Vietnamese Catfish in a Clay Pot (Ca Kho To)
photo by PalatablePastime
- Ready In:
- 1hr 2mins
- Ingredients:
- 18
- Serves:
-
2
ingredients
-
For the Caramel Sauce
- 85.04 g fish sauce (nam pla)
- 118.29 ml granulated sugar
- 1 fresh lime, juice of (no seeds)
-
For the Fish
- 44.37 ml vegetable oil
- 2 shallots, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 stalk lemongrass (light part only, cut into 1-2 inch lengths)
- 453.59 g catfish fillet
- 113.39 g shiitake mushrooms, cleaned and trimmed
- 14.79 ml sugar
- 14.79 ml water
- 44.37 ml chicken stock (may use broth) or 44.37 ml fish stock (may use broth)
- 44.37 ml fish sauce (nam pla)
- fresh ground black pepper (to taste)
- 85.04 g baby spinach leaves, rinsed and dried
- 59.14 ml chopped fresh basil leaf
- 2 scallions, finely chopped
- 709.77 ml steamed cooked jasmine rice (to serve) (optional)
directions
- 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.
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RECIPE SUBMITTED BY
PalatablePastime
Cincinnati
I am a longtime member since 2002.
While I have many recipes here, most of my current recipes are on my food blog at palatablepastime.com
I may occasionally post something extra I have here.
If you have questions, you can always contact me at contact@palatablepastime.com