Crispy Catfish Fried in Fish Sauce: A Rustic Delight

Catfish fried in fish sauce is a simple yet delicious dish that captures the essence of rural flavors. With easy preparation and readily available ingredients, this dish is sure to please your whole family. Let’s dive into the recipe for this tasty, authentic catfish fried in fish sauce!

Ingredients Needed for Catfish Fried in Fish Sauce

To make catfish fried in fish sauce, you will need the following ingredients:

• Catfish: 2 fish
• Fresh lemon: 1 fruit
• Fresh ginger: 1 root
• Hot chili peppers: 3-4 (depending on taste)
• Seasonings: cooking oil, sugar, fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, monosodium glutamate, ginger powder, ground pepper

Ingredients needed for catfish fried in fish sauce

Steps to Make Catfish Fried in Fish Sauce

Preparing the Catfish

After purchasing the catfish, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned to remove any fishy smell. If the fish has not been cleaned, you should remove the entrails and rinse it with water. Next, pour boiling water over the fish to easily scrape off the slime.

Once the slime is removed, rinse the fish again with a diluted lemon-salt water mixture to reduce the fishy smell and disinfect. Finally, rinse the fish with cold water and let it drain.

Peel the ginger, rinse, and pound it into a paste. Rinse the chilies and finely chop them with the ginger.

Preparing the catfish

Marinating the Catfish

Lightly score the fish’s body on both sides with a knife to allow the flavors to penetrate better. Then, place the fish in a large bowl, add ½ teaspoon of salt, 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 teaspoon of ginger powder (optional), ½ teaspoon of monosodium glutamate, ½ teaspoon of sugar, and 1 teaspoon of ground pepper. Mix well and marinate the fish for about 30 minutes.

Marinating the catfish before frying

Preparing the Ginger Fish Sauce

While waiting for the fish to marinate, you can start preparing the ginger fish sauce. Place the pounded ginger and chopped chilies in a bowl and mix well. Add 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of lemon juice, and stir well. This recipe creates a delicious and balanced dipping sauce for the dish.

Preparing the ginger fish sauce

Frying the Catfish

Heat a pan with oil over the stove. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the two fish into the pan to fry until golden brown on both sides. A helpful tip to prevent oil from splattering is to sprinkle a bit of salt or chili into the pan before adding the fish. Be sure to flip the fish only after one side is golden brown to avoid breaking it. Fry the fish over medium heat to ensure it cooks evenly from the inside out.

Once the fish is golden brown on both sides, remove it from the pan and let it drain.

Frying the catfish until golden brown

The Finished Dish: Catfish Fried in Fish Sauce

The perfect catfish fried in fish sauce is crispy on the outside and infused with the aromatic ginger fish sauce. This dish is commonly served with white rice and fresh vegetables. Not only is it a main dish for family meals, but it’s also great for casual snacking with drinks.

Finished dish of catfish fried in fish sauce

Tips for Choosing Fresh Catfish

To ensure the best quality for your catfish fried in fish sauce, selecting fresh catfish is crucial. Good catfish are usually mature, of medium size, with a plump and firm body that feels moist. The body and head should be proportional, without any scratches. If possible, choose live catfish for the freshest taste.

You can also check the freshness of the fish by gently pressing on the body, especially the belly. If it feels springy and the flesh is firm, it’s fresh. If the flesh feels soft and mushy, it’s not fresh.

Tips for choosing fresh catfish

Conclusion

Making catfish fried in fish sauce is not complicated at all. Just follow the steps outlined above, and you’ll be able to successfully prepare this flavorful dish that embodies the taste of the countryside. We hope this article helps you feel more confident in the kitchen and brings delicious meals to your family. Don’t forget to share your results with us!