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Preparation
10 minutes
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Cooking
20 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Mixed salads are always essential in special family meals. Today, the Cooking section of TasteVN will guide you to make the bitter leaf salad with dried snakehead fish, guaranteed to impress everyone. Let’s get cooking and start right away!
Ingredients for Bitter Leaf Salad with Dried Snakehead Fish For 3 people
Young bitter leaf shoots 500 gr Dried snakehead fish 1 fish Tomatoes 2 fruits Cucumbers 2 fruits Chili 1 fruit Garlic 2 cloves Tamarind juice 2 tablespoons Fish sauce 2 tablespoons Sugar 2 tablespoons
How to Choose Good Ingredients
How to choose good dried snakehead fish
- Dried snakehead fish that is smoked will usually be tastier and more hygienic than those that are sun-dried.
- Choose fish that have a fragrant smell and a natural brown color, evenly colored.
- Do not buy fish that have a fishy or unpleasant odor.
- Fish that are too dry or have unnatural colors with uneven shades should also be avoided as they may have been dyed.
- If you have time, you can also refer to a simple method to make dried snakehead fish at home with a recipe from Dien May Xanh.
How to choose good cucumbers that are not bitter
- Choose cucumbers that have a uniform green color, without yellow spots or bruises, as these are likely to have been sprayed with pesticides or are old and about to spoil.
- It is recommended to choose cucumbers that are slender and elongated, as they will have a firmer texture and crunchier taste compared to round and short cucumbers.
- Avoid buying cucumbers that are crooked, have many bumps on the skin, or show signs of rot.
How to choose fresh tomatoes
- When choosing tomatoes, observe and select those with shiny skin, not too large, and with the stem still firmly attached to the fruit.
- You should choose tomatoes that feel firm in hand and have a light fragrant smell. Good ripe tomatoes will have yellow seeds inside and bright red flesh.
- Avoid choosing bruised or scratched tomatoes, or those without stems. Do not choose overly large and soft tomatoes.
Where to buy Sầu Đâu shoots?
- Sầu Đâu shoots are often sold in many markets in the western provinces around October to March of the lunar calendar.
- In addition, you can still purchase Sầu Đâu leaves on e-commerce sites for about 150,000 VND/kg (price updated on 11/03/2021).
Required tools
How to prepare Gỏi sầu đâu khô cá lóc
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Prepare the ingredients
Wash the Sầu Đâu shoots thoroughly, then blanch them in boiling water to reduce the bitterness. After that, drain and remove the leaves.
Wash 2 tomatoes and 2 cucumbers very clean. Slice the tomatoes thinly and cut the cucumbers in half, then slice them thinly.
Wash 1 chili and 2 cloves of garlic with water, then peel the garlic and chop the garlic and chili together finely.
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Grilling dried fish
Place the grill on the stove, put the fish on, and turn it evenly on all sides until the catfish is cooked through and turns golden brown with a fragrant aroma, then take the fish out.
Tip: You can use a grill to make grilling the fish easier.
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Making fish sauce
In a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of sugar, 2 tablespoons of fish sauce, and 2 tablespoons of tamarind juice to mix well with the minced garlic and chili. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens.
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Mixing the salad
Add all the bitter leaves, tomatoes, and cucumbers into a bowl. Use your hands to tear the dried catfish into small pieces and add them to the salad, mixing well.
Pour 4 tablespoons of tamarind fish sauce over the salad and mix so that the seasoning is evenly absorbed, and it’s done.
Tip: You can adjust the amount of tamarind fish sauce added to the salad to suit your family’s taste.
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Final Product
The salad has the salty taste of dried snakehead fish, the sweet and sour taste of fish sauce with tamarind, and especially the bitterness of the bitter melon leaves, ensuring that it will evoke fond memories of the beloved countryside. Wishing you success with this dish!
Information about the neem tree
- Neem tree is a tall and straight tree, not picky about soil, easy to grow.
- The leaves of the neem tree are green, bitter in taste, sweet in aftertaste, and cool in nature, while the flowers are less bitter and fragrant.
- Neem leaves have been scientifically proven to be effective in preventing and treating diseases. Since ancient times, Indians have used neem leaves as medicine to lower blood sugar, reduce inflammation, fight cancer, and have antibacterial and antifungal properties, as well as treat malaria.
- In addition, neem leaves also have the effect of antioxidant cellular activity and resist agents that cause gene mutations or cancer and can treat diseases such as diabetes, scabies, etc.
- Every year, around October to January of the lunar calendar, the neem tree begins to shed leaves and bloom. Locals often pick neem leaves (young shoots along with flower buds) to enjoy. Over time, it has become an indispensable ingredient in the delicious salad of the Southwestern people.
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Above is a detailed guide on how to make gỏi sầu đâu khô cá lóc, a delicious and appealing dish. We hope that with the recipe shared by TasteVN, you will successfully make this dish and enjoy really tasty meals!
*Refer to the images and recipe from the YouTube channel Vegan cooking
