at the market or grocery stores.
Next, cut the pineapple into small, bite-sized pieces.
Simple tips for peeling pineapple
- First, cut the pineapple vertically from top to bottom into 4 equal parts.
- Continue to cut along the length of each piece of pineapple, stopping at the end and cutting hard to separate the flesh from the skin.
- Be careful not to cut too close to the skin to avoid leaving any eyes on the pineapple. Finally, cut it into smaller pieces as needed.
See details: 5 simple ways to peel pineapple quickly and easily
If you choose types of bamboo shoots and squash that are quite sour, after purchasing, you need to rinse them several times with water, then squeeze them well to reduce the sourness. For types of bamboo shoots and squash that are less sour, you only need to squeeze out the excess water.
Wash the starfruit thoroughly. Use a knife to peel the fibrous part on each side of the starfruit, then slice it into strips. Wash the tomatoes, and cut them into wedges.
Herbs like rice paddy herb and sawtooth coriander should be washed thoroughly and then chopped. Peel and slice the shallots thinly.
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Stir-frying the ingredients
Heat a pan on the stove, add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil and heat it, then add the shallots and sauté until fragrant.
Next, add the fish, sour bamboo shoots, sour squash, pineapple, and tomatoes, and stir-fry over medium heat for about 5 minutes until the ingredients are well combined.
Tip: Stir-frying the fish and other ingredients first with sautéed shallots helps reduce the fishy smell while shortening the cooking time.
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Cooking the soup
Next, add 1 liter of water to the pan, then add 1 teaspoon of seasoning, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 teaspoon of fermented shrimp paste, and 2 tablespoons of calamansi juice.
Stir well and bring the water in the pan to a boil, then taste and adjust the seasoning to your liking before turning off the heat.
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Final product
The sour fish soup with sour bamboo shoots after completion has an extremely attractive color and flavor. The broth is sour and sweet, rich in taste, the fish meat is tender, sweet, fragrant, fatty, and not fishy, while the sour bamboo shoots are crunchy combined with juicy pineapple and tomatoes.
This soup is great served with a bowl of white rice or fresh noodles and dipped in a bit of chili fish sauce!
What is catfish?
- Catfish is known as a type of smooth-skinned fish, with a flat head and three sharp spines. For this reason, people have named it catfish.
- Catfish can live in various environments. From freshwater, brackish water to saltwater, catfish can adapt very quickly.
- Thanks to its abundant nutrients like fats, proteins,… besides stewed dishes, fried dishes,… catfish is also favored by women to be included in the list of porridge for children.
How to choose fresh and delicious catfish
- Live fish always brings the best flavor. Therefore, choose catfish that swim well, with clear eyes that clearly show the pupils. Do not choose those with bloated bodies, swimming weakly and having pale colors.
- When pressing on the flesh, it should feel firm, not soft and has good elasticity like rubber.
- Delicious catfish will have a cherry color, while those with dark brown or cloudy colors indicate that the fish has spoiled. Additionally, avoid choosing those with a strong fishy smell as they have been stored for too long.
Effective ways to remove the fishy smell of catfish
- Method 1: Soak the fish in rice water for 15 – 20 minutes to eliminate the fishy smell.
- Method 2: Another common method is to wash or rub salt on the fish’s body.
- Method 3: Additionally, soaking the fish in alcohol or white vinegar for 5 minutes is also very effective in removing the fishy smell.
- Method 4: Furthermore, you can use smashed ginger and soak it in water with the fish for 5 minutes.
- Method 5: A simpler method is to use lemon juice mixed with warm water, then soak the fish for 5 – 7 minutes.
How to choose fresh and delicious star fruit
- Delicious fresh star fruit is fruit that has no bruised wings or any dark, bruised spots on the surface. When held, it feels firm and not too light.
- To make dishes with a mild sour taste, while keeping the star fruit crispy and delicious, you should choose to buy green or slightly ripe star fruit.
- Limit buying overly ripe star fruit as it can easily become mushy when cooked, affecting the flavor of the dish.
See more:
So TasteVN has shared with you 2 ways to cook sour soup with eel that is delicious, refreshing, and easy to make at home. We hope this recipe will help you add more delicious dishes to your diverse menu. Wish you success!
