How to Cook Sour Snakehead Fish Soup with Mom’s Perfect Recipe, Exquisitely Delicious

Prepare the snakehead fish

After slaughtering the snakehead fish, use salt to rub all over the fish, then rinse it twice with clean water and use a knife to cut it into bite-sized pieces about 1.5 finger lengths long.

Next, place the cut fish into a bowl along with 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1/2 tablespoon of seasoning powder, and 1/2 tablespoon of pepper, then use a spoon to mix well so that the seasonings dissolve and marinate for about 15 minutes for the fish to absorb the spices.

Prepare accompanying vegetables

Pineapple should be peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces. Tomatoes should be washed and cut into small wedges.

Bean sprouts should be rinsed twice with water. Culantro and Vietnamese coriander should be washed and chopped finely.

For okra, simply wash it, remove the ends, and cut it diagonally. For peppermint, peel off the outer layer and also cut it diagonally like okra.

Cook tamarind juice

To extract tamarind juice, you mix tamarind with 1 tablespoon of warm water at about 60 degrees Celsius in a bowl, then use a spoon to mash it evenly until the tamarind flesh softens.

Next, you boil 1 liter of water until it is simmering, then add the softened tamarind, mix well, and cook until the water boils.

Cook the soup

After the tamarind juice is boiled, you add the snakehead fish and cook for about 10 minutes, then use a spoon to skim off the foam from the soup and add tomatoes, pineapple, okra, bean sprouts, and mint.

Mix well and then add another tablespoon of sugar to the pot, cook until it boils again, season to taste, then turn off the heat, ladle into bowls, and sprinkle a little Vietnamese coriander and cilantro on top to finish.

Final Product

The sour snakehead fish soup will have an enticing aroma once completed. When eating, you will feel the sourness of tamarind and tomatoes blended with the sweetness of snakehead fish meat and the light sourness of pineapple.

Enjoy it with white rice or fresh noodles dipped in a bowl of salty fish sauce, and oh my, it’s delicious beyond compare!

Prepare the ingredients

Clean the fish, then rinse with clean water and let it drain. Rinse the bean sprouts twice with water. After peeling, cut the pineapple into bite-sized strips.

Wash the okra, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs and let them drain. Cut the okra diagonally, the tomatoes into wedges, and chop the aromatic herbs finely.

Finally, wash the kumquats, cut them in half, squeeze out the juice, and remove the seeds. Peel the garlic and shallots, and mince them. Slice the chili.

Sauté the pineapple

First, you place the pot on the stove, wait until the pot is hot, then add 1 teaspoon of cooking oil along with minced garlic and onion, and sauté until fragrant.

Next, add shredded pineapple, stir well over high heat for about 1 minute, then add 3 tablespoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, 1/2 teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, 1/2 teaspoon of seasoning powder, and 1 teaspoon of fish sauce.

Stir thoroughly with the pineapple until the pineapple absorbs the spices and thickens.

Cook the soup

After sautéing until the pineapple thickens, add 500ml of filtered water, then cook until the water is gently boiling, add the fish head and cook for about 15 minutes until the fish head is cooked.

Use a spoon to skim off the foam in the pot, then add lime juice, bean sprouts, and tomatoes, cooking for another 2 minutes until the tomatoes and bean sprouts are cooked. You just need to adjust the seasoning to your taste, squeeze the lime juice, and then turn off the heat.

Serve in a bowl adding chopped herbs and sliced chili for your own decoration style, and present it on a platter to enjoy.

Finished Product

The sour fish soup when cooked will have an appealing aroma that spreads through the hot, rising steam.

Tasting a little, we can feel the tender, delicious, firm flesh of the snakehead fish combined with the broth that is rich in sour and sweet flavors, seasoned with a harmonious touch.

This is guaranteed to be a delicious soup for you to cook and add more appeal to your family meal!