Crispy Fried Catfish with Rich Tomato Sauce – Simple and Delicious for Rice

How to prepare Crispy Fried Snakehead Fish with Tomato Sauce

• 1

  Prepare the snakehead fish

  After purchasing the snakehead fish, cut off the fins, gills, and clean out the intestines, then cut into bite-sized pieces.

  Tip:

  To prevent the snakehead fish from being fishy and to remove the muddy smell, soak the fish in a bowl of water with half a lemon and 1 teaspoon of salt. Moreover, soaking the fish in the lemon and salt mixture will help the fish absorb the seasoning better.

  

  
• 2

  Prepare other ingredients

  Soak the wood ear mushrooms in water for about 30 – 60 minutes to allow them to expand, cut off the stems, and rinse well with water, then drain and cut into bite-sized pieces.

  Peel the onion, remove the yellow outer layer, and cut into wedges. For the scallions, crush the roots and chop finely. Cut the scallion leaves into diagonal pieces.

  Tip:

  • Do not soak the wood ear mushrooms in hot water as this will cause the mushrooms to produce harmful toxins.
  • Avoid using wood ear mushrooms that have been soaked for too long as they may have generated many harmful substances.

  

  

  
• 3

  Make tomato sauce

  Place a pan on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of annatto oil, 30g of minced garlic, and scallion roots, and sauté until fragrant.

  Add 50g of chopped tomatoes and mix well, then add 2 teaspoons of sugar, 1 cup of filtered water, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and 2 tablespoons of chili sauce, and mix well.

  Add the onion and wood ear mushrooms first for about 1 minute, then add the scallions and stir well before turning off the heat.

  
• 4

  Fry the fish

  Place the fish in a bowl and coat evenly with a packet of crispy frying powder.

  Heat oil in a pan, once hot, add the fish and fry until submerged, turning the fish frequently until all sides are golden, then remove and place on paper towels to absorb the oil.

  Tip for frying crispy fish without oil splatter

  To fry fish deliciously and prevent oil splatter, the fish should be as dry as possible before frying. Before frying the fish, add a pinch of salt and a few drops of lemon juice to the oil, as salt helps prevent splattering and lemon helps the fish become crispier and tastier.

  

  
• 5

  Final Product

  Plate the sauce, then place the fish on top, drizzling a little more sauce over the fish. Garnish with a few sprigs of cilantro and some slices of chili, and the dish is complete.

  The fish is crispy on the outside and tender and rich on the inside, combined with a lightly tangy and flavorful tomato sauce, bringing a refreshing feeling to the family meal.