Discover the art of marinating and preparing delicious fish tailored to each dish.

For each cooking method, different ingredients will have a unique marinating technique to bring out the sweet, rich flavors and eliminate the fishy smell. Did you know that?

At the end of the year, my sister invited me to a fancy dinner. It wasn't about having a lot of money, but the dishes that day were sophisticated and full of cultural essence: Hanoi-style Fish Cake!

Fish cake seems to have become a part of Hanoi's soul. Inviting guests, welcoming friends from afar, or returning to the homeland, people often gather to enjoy fish cake. The firm, fragrant fish meat, infused with the aroma of galangal, is fried to golden perfection, rich and creamy. The fish, immersed in flames, carries a sweet aroma, biting into a piece, the sweet taste of the Red River fish permeates deeply, reaching every taste bud...

A piece of golden fish, infused with the subtly spicy aroma of galangal, dill, and scallions...

The Thang Long Fish Cake on Thanh Street isn't overly extravagant, yet it resonates with the nostalgic feeling of Hanoi's old quarters. Despite that, the place is always bustling with crowds. The rich aroma of sizzling fish pans, the enticing scent of dill, scallions, peanuts,... Thang Long Fish Cake has the unique talent of making anyone feel hungry instantly, no matter how full they are!

The renowned fish cake is not famous for its complexity, but for its delicious, rustic, and naturally aromatic flavor.

In addition to the famous fish cake spread across the city, Thang Long Fish Cake also offers various fish dishes such as fish stomach soup, grilled fish head soup,... Even with only familiar dishes, they manage to be so absorbing, so rich, and so sweet! It turns out, each type of fish, each dish, requires a different marinating technique to truly capture the flavor, to be perfect!

Preparing River and Sea Fish

As sea fish tend to have a stronger odor than river fish, it's essential to clean their blood thoroughly with saltwater. Then, rub with ginger/lime to eliminate the smell and prevent the fish from breaking apart when frying.

River fish, on the other hand, carry the earthy smell of mud, so besides removing the intestines, it's necessary to scrape off the black membrane inside the fish's belly before rinsing with saltwater and rubbing with ginger/lime.

Marinate the fish for 15 - 20 minutes

Making Braised Fish

For braised fish, marinate it with galangal, lemongrass, chili for about 15 - 20 minutes. When arranging the fish in the pot, place a layer of fatty meat, a layer of sliced galangal at the bottom, and then place the fish on top. Avoid stirring the fish while braising, and don't use high heat to prevent the fish from breaking apart.

Making Sweet and Sour/Fish Rim Sauce

For sweet and sour or fish rim sauce, after cleaning the fish with saltwater, add a few drops of lime to make the fish crispy without breaking, keeping the skin intact. Include ginger in the sauce, simmer until fragrant, then add the fish and rim for an additional 15 minutes. This method helps eliminate the fishy smell effectively!

Depending on the cooking method, there will be different suitable spices

Making Boiled/Steamed Fish

You should add a bit of beer/wine to the water, boil it before putting the fish to boil (or steam). When the fish is just cooked, it will be much more fragrant and sweet.

For each cooking method, there is a unique marinating style that enhances the flavor. For example, a piece of golden fish cake is never complete without the aroma of dill, the twist of scallions, the necessity of chewy white vermicelli, the refreshing crispness of roasted peanuts, or a delightful dip in well-prepared fish sauce/shrimp paste.

Savor the royal charm of grilled fish, accompanied by white vermicelli, fresh herbs, encapsulating the essence of Vietnamese homeland.

Hanoi boasts an abundance of delicious dishes: snail sausage, young rice sausage, shrimp cakes, ladder noodles, and among them, grilled fish remains one of the most special, preserving a millennium of cultural refinement!

Autumn Serenity.

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