Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup (Rieu Ca Chep) Recipe

Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup (Canh Riêu Cá Chép) is a traditional dish beloved for its distinctive flavor and high nutritional value. With a simple cooking process, this dish is not only suitable for everyday meals but also very beneficial for health.

Bowl of Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup (Rieu Ca Chep)

Nutritional Value of Carp

Carp is a freshwater fish rich in protein, essential vitamins, and minerals. More than just a tasty dish, Carp Rieu Soup is considered a nourishing remedy that aids digestion, supports pregnancy and postpartum recovery, stimulates lactation, and boosts overall health.

Fresh carp prepared for Rieu soup

With its refreshing sourness, mild spiciness, and rich fish flavor, this soup is particularly suitable for the elderly, pregnant or postpartum women, children with poor appetites, and those recovering from illness.

Ingredients Needed

To cook Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup, you need the following ingredients:

• 1 carp (about 1kg / 2.2 lbs)
• 4 ripe red tomatoes
• 1 cup fermented rice (cơm mẻ)
• Ginger, turmeric, shallots
• Dill, Vietnamese coriander (rau răm), scallions
• Bird’s eye chilies and basic seasonings

Ingredients for Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup laid out

Steps to Make Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Cleaning the Carp

To eliminate the fishy odor, you can use one of these methods:

• Soak the fish in rice water for 15-20 minutes
• Rub the fish with white wine or crushed ginger
• Rub salt or vinegar onto the fish’s body
• Soak the fish in diluted lemon juice

After the initial cleaning, remove the guts, gills, and fins, descale thoroughly, and rinse well with water. Cut close to the fins and remove the white tendon along both sides of the backbone to ensure the fish isn’t fishy.

Cleaning and preparing the carp for soup

Preparing Other Ingredients

• Ginger: Peel, julienne or crush and mince finely
• Tomatoes: Remove stems, wash, cut into wedges
• Shallots, garlic: Peel, mince finely
• Chilies: Slice according to preference
• Herbs (dill, Vietnamese coriander, scallions): Wash, cut into 3-4cm (1.5 inches) lengths
• Fresh turmeric: Crush finely, filter to get the juice
• Fermented rice: Strain through a sieve, mix the liquid with turmeric juice

Step 2: Marinate the Carp

Marinate the fish with a mixture of seasonings:

• 1 tbsp soup powder/granules
• 1 tbsp minced shallots
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp sugar
• ⅓ tsp ground pepper

Mix well and let it sit for about 30 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Marinating carp pieces with spices

Step 3: Cook the Carp Rieu Soup

1. Lightly Fry the Carp:

   • Heat cooking oil in a pan.
   • Gently place the fish pieces in the hot oil and fry briefly until both sides are slightly firm.

2. Make the Broth:

   • Sauté minced shallots and ginger until fragrant.
   • Add half of the tomatoes and stir-fry.
   • Add 1 cup of the fermented rice-turmeric liquid and 500ml-1 liter (about 2-4 cups) of water.
   • Bring to a boil and season to taste.

3. Finish the Soup:

   • Add the fried fish and the remaining tomatoes to the pot.
   • When the soup boils again, skim off any foam, then reduce the heat to low.
   • Simmer for another 10 minutes, then add scallions and dill.
   • Turn off the heat after boiling on high for 30 seconds.

Cooking Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup in a potFinished bowl of flavorful Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup

Finished Dish and Serving

The completed Carp Rieu Soup boasts vibrant colors and a rich flavor profile. The tender, well-seasoned fish combined with the tangy broth creates an appealing dish. It’s best served hot with steamed rice or vermicelli noodles, accompanied by fresh herbs and bean sprouts for enhanced taste.

Serving suggestion for Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup with rice

You can customize the dish by adding pickled mustard greens, green star fruit, or elephant ear stem (bac ha) according to your preference.

Hopefully, with this detailed guide on how to make Vietnamese Carp Sour Soup, you’ll confidently prepare this nutritious dish for your family. Enjoy your delicious meals!

Source References:

• Cong ty CPDT Tuan Tu
• https://khomay3a.com