Canh Chua Sour Fish Soup
A Vietnamese sweet-and-sour fish soup with tamarind, catfish, pineapple, tomatoes, tender vegetables, fresh herbs, and crisp fried garlic.
Instructions
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Step 1
Combine the water and tamarind in the large pot. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring until the tamarind dissolves, then reduce to medium heat.
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Step 2
Add the pineapple and simmer over medium heat until it begins to soften and flavor the broth.
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Step 3
Add the catfish and maintain a gentle simmer over medium heat.
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Step 4
Add the tomatoes, okra, and taro stems. Cook until the vegetables are tender.
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Step 5
Stir in the fish sauce and sugar, then add the bean sprouts. Simmer until the sprouts soften slightly and the thickest fish pieces reach 63°C internally.
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Step 6
Heat the cooking oil in the frying pan over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until pale golden and fragrant.
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Step 7
Remove the soup from the heat. Stir in the rice paddy herb, culantro, and chili, then spoon the fried garlic and its oil over the soup and serve hot.
Nutrition (Estimated)
Food safety
Caution: medium
Cook the fish to 63°C in its thickest part. Use only edible taro stem purchased as food and cook it until tender. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours and use within 3 days.
Risk factors
- raw fish handling
- checking fish doneness
- culinary identification and thorough cooking of taro stem
- hot broth and oil