Captivated by the grouper fish of Cu Lao Cham Island.

Grouper marinated in lime juice - always fresh and wild.

Those fortunate enough may also get to enjoy nutritious fish such as snapper, mackerel, and grouper… Grouper has white, sweet, firm flesh, no fishy taste, is mild in nature, and is very nutritious.

They can cool the body and boost immunity, making them a popular remedy for the "bitter taste" of colds, fevers, and changes in weather. Grouper comes in many varieties such as black grouper, spotted grouper, yellow grouper, and blue star grouper... all are excellent.

A precious gift from the sea.

When I pointed to the grouper fish wriggling gently in the basin, the owner exclaimed, "The fishermen have been catching a lot of grouper these past few days, so the price is cheaper. Choosing this dish is simply delicious!"
People from coastal areas can tell what the taste is like just by smelling the shellfish, snails, shrimp… and especially by looking at the grouper fish with its bright, clear eyes, strong swimming ability, shimmering scales, plump and smooth body.

And the best part today was that the whole family got to enjoy a delicious grouper fish feast, especially in this hot weather; only grouper dishes can truly cool and refresh us.

According to experienced diners, people often choose a few live grouper fish right on the beach and ask the restaurant owner to prepare them into various favorite dishes.

Crispy fried grouper skin is incredibly tempting.

Indeed, few fish are quite like grouper, where every part can be prepared in many different ways. Each dish is rich in the flavor of the sea, with the most popular being crispy fried grouper skin, grouper marinated in lemon juice, and grouper porridge.

Those with discerning palates may be hesitant to try raw grouper marinated in lime juice because the fish meat is still raw and somewhat wild, but once they've tasted it, they'll "forget their way home."

The preparation of this dish is quite simple but requires experience. When enjoying it, each slice of fish is dipped into a bowl of lime juice until lightly cooked, then removed and placed on a rice paper wrapper, rolled up with various vegetables, and dipped into the prepared dipping sauce. The rich, sweet flavor of the fish blends with the sourness of the lime juice and starfruit, the spiciness of the chili sauce, the mild pungency of the mustard greens, and the aroma of the herbs, especially the pungent spiciness of the mustard that tingles the nose, leaving diners captivated while eating.

Diverse dishes

Compared to other dishes, crispy fried grouper skin is popular thanks to its fragrant aroma. The crispy fried grouper skin is tossed with a mixture of lime leaves, lemongrass, and chili peppers, also briefly fried in oil, before being served on a plate. This dish is a favorite with children and can be enjoyed as a snack or with rice.

If visitors arrive at Cham Island around midday, when the weather is at its hottest compared to other times of the day, they will fully appreciate the wonderful taste of a refreshing bowl of porridge.

Grouper fish porridge is the finest type of fish porridge.

Marinate the fish head with ginger, salt, sugar, pepper, etc., for a while to allow the flavors to penetrate. Choosing the right rice for the porridge also requires finesse; it should be a blend of both regular and glutinous rice.

While waiting for the fish head to absorb the seasoning, lightly roast the rice before adding water to cook the porridge; this will prevent the porridge from becoming too thick. Once the porridge is cooked, add the fish head and cook for five to seven minutes before turning off the heat. Many diners also like to add some fatty fish offal to the porridge.
A steaming bowl of fish porridge, garnished with a few sprigs of scallions and chopped cilantro, looks truly "appealing".

But the pleasure is doubled when diners eat while blowing on each spoonful of porridge, occasionally pausing to "enjoy" the tender, firm white fish meat dipped in pure anchovy fish sauce from the coastal region – truly reaching the "pinnacle" of delicious coastal flavors.

If you've ever been captivated by the taste of grouper from Cu Lao Cham, you simply can't resist trying it; you need to savor three dishes to truly satisfy your palate. Even someone like me, a resident of Hoi An, is familiar with grouper dishes, yet I still can't help but exclaim in delight. Therefore, many tourists who visit this coastal region, even after leaving, remain captivated by the flavor of grouper – a gift from the sea.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/xieu-long-ca-mu-cu-lao-cham-3140749.html