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Preparation
20 minutes
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Cooking
15 minutes
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Difficulty
Easy
Snakehead fish not only has a variety of names but is also a popular food among people throughout Vietnam. Today, let’s join TasteVN cooking in the Southwestern style to prepare a steamed dish using snakehead fish and fresh, aromatic rice paddy herbs to enjoy with family! Let’s go!
Ingredients for Steamed Snakehead Fish with Rice Paddy Herbs Serves 5
Snakehead fish 1 fish Rice paddy herbs 400 gr (rau om) Shallots 100 gr Seasoning powder 3 teaspoons Sugar/salt a little
How to Choose Fresh Ingredients
How to Choose Fresh Snakehead Fish
- You should choose snakehead fish that are long and slender, with clear eyes, thick, firm flesh, and good elasticity.
- One way to check the firmness of the fish is to gently press your finger on its body. If the flesh leaves a small dent and quickly returns to its original state, then it is likely still fresh.
- Avoid buying fish that have mushy, flaky flesh, are slimy, and have a foul smell as these are spoiled. The flesh may contain many compounds harmful to human health.
How to choose fresh, delicious knotweed
- Knotweed (also known as “rau om”) is a type of herbaceous plant with a hollow stem, covered in many hairs, typically growing about 20cm tall. The leaves of the knotweed grow oppositely, are quite short, and almost hug the stem.
- There are two types of knotweed: two-leaf knotweed (growing oppositely) and three-leaf knotweed (growing in whorls), both having the same flavor.
- Due to its very distinct aroma, knotweed is often used as a seasoning herb for dishes, especially soups and steamed foods.
- When choosing knotweed, you should select young branches with vibrant green stems.
- Avoid buying knotweed with yellowing stems and leaves, bruised, or showing signs of pests and diseases.
How to prepare steamed snakehead fish with knotweed
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Prepare and marinate the snakehead fish
After purchasing the snakehead fish, scale it, cut off the fins and tail, then gut it to remove all the entrails.
Next, rub salt onto the head and body of the fish. Massage the fish for 1 – 2 minutes, then rinse it with clean water to eliminate the fishy smell.
Then, cut the fish into even slices about 2 finger widths long, place it in a bowl, and add a few bulbs of shallots to enhance the flavor of the fish.
Season the fish with 1 teaspoon of salt, 3 teaspoons of seasoning powder, and 5 teaspoons of sugar.
After that, mix well and let the fish absorb the seasoning for 30 minutes.
How to prepare snakehead fish without a fishy smell:
- Another way to remove the fishy smell from the snakehead fish is to soak it in warm water mixed with lemon juice or a little white wine for 3 – 5 minutes.
- Once the soaking time is over, massage the soaking liquid over the entire head, body, and tail of the fish again, then rinse the fish with clean water.
- After that, let the fish drain and you can proceed to cook the dish.
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Prepare rice paddy herb
After buying rice paddy herb, you trim the leaves to about half and cut the tips to a length of about 2 finger joints.
You wash the rice paddy herb several times with clean water and let it drain.
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Steam the fish
You place the fish in a pot, then cover it and turn on the stove to steam the fish.
When the fish starts boiling, you taste it and can adjust the seasoning to suit your and your family’s taste.
Next, you turn off the stove and place the rice paddy herb in the pot to maintain the crispness of the herb and reduce its bitterness.
Then, you cover it again and wait for another 3 minutes before transferring the fish to a plate and prepare to enjoy.
Final Product
Steamed Snakehead Fish with Rice Herb features tender, chewy fish seasoned just right for the taste of the Southern people, combined with fresh rice herb and nutritious bulbous garlic. This truly is a rustic dish that is incredibly nutritious, isn’t it?
If you find this dish intriguing, don’t hesitate to head to the kitchen and try out these 3 simple steps to learn a delicious and rich dish from the gentle, simple Southern cuisine!
See more:
With just 3 simple steps, you can have a delicious and nutritious pot of steamed snakehead fish with knotweed that is rich in flavor and characteristic of the Southwestern region. I hope that the recipe TasteVN shares with you will make your family’s meals more special and appealing. Get into the kitchen and try this unique “secret” right away! Wishing you success!
