Boiling fish with bone usually takes time and effort in the kitchen, especially now that electric and gas stoves are commonly used. However, knowing how to boil fish in an electric pot ensures delicious and firm meat and bones without the need to constantly monitor the kitchen.
Fish with bones are not only delicious but also provide calcium from the bones. Moreover, the traditional way of boiling fish requires firm meat and bones for a flavorful and non-fishy taste. That’s why the famous Vu Dai village fish stew still needs to be cooked over a wood stove for about 8-12 hours to ensure firm meat and tender, aromatic bones.
Nowadays, homes are usually smaller, and kitchens mainly use gas and electric stoves, making it inconvenient to monitor a pot of boiling fish with bones. Continuous use of gas or electric stoves for a long time can damage the stove and is not time-efficient for homemakers.
If boiling fish with a pressure cooker, the fish bones will be tender but the meat will also be soft. Additionally, pressure cookers are harder to control than electric pots, and quick cooking times result in tender bones but lack flavor. Fish with bones needs to be cooked at a moderate heat for a long period of time.
Using an electric rice cooker to boil fish is very convenient for modern homemakers.
Preparing the Fish
To ensure delicious fish stew, the fish should be fresh with firm meat. To prevent a fishy taste, rinse the fish with ginger wine, rub salt, and remove the black membrane from the fish’s belly.
If using seafood, it is recommended to lightly fry it before boiling. Freshwater fish does not need to be fried.
Each family has its own recipes for fish stew, such as:
- Fish stew with soy sauce: the main seasonings are soy sauce, fish sauce, broth powder, lemongrass, and galangal
- Fish stew with pickled vegetables: the main seasonings are pickled mustard greens, fish sauce, and noodles
- Fish stew with green bananas: the main seasonings are pickled mustard greens, fish sauce, noodles, pork belly, green bananas, and green tea leaves
- Fish stew with galangal: the main seasonings are fish sauce, galangal, pork belly, and lemongrass
-
Tips for Homemakers:
To add a distinct aroma and spiciness to the fish stew, use green chili instead of red chili.
Place tea leaves at the bottom of the pot. It prevents the fish from having a fishy taste and ensures firm meat.
If you want the fish stew to have a sweet and aromatic flavor, place sliced sugarcane at the bottom of the pot. The slight charred aroma from burnt sugarcane adds a pleasant scent to the fish stew. This is especially aromatic if making soy sauce or galangal stew and using fresh sugarcane.
To make the fish stew more flavorful and fatty, add pork skin at the bottom of the pot. It prevents the pot from burning and adds a fragrant adhesive substance to the fish stew.
Seasonings that Help Bones Soften Faster
To make the fish bones tender quickly, homemakers can add a little acidic seasoning to the fish stew, such as vinegar, lime, or pickled vegetable water. The acidic liquid helps the fish bones soften while keeping the meat firm.
How to Boil Fish with an Electric Pot
Layer auxiliary ingredients at the bottom of the pot: pork skin, tea leaves, galangal, lemongrass, etc. (Depending on the desired flavor, layer the corresponding auxiliary ingredients to prevent burning and to flavor the fish meat at the bottom of the pot)
Place the fish in the pot and layer the remaining auxiliary ingredients. Add hot water and the remaining seasonings to the pot, then turn on the electric pot. The water level should cover the fish’s face.
It is recommended to boil the fish with hot water to ensure firm fish meat and avoid a fishy taste. If you are more careful during fish preparation, pour boiling water over the fish to make it immediately firm, and the fish stew will not break apart.
Bring the pot to a boil, let it boil for about 5 minutes, then switch to the warm setting. The purpose of this method is to allow the fish to absorb the flavors thoroughly. Let it sit for about 10 minutes, then switch the pot back on and set a timer for 30 minutes until the water evaporates, then switch back to the warm setting. You can occasionally turn on the pot to bring the heat back to a boil before switching back to the warm setting. Let the fish stew for about 8 hours, then switch the pot back on and let the remaining liquid evaporate. At this point, the fish bones will be tender, and the fish meat will be delicious and aromatic. Cooking fish stew in an electric pot allows the fish to slowly cook and the bones to soften without the need for constant monitoring. You can leave the house for 1-2 hours while the fish stew is cooking.
Tips for Attractive Fish Stew Color
If using simple syrup, only add it to the pot when the stove is turned off, and immediately pour in the water to avoid burning the sugar, as it will darken the color.
You can also mix the color of the syrup with the color of cashews for a beautiful appearance, or use Korean kimchi salted chili peppers.
Quickly tenderize fish, eliminate fishy odor, and make the dish flavorful by adding this secret ingredient:
Braised fish is a popular dish that many people love, especially when it goes well with rice. But how can we cook fish braised in such a way that it has a beautiful color, doesn’t taste fishy, and the fish bones are tender quickly?
A versatile fish stock that will transform any type of fish: Firm, odor-free, and flavorful fish dishes
With the following fish stew recipe, you will have a delicious fish stew that is free of any fishy smell, leaving everyone amazed when they taste it.
Uncommon Green-skinned Fruit with Red Flesh, Now Available for Sale at 300,000 VND/kg
The tangy flavor of this fruit enhances the taste of dishes. However, it is currently a rare delicacy that is not easily available for purchase.
Cut this fruit into small pieces and cook it with fish: No more fishy smell, the fish is firm and delicious.
This is the type of savory dish that is incredibly delicious, simply slice it and cook it together with fresh fish, resulting in a flavorful and appetizing meal.
Quick and Delicious Fish Stew: Add this secret ingredient for tender and flavorful fish
Braised catfish with caramelized sauce is a popular and tantalizing dish in Vietnamese cuisine, but not everyone knows how to quickly braise the fish to ensure the tender meat and prevent it from becoming fishy.
