4.3 from 12 votes
Vietnamese Braised Catfish (Cá Kho) - A Recipe for Lent
Braising this catfish brings out its richness. It's the perfect comfort meal on top of a hot bed of rice.
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 280 kcal
Course:
Main Course , Dinner
Cuisine:
Asian , Vietnamese
Ingredients
- 2 lbs catfish steaks
- 2 tablespoon fish sauce
- 1 shallot minced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon chili flakes optional
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon Caola oil, or another neutral, high smoke point oil
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- Arrange your fish steaks in one layer at the bottom of a heavy bottomed or stainless steel pot
- Sprinkle fish sauce, shallot, garlic, chili flakes, salt and pepper and oil on top of the steaks.
- Put the fish undisturbed on the stove over medium heat. In the meantime, make your caramel.
- Make the caramel by heating sugar on high heat until it is a deep brown color. Be careful not to burn the sugar.
- Add water to sugar and immediately pour sugar water on top of fish.
- Bring to a simmer and cook covered for 15-20 minutes. Check every few minutes and add boiling water as necessary if the liquid boils away too quickly. If the sauce is too runny, cook uncovered until your desired amount of liquid has evaporated.
- Season again to taste with salt and pepper and serve with white rice and pickled mustard greens.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Note: Calorie count and nutrition information are an estimate only.
Nutrition Information
Serving
4g
Calories
280kcal
(14%)
Carbohydrates
8g
(3%)
Protein
38g
(76%)
Fat
10g
(15%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
3g
Monounsaturated Fat
4g
Trans Fat
0.01g
Cholesterol
132mg
(44%)
Sodium
811mg
(34%)
Potassium
870mg
(25%)
Fiber
0.3g
(1%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
189IU
(4%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
43mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 280
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4g | |
| Calories | 280kcal | 14% |
| Carbohydrates | 8g | 3% |
| Protein | 38g | 76% |
| Fat | 10g | 15% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3g | 18% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 132mg | 44% |
| Sodium | 811mg | 34% |
| Potassium | 870mg | 19% |
| Fiber | 0.3g | 1% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 189IU | 4% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 43mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.