Delicious Banana Leaf Grilled Fish Recipe for Family Meals

Banana leaf grilled fish is a traditional Vietnamese dish loved by many for its perfect blend of tender, sweet fish and the distinctive aroma of banana leaves. Let’s explore how to make this dish with a detailed recipe from Sổ Tay Món Ăn.

Preparation

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 45 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients (for 4 servings):

• Mackerel: 800g (2 fish)
• Fresh rice noodles: 500g
• Rice paper: 1 pack
• Fresh herbs: lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, fish mint (optional)
• Salt: a pinch
• Banana leaves: a few
• Sweet and sour fish sauce: 1 cup

Ingredients for banana leaf grilled fish

Steps

Step 1: Prepare the Mackerel

• Clean the mackerel by scaling, gutting, and removing the gills. Rinse the fish with diluted saltwater to remove any fishy smell.
• To effectively remove the fishy odor, you can pour hot water over the fish, then scrape off the dark membrane inside the belly with a knife. Soak the fish in saltwater or rice water for about 15 minutes, then rinse with clean water.

Step 2: Prepare Other Ingredients

• Wash the banana leaves and pat them dry. Cut off the hard veins and save them to use as ties when wrapping the fish.
• Clean the fresh herbs, rinse thoroughly with water, and soak in diluted saltwater for about 10 minutes to ensure cleanliness. Drain them afterward.

Preparing ingredients

Step 3: Wrap the Fish

• Place the fish on the banana leaves and wrap it tightly with 4-5 layers to retain heat during grilling. Secure the wrap with banana leaf vein strings.

Wrapping fish in banana leaves

Step 4: Grill the Fish

• Place the wrapped fish on a charcoal grill or use an electric oven at 200°C for 35-40 minutes. The fish is done when the banana leaves are slightly charred and emit a fragrant smell.
• If you don’t have a charcoal grill, you can use an air fryer or a convection oven as alternatives.

Grilling fish on charcoal

Step 5: Complete and Enjoy

• The finished banana leaf grilled fish will have a distinctive aroma and tender, naturally sweet meat.
• Serve the dish with fresh rice noodles, rice paper, fresh herbs, and sweet and sour fish sauce to enhance the flavor.

Finished banana leaf grilled fish

Tips to Make Banana Leaf Grilled Fish More Appealing

• Choose fresh mackerel with clear eyes, reddish gills, and firm flesh.
• Use green banana leaves to prevent tearing when wrapping the fish.
• To enrich the dish, you can add various herbs like perilla, Vietnamese balm, or basil.

We hope this article has helped you understand how to make banana leaf grilled fish in detail and easily. Try it at home to treat your family to this delicious and flavorful dish!

References:

• XUA studio
• Điện máy XANH