“Snakehead fish cake soup, clear broth, chewy noodles, fresh and sweet snakehead fish, topped with a little pepper, scallions, and chili, truly wonderful!” – This saying must have made you crave snakehead fish cake soup, right?
Snakehead Fish Cake Soup: Rustic Dish, Hometown Flavor
Snakehead fish cake soup is a rustic dish, familiar to Vietnamese people, especially in the Mekong Delta region. This dish is not only delicious and nutritious but also carries the flavor of the homeland, evoking beautiful childhood memories.
Origin and Meaning of Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
According to documents by Dr. Nguyen Van Thinh, a Vietnamese culinary expert, snakehead fish cake soup is believed to have originated from the Mekong Delta region, where snakehead fish and ingredients for making cake soup are abundant. This dish is often prepared on holidays, Tet, or family gatherings.
Benefits of Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
Snakehead fish cake soup is not only a delicious dish but also very good for health. Snakehead fish is rich in protein, omega-3, vitamin D, which helps boost immunity and is good for the heart and brain. Cake soup also provides energy, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, helping the body stay healthy.
Secret to Cooking Delicious Snakehead Fish Cake Soup Without Being a Chef
Do you want to cook delicious snakehead fish cake soup at home yourself? No need to be a chef, just pocket these secrets below, and you will make your whole family admire and praise.
Choose Fresh and Delicious Ingredients
- Snakehead fish: Choose live snakehead fish, firm flesh, not mushy, and no strange smell. Wild snakehead fish is usually tastier than farmed snakehead fish because the meat is firmer and has a natural sweetness.
- Cake noodles: You can buy fresh or dried cake noodles. If buying fresh cake noodles, choose the chewy type, not crumbly. Dried cake noodles should be white opaque, not moldy.
- Broth: Broth is the soul of snakehead fish cake soup. Use snakehead fish bones simmered to make the broth sweet and flavorful.
How to Cook Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
- Prepare ingredients: Clean snakehead fish, remove腥味 (fishy smell), and cut into bite-sized pieces. Marinate snakehead fish with seasonings such as salt, pepper, MSG, fish sauce. Soak cake noodles in water until soft, then drain. Wash scallions, cilantro, and chili, and chop finely.
- Simmer snakehead fish bones: Put snakehead fish bones in a pot of cold water, simmer for about 2 hours. Season to taste.
- Poach snakehead fish: Put snakehead fish in the boiling broth, poach for about 15 minutes until the fish is cooked and tender.
- Cook cake noodles: Put cake noodles in the boiling broth, cook for about 5 minutes until the cake noodles are cooked and soft.
- Serve: Ladle cake soup into a bowl, pour broth over, add snakehead fish, scallions, cilantro, and chili.
Secrets to Delicious Broth
Secret 1: When simmering snakehead fish bones, add a little white wine to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor of the broth. Secret 2: To make the broth clear, add a pre-grilled onion to the broth pot. Secret 3: Use snakehead fish bones to simmer the broth instead of using canned broth.
Secrets to Chewy and Delicious Cake Noodles
Secret 1: When cooking cake noodles, add a teaspoon of cooking oil to the pot to prevent the cake noodles from sticking together. Secret 2: Cook cake noodles for about 5 minutes, do not overcook, the cake noodles will become mushy.
Notes When Cooking Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
- Choose live snakehead fish, firm flesh, not mushy.
- Simmer snakehead fish bones thoroughly to make the broth sweet and flavorful.
- Cook cake noodles for about 5 minutes, do not overcook, the cake noodles will become mushy.
Delicious and Nutritious Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
Snakehead fish cake soup is a delicious and nutritious dish, suitable for all ages. You can enjoy this dish with family and friends on any occasion.
Spirituality and Culture in Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
According to Vietnamese spiritual beliefs, snakehead fish symbolizes luck and prosperity. Snakehead fish cake soup is considered a dish that brings fortune and peace to the family.
Suggestions for Variations of Snakehead Fish Cake Soup
- Snakehead fish cake soup with fish cake: Add fish cake to the bowl of cake soup to create a more delicious and attractive flavor.
- Snakehead fish cake soup with lemongrass and chili: Add lemongrass and chili to the broth to create a spicy and attractive flavor.
Explore More Cooking Secrets
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