How to make mackerel stewed with jackfruit fibers

Ingredients: 1 piece of jackfruit (about 1kg), 500g mackerel, cooking oil, fish sauce, pepper, MSG, sugar, caramel coloring, chili peppers, scallions, fresh coconut water.

Making:

- To make this dish delicious and authentic, choose jackfruit with thick, firm fibers, a golden yellow color, and the characteristic sweet aroma of jackfruit. Avoid jackfruit with white, tough fibers like Thai jackfruit. After purchasing, peel off the thorny outer skin, remove the core, and wipe away any remaining sap with paper or cloth. Then, separate the jackfruit segments and place them on a separate plate for dessert, and cut the fibrous part into thin slices.

- When choosing mackerel, select fresh fish with a round, firm body, clear eyes, red gills, and an intact belly. After purchasing, cut off the gills, remove the intestines, and wash thoroughly with water. To remove the fishy smell, you can use a mixture of white wine and chopped ginger to wash the fish. Alternatively, you can sprinkle flour or tapioca starch on the fish, rub it in, and then rinse thoroughly with water.

- After washing the mackerel, cut it in half, then marinate it with 2 tablespoons of soy sauce, 2 tablespoons of sugar, 4 tablespoons of fish sauce, 1 tablespoon of MSG, chopped chili, and 1 tablespoon of pepper. Mix well and marinate for about 30 minutes to allow the fish to absorb the flavors.

- Place a layer of jackfruit fibers at the bottom of the pot, then add the mackerel on top. Continue layering jackfruit fibers and fish, repeating this process until all the fish is used up. Note that the top layer should be jackfruit fibers. Then, drizzle 2 tablespoons of cooking oil over the fish and let it sit for about 30 minutes to allow the fish to absorb the oil. Place the pot on the stove and add enough fresh coconut water to cover the fish. Simmer over high heat until the water boils, then reduce the heat to low and cook until the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, then turn off the heat. If there is not enough liquid, you can add more water.

- Transfer the braised mackerel with jackfruit to a plate, sprinkle with chopped scallions, and serve with hot rice and soup for a delicious meal.

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