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Preparation
30 minutes
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Cooking
40 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
The meals on hot summer days will become much more delicious with the flavorful braised snakehead fish dish. Let’s get cooking with TasteVN to discover the recipe for this incredibly tasty braised dish!
Ingredients for Braised Snakehead Fish Serves 3 people
Snakehead fish 500 gr (also known as ca loc) Chili 2 pieces Turmeric 1 root Shallots 2 bulbs Ginger 1 root Dill 2 sprigs Spring onions 2 sprigs Cooking oil 1 tablespoon Molasses 1 teaspoon Sugar 1.5 tablespoons Green pepper a little (1 bunch) Fish sauce a little Ground pepper a little
How to choose fresh and delicious snakehead fish
- You should choose fish that are of moderate size, with a slim and long body, scales that are firmly attached to the body, and if you press lightly with your hand and feel the body is firm, these will be fresh snakehead fish.
- Additionally, you can observe the fish’s anus to determine if it is still fresh. Fresh fish have a small anus, while larger ones indicate that the fish is dead, about to spoil, and sometimes treated with chemicals.
- Avoid choosing snakehead fish that have unusual colors, are pale green, feel soft and mushy to the touch, have cloudy eyes, and emit a foul smell as these are fish that have been kept for too long and may be dead, spoiled, or treated with chemicals.
How to cook Braised Snakehead Fish
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Prepare the fish
500g of snakehead fish after purchasing should be cleaned with water and cut into bite-sized pieces.
Tip: To make it easier to prepare the fish, you can ask the seller to gut and cut the snakehead fish, then just rinse it clean with water at home.
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Marinate the fish
Next, you move on to caramelizing sugar to marinate the fish. Place a pot on the stove, add sugar and water in a 1:1 ratio and bring to a boil, stirring well to dissolve the sugar evenly.
When the mixture turns a light brown color, add a little more water and continue stirring until it reaches a caramel color, then turn off the heat.
Add the fish to the pot of caramelized sugar, then slice 2 chili peppers, 1 piece of turmeric, 2 shallots, and 1 piece of ginger to marinate with the fish, along with a bunch of green pepper (keep the whole bunch intact, do not separate the grains).
Season the pot with 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, 1 teaspoon of molasses, and a little fish sauce, ground pepper to taste, then marinate the fish for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.
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Braised fish
After marinating the fish, place a pot on the stove and simmer over medium heat for about 5 minutes, then add enough water to just cover the fish.
Reduce the heat and continue to braise the fish for about 20 – 30 minutes, occasionally flipping the fish to ensure both sides cook evenly and absorb the seasoning.
When you see the braised fish is nearly dry, chop some dill and green onions and add them to the pot, simmer for another minute, then turn off the heat and serve on a plate.
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Final product
The braised snakehead fish dish when completed has a beautiful dark brown color, thick braising sauce, and a very appealing aroma of spices.
When tasting, the fish meat is tender, has a natural sweetness, and is richly flavored, with a moderate spiciness and saltiness that pairs well with hot rice.
Hope that through this article, you have grasped the steps to make the dish fish stew delicious and rich in flavor to make your family’s daily meals more special. Let’s get into the kitchen and showcase your skills to treat your family right away. Wishing you success!
