Delicious Homemade Soy Sauce Braised Catfish Recipe

Soy sauce braised catfish is a rustic dish that embodies the traditional flavors of Vietnam. With its simple preparation and familiar ingredients, this dish is not only delicious but also nutritious, making it perfect to enjoy with white rice during family meals.

Ingredients Needed

To make an appealing soy sauce braised catfish dish, you will need the following ingredients:

• 500g catfish (either tilapia or native catfish)
• 200g soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1 shallot
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 1 piece of ginger
• 1 stalk of lemongrass
• 2 bird’s eye chilies
• Green onions, cilantro

Steps to Make Soy Sauce Braised Catfish

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Clean the catfish, removing scales, gills, and entrails. Rub salt all over the fish to remove any fishy smell, then rinse thoroughly with water and let it drain. Rinse the soy sauce and let it drain. Peel and mince the shallot and garlic. Peel and slice the ginger. Cut the lemongrass into pieces and bruise them. Slice the bird’s eye chilies. Rinse and chop the green onions and cilantro.

Step 2: Marinate the Fish

Place the catfish in a large bowl and marinate with 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 2 tablespoons cooking oil, minced shallot, minced garlic, sliced ginger, lemongrass pieces, and half of the soy sauce. Mix well to ensure the fish is coated with the marinade and let it marinate for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Braise the Fish

Heat cooking oil in a pot, sauté the minced shallot and garlic until fragrant. Next, add the remaining soy sauce to the pot, stirring until it becomes aromatic. Then, add the marinated catfish to the pot, arrange evenly, and braise over low heat. Add a cup of water to the pot.

Bring the pot to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and braise the fish for about 40-50 minutes until the fish is tender and the sauce thickens. Adjust the seasoning to taste, then turn off the heat.

Detailed steps to make soy sauce braised catfish

Step 4: Finish and Present

Transfer the braised catfish to a serving dish, garnish with chopped green onions, cilantro, and sliced bird’s eye chilies. The soy sauce braised catfish is best enjoyed hot with white rice, accompanied by vegetable soup or pickled cucumbers.

Tips to Make Soy Sauce Braised Catfish More Appealing

• Choose fresh, firm catfish for the best flavor.
• You can add quail eggs, potatoes, or bitter melon to the pot to enhance the dish’s variety.
• Braising the fish over low heat ensures even cooking and prevents the fish from falling apart.
• Using an earthenware pot to braise the fish helps retain the dish’s distinctive aroma and flavor.

With the detailed instructions above, we hope you can prepare a delicious soy sauce braised catfish dish that captures the essence of home cooking. Try it out and share your results with your loved ones!