Vietnamese Coconut Braised Fish Recipe

Coconut braised fish is a traditional Vietnamese dish loved by many families for its rich, homely flavors. With a simple recipe and easy-to-find ingredients, you can prepare this delicious meal at home to treat your loved ones.

Ingredients Preparation

To make a delicious coconut braised fish, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Snakehead fish: 400g
• Pork belly: 150g
• Fresh coconut: 1
• Shallots, chili, vinegar, fish sauce, salt, sugar, seasoning powder, pepper, cooking oil
• Coconut caramel or dark soy sauce

Ingredients for coconut braised fish
Complete ingredients for a flavorful coconut braised fish.

Steps to Follow

Step 1: Preparing the Snakehead Fish

Clean the snakehead fish, remove the guts and gills, and scale it thoroughly. Rub the fish with a bit of salt and vinegar to remove any fishy smell, rinse well, and let it drain. Cut the fish into bite-sized pieces.

Preparing the snakehead fish
Thoroughly prepared snakehead fish ensures cleanliness and flavor.

Step 2: Preparing the Pork Belly

Rinse the pork belly, cut it into bite-sized pieces, and marinate with a little seasoning powder for about 10 minutes to absorb the flavors.

Preparing the pork belly
Marinated pork belly adds richness to the dish.

Step 3: Preparing the Seasonings

Peel the shallots, rinse them, crush, and finely chop. Rinse the chili, remove the stems, and slice it.

Preparing shallots and chili
Carefully prepared shallots and chili enhance the dish’s flavor.

Step 4: Marinating the Fish

Marinate the fish with a little seasoning powder, pepper, and finely chopped shallots. Let the fish absorb the flavors for about 15 minutes.

Marinating the fish before cooking
Marinating the fish enhances the flavor of the dish.

Step 5: Lightly Frying the Fish

Heat a pan over the stove, add a little cooking oil, and lightly fry the fish on both sides. Remove the fish and set it aside on a plate.

Step 6: Braising the Fish with Coconut

Place a pot on the stove, and once it’s hot, add the pork belly and stir-fry until it’s firm. Then, pour in the fresh coconut juice, fish sauce, and a little coconut caramel (or dark soy sauce) and bring to a boil. If you don’t have caramel, you can make it by caramelizing sugar.

Coconut juice adds a distinctive flavor to the braised fish.

Step 7: Finishing the Dish

Add the fish to the pot along with a few slices of chili. Simmer on low heat, ensuring the liquid covers the fish to let it absorb the flavors evenly. When the liquid has reduced, adjust the seasoning to taste, turn off the heat, and sprinkle with a bit of pepper and additional chili slices.

Finished coconut braised fish
A perfectly finished coconut braised fish with rich flavors.

Conclusion

Coconut braised fish is a rustic yet incredibly appealing dish, perfect for enjoying during family meals. With the detailed recipe provided above, you can confidently cook this dish with ease. Try it out and share your results with your loved ones!

Beautiful coconut braised fish dish
The coconut braised fish is not only delicious but also visually appealing and enticing.