How to Make Savory Fish Braised in Shrimp Paste

Fish braised in shrimp paste is a traditional Vietnamese dish that combines the sweetness of fish with the distinctive aroma of shrimp paste. Let’s explore how to prepare this dish in the article below.

Preparing Ingredients

To make fish braised in shrimp paste, you will need the following ingredients:

• 500g fish (snakehead or grass carp)
• 3 tablespoons of shrimp paste
• 2 eggplants
• 100g straw mushrooms
• 200g fresh shrimp
• 200g pork belly
• Lemongrass, shallots, garlic
• Seasonings: salt, sugar, coconut water

Main ingredients for fish braised in shrimp paste

Prepping the Ingredients

Fish and Seafood

Remove the heads and whiskers from the shrimp, soak them in diluted saltwater for about 8 minutes, then drain. Rub the pork belly with salt, rinse clean, and slice into bite-sized pieces. Remove the stems from the straw mushrooms, crush the bases, rinse, and soak in diluted saltwater for about 30 minutes to remove any odors.

Preparing shrimp and pork belly

Vegetables

Rinse the eggplants, cut them into bite-sized pieces, soak in diluted saltwater for about 5 minutes, then drain. Crush the lemongrass, peel and crush the shallots and garlic.

Preparing vegetables

Preparing the Shrimp Paste

Mix 3 tablespoons of shrimp paste into a bowl of coconut water, stir well, then strain to remove any sediment. This step is crucial for a rich flavor without any grittiness.

Preparing shrimp paste

Braising the Fish

Arrange the fish in a pot, add the prepped ingredients along with the shrimp paste mixture. Simmer on low heat for about 45 minutes, seasoning to taste. Occasionally stir gently to ensure the fish absorbs the flavors evenly.

Finished Dish and Enjoyment

The completed fish braised in shrimp paste dish is visually appealing, with the characteristic aroma of shrimp paste blending with the sweetness of the fish and other ingredients. This dish is perfect to enjoy with white rice during a family meal.

Try out this recipe and share your results with us! With this method of making fish braised in shrimp paste, you’ll have a dish full of homestyle flavor that your whole family will love.

References:

• Traditional Vietnamese cooking recipes
• Folk wisdom on preparing shrimp paste