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Preparation
25 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
When mentioning the specialties of the southern river region, people often immediately think of catfish. And catfish braised in coconut water is one of the braised dishes that is very popular. Today, let’s join TasteVN in the kitchen to try this dish!
Ingredients for Braised Catfish in Coconut Water Serves 2
Catfish 300 gr Coconut water 200 ml Shallots 1/2 bulb Garlic 4 cloves Green onions 3 stalks Chili 4 pieces Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Coloring sauce 1 tablespoon (pre-prepared) Cooking oil 2 tablespoons Common spices a little (salt/MSG/seasoning powder/sugar)
How to Choose Fresh Catfish
- To choose fresh catfish, you should select fish that are free of deformities, have bright colors, a dark blue back, a silver-white belly, clear vertical stripes on the skin, bright red gills, and skin that is not scratched or slimy.
- If buying live fish, choose those that swim actively and react quickly to sounds and shadows.
- Avoid buying skinny fish, those with bulging eyes, sunken gills, swollen heads, skin that is slimy or has a strong fishy smell, or if the flesh feels soft and mushy because these are signs of spoilage and may not be safe for your health and your family’s.
How to cook braised catfish with coconut water
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Prepare the catfish
To clean the catfish, remove the internal organs, scrape off the scales, cut off the fins, and wash away the blood and the cloudy membrane inside the belly.
After cleaning the fish, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
How to prepare catfish to remove the sliminess and fishy smell:
- To get rid of the fishy smell of catfish, you can rinse it with a mixture of diluted salt water and a little lemon juice.
- After rinsing with the salt and lemon mixture, briefly blanch the fish in warm water.
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Marinate the catfish
First, I will add the spices to 300g of catfish.
The spices I will use to marinate the catfish include: 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of caramel sauce (pre-made).
After adding all the spices to a dish (bowl/jar,..), I will mix the spices well on both sides of the catfish pieces so that the fish can absorb the seasoning evenly.
Marinate the catfish for about 15 – 20 minutes before braising to allow the spices to deeply penetrate the catfish meat. This way, when braising, the fish will be more flavorful.
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Braised catfish
Take 3 stalks of green onions that have been prepared and cut them into pieces about 1cm long. Shallots and garlic should be smashed and minced.
Place a pot on the stove, add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil to the pot. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and shallots and sauté. While sautéing, stir well to ensure the garlic and shallots are evenly golden.
When you see the garlic and shallots turning golden, add the marinated catfish into the pot (along with the marinade).
Braised catfish for about 5 minutes until the water is almost evaporated. During the braising process, turn the catfish over 2 – 3 times to ensure the fish absorbs the flavors evenly.
Then, add 200ml of coconut water into the pot with the catfish. Skim off the foam that rises to the surface of the pot to ensure health safety.
When the pot of fish starts to boil, turn the pieces of fish once more and add chili to braise together. Reduce the heat to low so that the fish cooks slowly and the spices penetrate deeply into the fish meat.
After about 10 minutes, the catfish will reach the desired doneness. Add the chopped green onions and let it cook for another minute before turning off the heat.
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Finished Product
Catfish stewed in coconut water when cooked will have a uniform golden color, fragrant, and attractive smell. The fish meat is sweet, delicious, and fatty without being greasy. Catfish is best eaten hot with white rice, combined with fresh vegetables, boiled vegetables, or stir-fried vegetables for an absolutely wonderful meal!
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With the instructions above, TasteVN hopes you will successfully cook the catfish stewed in coconut water that is delicious, fatty, and very easy to make to enjoy with your family!
