Braised Fish

#fish #braised
Braised Fish (Cá Kho)

Braised fish is a traditional dish in many cuisines, especially popular in Vietnamese cuisine. It is made by simmering fish with fish sauce, sugar, pepper, garlic, shallots, and other ingredients to create a rich, flavorful dish. Here’s a simple yet delicious recipe for braised fish:

Ingredients:

500g fish (such as basa, snakehead fish, mackerel, or carp)

2 tablespoons fish sauce

1 tablespoon sugar (or caramel sauce)

½ teaspoon black pepper

1 tablespoon cooking oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 shallot, minced

1 chili (optional)

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup fresh coconut water (or plain water)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the fish: Clean the fish, cut it into appropriate pieces, and rinse with salt water to remove any fishy smell.

2. Marinate the fish: Place the fish in a bowl and marinate it with fish sauce, pepper, sugar, garlic, and shallots. Let it sit for about 20-30 minutes for the flavors to absorb.

3. Make caramel sauce: In a pot, heat 1 tablespoon of sugar until it turns golden brown. Add cooking oil and minced garlic, then sauté until fragrant.

4. Braise the fish: Add the marinated fish to the pot and gently stir to coat it in the caramel sauce. Pour in fresh coconut water (or plain water) until it just covers the fish. Simmer on low heat until the sauce thickens and the fish is fully cooked.

5. Finish and serve: Sprinkle black pepper and chopped green onions on top before turning off the heat.
Braised fish pairs best with hot rice and pickled vegetables.