Food & Receipts

“The Secret Ingredient to Delicious Fish: Unveiling the Traditional Village’s Lemon Twist”

Lemon is a common culinary ingredient, but its magic when paired with a stewed fish dish is often unknown.

13 July, 2024

Fish stew is a popular dish in Vietnamese cuisine. The traditional way of cooking this dish is to simmer the fish for 24 hours or more over a wood fire or rice husk stove, or even bury the pot in rice husk charcoal to soften the bones and firm up the fish meat, eliminating any fishy smell.

In the past, earthenware or iron pots were used for cooking fish stew. Today, only traditional craft villages or restaurants continue to use these types of pots. City dwellers with limited space and modern gas or electric stoves may find it challenging to replicate the traditional cooking method.

Lemons Have Multiple Uses in Fish Stewing

The Benefits of Using Lemons in Fish Stew

Lemons have a fragrant peel and sour juice. They are known for their ability to neutralize fishy odors. Adding lemons to the stew pot helps eliminate any unpleasant smell from the fish while infusing it with a delightful aroma. Moreover, the acidic nature of lemon juice helps soften the fish bones faster. Lemons also act as a natural food preservative, ensuring the dish stays fresh for longer.

By incorporating lemons into your fish stew, you can achieve tender yet firm fish meat that is free from any fishy odor and has a delightful fragrance.

Additionally, to neutralize the fishy smell, you can use pickled vegetables such as salted and pickled cabbage or radish. Including these ingredients in the stew creates a delicious and unique flavor while also aiding in softening the fish bones.

Fish Stew: A Popular Vietnamese Dish with Tender Meat and Soft Bones

Other Ingredients to Neutralize the Fishy Smell

When preparing fish stew, in addition to cleaning the fish, scraping the black gills, and blanching the fish in boiling water to firm up the meat, there are several spices and ingredients you can use to eliminate the fishy odor:

Chili Peppers: Adding chili peppers to the stew not only enhances the flavor and stimulates the palate but also helps neutralize the fishy smell. The spiciness of the chili peppers counteracts the fishiness, and their distinct aroma adds another layer of flavor to the dish.
Green Tea Leaves or Dried Tea: Tea has astringent properties that help eliminate the fishy smell and give the stew a beautiful color. You can use fresh tea leaves or dried tea by lining the bottom of the pot before adding the fish.
Sour Sop Fruit: Similar to lemons, some people use sour sop fruit in their fish stew. This ingredient helps neutralize the fishy smell and gives the dish a lovely color.

Nowadays, with the conveniences of modern life, you may not have access to a charcoal or wood stove. However, you can still achieve the same delicious results by using an electric rice cooker. This method allows you to firm up the fish meat, eliminate the fishy smell, and soften the bones without the need for constant monitoring over a gas stove or the use of charcoal.

By incorporating lemons, sour sop fruit, or pickled vegetables, you can create a fish stew with tender, firm meat and softened bones.

Frequently asked questions

The secret ingredient is lemon! Specifically, the unique lemons found in the traditional villages of Vietnam. These lemons have a distinct twist of flavor that can elevate any fish dish.

The lemons from these traditional villages have a one-of-a-kind aroma and taste. They are known for their strong, tangy fragrance and a slightly sweeter taste compared to regular lemons. This unique flavor profile adds a wonderful twist to fish dishes, making them truly delicious.

The village lemons have a powerful ability to enhance the natural flavor of fish. Their distinct aroma and sweetness balance out the fishy taste, creating a harmonious and mouthwatering dish. The lemons also help to tenderize the fish, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Yes, there are a few key ways to use these lemons to their fullest potential. Firstly, try marinating the fish in a mixture of lemon juice and olive oil before grilling or baking. Secondly, a simple squeeze of fresh lemon juice over the cooked fish can add a burst of flavor. You can also use lemon slices as a garnish, adding a pop of color and a final touch of freshness.

These unique lemons are typically found in traditional villages across Vietnam. They are grown locally and are a well-kept secret of the villagers. However, with the growing popularity of this ingredient, they may start appearing in specialty food stores or markets that cater to Vietnamese cuisine.