Cá Kho Tộ Recipe - Vietnamese Caramelized & Braised Fish
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
30 mins
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Total Time
40 mins
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Servings
2
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Calories
397 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Vietnamese
Cá Kho Tộ Recipe - Vietnamese Caramelized & Braised Fish
Description
This recipe showcases Cá Kho Tộ featuring catfish filets seasoned and rinsed for cleanliness, then topped with sautéed garlic and onions. The cooking liquid combines fish sauce, soy sauce, water, and coconut juice or alternatively coconut soda, creating a uniquely layered flavor base that is both savory and subtly sweet with caramel undertones. Optional sliced chiles add a mild heat if desired.
The dish is simmered gently for about 30 minutes, allowing the fish to absorb the sauce and become tender while the sauce thickens slightly. Periodically spooning the sauce over the fish during the final minutes helps even coating and flavor concentration. Fresh green onions, sliced chiles, and freshly ground black pepper garnish the dish before serving, adding freshness and mild spice.
Cá Kho Tộ is typically enjoyed as a main course with steamed rice, where the rich sauce complements the plain rice. The balance of savory, sweet, and umami flavors makes it suitable for family meals or traditional settings.
Ingredients
- 1 lb catfish bone and skin optional, filets
- salt to clean the fish
Aromatics
- 2 tbsp neutral cooking oil generic cooking oil
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1/2 /2 yellow onion sliced
Seasoning & cooking liquid
- 1 tsp salt
- 1.5 .5 tbsp fish sauce
- soy sauce about ½ teaspoon thick
- 1/2 /2 c water
- 1/2 /2 c coconut juice or replace water & coconut juice with 1 cup coconut soda
- 1 chile sliced (to taste, optional)
- black pepper or add as a final topping when serving, freshly ground
Garnish
- 1 green onions roughly chopped
- black pepper freshly ground
- 1 red chile sliced, optional
Instructions
- Generously salt fish and rinse under water to clean it. Set aside to dry.
- Add oil to a pan and saute garlic over medium heat until lightly browned.
- Layer onion on top, then the fish, evenly spaced.
- Add the seasoning & cooking liquid (& optional chiles) and turn the heat to high until boiling. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning.
- Bring it to a simmer for ~20 minutes. Adjust seasoning if needed.
- Gently flip the filets of fish over and simmer for a final ~10 minutes with the lid partially covered.
- Stand there to watch it the final ~10 minutes to prevent it from burning! During this time you can continually spoon the sauce over the fish.
- Add green onion during last 2 minutes to wilt & top with sliced chiles, and some freshly ground black pepper.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 2Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 397 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0g | |
| Calories | 397kcal | 20% |
| Carbohydrates | 12g | 4% |
| Protein | 40g | 80% |
| Fat | 21g | 32% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 132mg | 44% |
| Sodium | 2393mg | 100% |
| Potassium | 1216mg | 26% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 602IU | 12% |
| Vitamin C | 73mg | 81% |
| Calcium | 72mg | 7% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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