Clay Pot Catfish Recipes

VIETNAMESE CATFISH IN A CLAY POT (CA KHO TO)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Place clay pot or covered roasting pan into oven to preheat.
• Place 3 ounces fish sauce and 1/2 cup sugar in a small saucepan, and use whisk to blend until sugar dissolves. Heat over medium-low heat, whisking until mixture comes to a boil, then stop stirring, and swirl mixture in pan for 12 minutes or so, until it becomes golden, foamy, and slightly thick.
• Remove from heat, and when mixture has cooled and foam settled somewhat, stir in lime juice until sauce is blended.
• In the bottom of the clay pot or roaster, place oil, shallots, garlic, and chopped lemongrass.
• Cover clay pot or roaster and cook at 450°F for 10 minutes.
• Remove pot from oven and add catfish fillets in a single layer. Cover pot and cook at 450°F for 5 minutes.
• Remove pot from oven and add mushrooms and caramel sauce. Cover pot and cook at 450°F for 5 minutes.
• Mix together remaining fish sauce, broth, water, and sugar until blended.
• Remove pot from oven and add broth mixture and season to taste with freshly ground black pepper. Return pot to oven and cook, UNCOVERED, for 10 minutes at 450°F.
• Remove pot from oven and cover fish and mushrooms with spinach, basil, and chopped scallion. Cover pot and cook at 450°F for 5 minutes.
• Remove from oven and serve fish and vegetables with hot steamed jasmine rice.

Cá KHO Tộ RECIPE - VIETNAMESE CARAMELIZED & BRAISED FISH

Steps:

• 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.

CLAY POT CATFISH

Steps:

• Place the sugar in a 1-quart clay pot and add just enough water to barely wet it. Place over moderate heat until the sugar starts to brown, about 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir once, then add the oil and garlic.
• Stir for 1 minute, then add the boiling water, fish sauce and catfish pieces.
• Turn the pieces so they're evenly coated with the sauce.
• Reduce the heat to a soft simmer. Cover and cook for 5 m inutes, until the catfish is firm and almost done.
• Uncover, and continue to simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
• Remove from heat and garnish with the onion, cilantro and pepper. Serve right in the clay pot.
• You do not need to use aclaypot, and iron pot will work too.

CA KHO TO VIETNAMESE BRAISED FISH IN CLAY POT

Steps:

• Marinade fish with fish sauce, 2 Tb sugar, garlic, and shallots for at least min 10 min.
• In heavy pot such as dutch oven, heat 2 tbs of sugar on medium high and stir until sugar melts and becomes dark mohogany, Immediately add the oil to stop caramelization and stir. Add the garlic and shallots and sear the fish steaks, turning once after it has browned. Add coconut water turn to med low heat. Cover pot for 3-4 minutes for fish to cook through and then remove cover to reduce the sauce to about 1/2. Season to taste, with fish sauce or sugar if needed. Add optional chili and stir into the sauce. Finish with fresh cracked pepper, green onions. Serve immediately with white rice.

MOM'S CATFISH IN CLAYPOT

Steps:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a claypot or medium fry pan over moderate heat. Add the garlic and shallots. Stir until fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes, and add the catfish pieces. Cook until they turn almost white, about 2 minutes. Add the caramel sauce and gently stir for 1 more minute until the fish absorbs the sauce. Add the fish sauce and chicken stock and reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until the sauce has slightly caramelized, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and serve right out of claypot. Garnish with green onions and black pepper.

VIETNAMESE BRAISED & CARAMELIZED CATFISH (Cá KHO)

Steps:

• Marinate catfish steaks with fish sauce and sugar for at least 30 minutes.
• In a clay pot or skillet, heat vegetable oil on medium-high. Sprinkle a thin layer of sugar (1 tablespoon) onto the oil and heat until the sugar caramelizes to an amber color. Immediately, add shallot and garlic and saute until fragrant (about 15 seconds).
• Add marinated catfish and all its marinade liquid, if any, into the skillet. Flip catfish on all sides to evenly coat with aromatics and caramel sauce (color will darken while braising).
• Add coconut soda and gently cook on a low simmer for a total of 20 minutes, partially covered. At the halfway mark, flip the catfish so that the top gets a chance to absorb the braising liquid. If you find that the fish its too delicate to flip, spoon braising liquid over the catfish instead.
• Top with green onions and black pepper when ready to serve.

CHAT MINGKWAN"S CATFISH CLAY POT CA KHO TO

Steps:

• Rinse the fish with cold water and pat dry In a mixing bowl combine the fish with pepper, ginger, cilantro, and fish sauce. Gently fold to mix and marinate for 15 minutes. In a medium clay pot over medium heat, heat the oil. Then add garlic and shallot. Cook, stirring, until light brown and fragrant, abut 2 minutes. Raise the heat to high and then add the catfish to the pot, reserve the marinade if there is any. Quickly sear the catfish on both sides and then add 1/3 cup of the caramel, any marinade and green onions. Reduce the heat to simmer and continue cooking for 10-15 minutes. The liquid should be reduced to thick syrup. Add the lemon juice to taste. Check the fish to see if it is done. If there is too much watery sauce, take the fish out first and raise the heat to reduce the sauce in half. Return the fish to the thick sauce and heat and serve from the clay pot. Serve over rice if you wish. Caramel syrup: combine 1/8 C water with 1 C sugar and cook until deep dark brown, nearly to burn. Add 1/4 C water. When it is dissolved, add 1 T lemon or lime juice.