Preparation
20 minutes
Cooking
50 minutes
Difficulty
Easy
Dishes made from carp have long been a familiar food for the Vietnamese people, with meat that is not only delicious and sweet but also extremely nutritious. Cooking with TasteVN and immediately make this braised dish which is simple yet eye-catching and delicious!
Ingredients for Braised Carp with Turmeric For 4 people
Carp 1 fish (about 1.5kg) Fresh turmeric 2 bulbs Shallots 100 gr (small onions) Pork fat 50 gr Turmeric leaves 5 pieces Chili 1/2 fruit Lemon 1 fruit Molasses 3 tablespoons (optional) Fermented soy sauce 1/2 cup (rice bowl type) Korean chili powder 1 teaspoon Cooking oil 4 tablespoons Common spices a little (salt/ seasoning/ pepper)
How to choose fresh ingredients
How to choose fresh carp
- To obtain fresh carp, you should look for live fish to easily observe their shape and swimming style.
- Fresh carp usually has a slightly elongated body, not too round. The swimming style of the fish is flexible and agile. The fish’s fins are dark in color, and the meat is thick and firm throughout the body when you hold it.
- Avoid buying carp that has a fishy smell, is bloated, or has deformities. Fish showing these signs are often dead and do not ensure freshness for cooking.
How to choose fresh turmeric
- When choosing fresh turmeric, you should select tubers that are intact, with thin skin and a certain firmness when pressed with your hand.
- If buying previously peeled turmeric, pay attention to the color of the turmeric’s flesh. For regular turmeric, the flesh should be bright yellow, while for red turmeric, the flesh will have a deep orange-red color.
- Avoid buying turmeric tubers that are too young or too old, especially those that are misshapen or show signs of pests.
What is shallot? Where to buy shallot?
- Shallots, also known as scallions, are a type of plant belonging to the onion family, mainly distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America.
- Shallots have a spicy, slightly sweet taste, with a strong aromatic smell, and are often used as a seasoning to add flavor in dishes.
- You can find shallots at large supermarkets, farmers’ markets, or reputable e-commerce sites.
How to prepare Braised Carp with Turmeric
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Prepare the ingredients
After purchasing, clean the carp by scaling and gutting it to remove all the gills. If the fish has roe, set the roe aside in a bowl. You can eliminate the fishy smell by rubbing lemon on all parts of the fish, then rinse it with clean water.
Next, cut the carp into pieces about 2.5 finger widths long. Then, cut each piece in half and let them drain.
After separating the turmeric, wash it along with the bulb onion. Next, pound the two ingredients together with half a horn chili.
Wash the pork fat, let it drain, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. After washing the fresh turmeric with water, chop it finely and set it aside on a plate.
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Marinate the fish
Put the fish in a container, pour all the crushed mixture in. Continue to add 1/2 cup of fermented soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of sugar (or molasses), 1 teaspoon of Korean chili powder, 1 teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon of salt.
Then mix well and let the fish absorb the seasoning for 20 minutes.
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Fish Stew
Place a pan on the stove and add 4 tablespoons of cooking oil. Once the oil is hot, add the pork fat and stir until it turns golden, then remove it to drain the oil.
Continue by placing a pot on the stove, arrange the fish slices neatly, and pour all the marinating liquid into the pot. Next, add the fish roe (if available) and pour in hot water (or fresh coconut water) to just cover the fish.
Evenly spread the fried pork fat on the surface of the fish; depending on your and your family’s preferences, you can measure the amount of pork fat added accordingly.
Cover the pot and stew the fish on high heat for 5 minutes. Note not to flip the fish to avoid breaking it apart. Continue to stew the fish on low heat for 20 to 30 minutes for even cooking.
After that, open the lid and use a spoon to drizzle the boiling stew liquid over the fish surface to let the fish absorb the flavors evenly. Spread fresh turmeric leaves along with a few slices of chili and a little pepper on the fish surface to enhance the aroma and make the dish more visually appealing.
Cover the lid again and continue stewing for another 10 minutes. To make the dish even more delicious, turn off the heat and wait for the fish to cool down before stewing it for a second time. This time, stew on high heat until the fish boils, then reduce to low heat for 10 minutes before turning off the heat.
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Final Product
Carp braised with turmeric features hot, tender, and sweet fish, with an eye-catching braising sauce that is rich and carries the distinctive aroma of fresh turmeric and galangal, combined with crispy pork fat. All flavors are evenly absorbed, making it incredibly appetizing.
You can enjoy it with boiled amaranth or boiled water spinach, dipping it in the braised fish sauce along with a few slices of chili to enhance the flavor of the meal. Get into the kitchen right away and prepare this simple yet nutritious and delicious dish!
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We hope that with the recipe for braised carp with turmeric that TasteVN shares with you, your daily menu can become more diverse and attractive. Get into the kitchen and make this simple yet equally delicious dish to treat your friends and family right away!
