The Ultimate Guide to Fish Soup: Hot or Cold Water? Uncover the Secrets to Tender Meat, Preserving Nutrients, and Reducing that Fishy Sm

According to an experienced chef, the reason why fish soup often has a fishy smell is due to improper cleaning or the use of the wrong type of water. Specifically, when cooking fish soup, it is recommended to use hot water instead of cold water. Additionally, water should only be added once at the beginning and not in the middle of the cooking process. This will ensure that the soup is fragrant, delicious, and free from any fishy odor.

The reason for using hot water is that fish meat is rich in protein. Cooking with hot water helps to firm up the fish meat and eliminate any fishy smell. This method not only makes the fish tender and tasty but also retains its beneficial nutrients.

On the other hand, if you cook the fish with cold water, the meat tends to become mushy, resulting in a loss of nutrients and a stronger fishy smell.

Moreover, when cleaning the fish, it is important to be thorough. In addition to scaling, removing the fins, and gutting the fish, it is also necessary to remove the white thread from the backbone and the black membrane inside the belly of the fish to effectively eliminate the fishy odor.

Let’s take a look at a simple, delicious, and nutritious fish soup recipe below.

HOW TO COOK FISH SOUP

– Preparation time: 40 minutes

– Cooking time: 35 minutes

– Total: 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

– Carp: 1 fish (1 – 1.5kg)

– Salt: ½ teaspoon

– Cooking oil: 3 tablespoons

– Fresh ginger: 4 slices

– Boiling water: 500ml

– Cooking wine: 2 tablespoons

– Sugar: ½ teaspoon

– Chinese dates: 3 fruits

– Goji berries: 1 tablespoon

– Tofu: 3 blocks

– Black pepper: ½ teaspoon

– Sesame oil: ¼ teaspoon

– Scallions

– Coriander

Cooking instructions

Step 1: Prepare the fish

Scrape off the scales of the carp, trim the fins, and remove all the guts, including the black membrane inside the belly, to get rid of the fishy smell. Rinse the fish thoroughly and pat it dry with paper towels. Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of salt over the fish and marinate for about 30 minutes.

Step 2: Fry the fish

Heat up the cooking oil in a pan and add the fresh ginger slices, frying for about 1 minute before removing them. Place the marinated fish in the pan and adjust the heat to medium to fry the fish evenly on both sides. It is important to wait until the fish is golden on one side before flipping it over to prevent the meat from falling apart.

Step 3: Add hot water

Once the fish is golden on both sides, pour 500ml of hot water into the pan. Season with cooking wine, sugar, Chinese dates, and sliced ginger.

Cover the pan with a lid and simmer over high heat.

Step 4: Add Chinese dates, goji berries, and tofu

When the soup comes to a boil again, add the Chinese dates, goji berries, and tofu. Continue to simmer for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Finish and serve

Finally, season the soup with black pepper, sesame oil, scallions, coriander, and a pinch of salt to taste. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve. The carp meat is tender and fragrant, with a crispy golden skin and firm, sweet flesh. The tofu is soft and refreshing, while the natural sweetness of the goji berries and Chinese dates makes the soup pleasantly sweet and enjoyable. This dish is not only delicious but also highly nutritious.

Tips for cooking tasty fish soup

1. Frying the fish until golden on both sides before simmering helps to enhance the flavor and eliminate any fishy smell.

2. Always use boiling water when cooking the fish.

3. Avoid adding too much water. Using just enough water will ensure a flavorful and nutritious soup.

4. For a more aromatic dish, consider using lard instead of cooking oil.

Hopefully, these tips will help you prepare a delicious and fragrant fish soup. Good luck!