Taste of Homeland: Braised Catfish with Pickled Bamboo Shoots

Southern river catfish stewed with pickled bamboo shoots in the windy and sunny wilderness is worthy of being a world delicacy...

On my recent visit to Ho Chi Minh City, I had the chance to enjoy a delicious dish of braised catfish with pickled bamboo shoots. Catfish caught from rivers are sold in the market. Pickled bamboo shoots from the highlands are transported by traders to the inner city to satisfy the city dwellers.

Braised catfish with bamboo shoots needs tomatoes and herbs.

PHOTO: TRANG THY

I remember when I was in the army 25 years ago, my comrades and I went on a long camping trip in the rain-soaked mountains of the Central Highlands. We stayed in a house with earthen walls and a corrugated iron roof, and the rainwater soaked us. After hours of duty, we went into the forest to cut bamboo shoots to bring back to improve our frugal meals. We held sickles in our hands and stepped on the damp, rotten leaves under the forest canopy. Bamboo shoots grew quite a lot after the rainy days. When we returned to the camp, we worked hard to prepare stir-fried bamboo shoots, soup, and salads... And because there were so many bamboo shoots, we pickled them to eat gradually. Peel the bamboo shoots and cut off the young parts, then put them in a pot to boil until cooked, then take them out and drain. After that, put them in diluted salt water for a few days to get pickled bamboo shoots.

Braised catfish with bamboo shoots in family meals

PHOTO: TRANG THY

Braised catfish with bamboo shoots needs ripe tomatoes, spices and herbs for a rich dish. Chop the tomatoes and put them in a pot with a little peanut oil boiling on the stove, then use a spatula to stir gently until it sizzles. When the tomatoes are ripe, add water to the pot, followed by the fish, turmeric powder and other spices. When the water boils, add thinly sliced ​​bamboo shoots to the pot, cover and simmer. After about 20 minutes, the aroma will spread throughout the kitchen when you open the pot lid. Then add the chopped herbs and remove from heat, add a little ground pepper and you have a braised fish with bamboo shoots dish with rich flavor.

The braised fish dish looks so appealing, exuding an inviting aroma. The fatty and sweet fish meat blends with the mild sourness of pickled bamboo shoots, permeating every taste bud. The braised fish with bamboo shoots has a distinctive aroma, reminiscent of the alluvial soil of the Southern river and a bit of the forest scent of the red-soil plateau. In the middle of a bustling city, enjoying braised fish with bamboo shoots is truly incomparable.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/huong-vi-que-huong-ca-tra-um-mang-le-muoi-chua-185251101212030958.htm