Experience the rich and flavorful An Khe goby fish

The firm and flavorful goby fish meat, combined with fragrant newly harvested rice, creates a taste that's hard to put into words. While enjoying it, someone might suddenly ask: I wonder if thousands of years ago, our ancestors ever ate braised goby fish with pepper?

Explore Quang Ngai and savor the An Khe Braised Goby Fish with Pepper dish

An Khe is a lagoon located between Pho Thanh and Pho Khanh communes in Duc Pho, Quang Ngai, quite wild and picturesque.

The aquatic resources in the lagoon are quite abundant, providing food for the ancient Sa Huynh residents and now serving as an important source of nutrition for people living along the coast.

Among the seafood dishes from the lagoon, one cannot forget the An Khe Braised Goby Fish with Pepper when it comes to culinary delights. The adventure of digging caves and catching this fish species was quite fascinating, happening over 20 years ago when the aquatic resources in the lagoon were still abundant.

At the beginning of March - the lunar 7th, many people living by the pond indulge in gazing at the direction and then measure their footsteps, diving to dig caves under the bottom.

Using both hands to dig mud, they create empty caves, with two ends connecting like underground tunnels beneath the water. Each person owns dozens of caves, an ideal hiding place for the goby fish when the hot sun arrives.

The midday sun shines down on the pond like a giant mirror, reflecting dazzlingly. The water in the pond gradually warms up, causing the goby fish to gather to find shelter in the caves. Many people carry baskets woven from bamboo on their hips, cautiously stepping and then diving, reaching their hands into the two cave entrances to trap the fish.

Those witnessing it for the first time might think they are playing hide and seek in the deep blue water. And although 'the fish have entered the cave,' catching them is not easy. The force of the water makes the body sway, causing the hands to slip from the caves.

Only when they have the opportunity, the nimble female goby fish slip out of the palm and wriggle through the gap to escape. The male goby fish, long and slim, lie languidly in the cave before slipping into the basket. Perhaps they must exert themselves excessively to 'be worthy of men,' hence their frail bodies!

Nowadays, people by the pond catch goby fish using bamboo poles, casting nets… Since there are not as many fish as before, the price is quite high, with each kilogram costing hundreds of thousands of dong.

However, whenever encountering a fresh batch of goby fish, many housewives hurriedly purchase and bring them home for seasoning. After bringing them home, they use a knife to scale the fish and remove the entrails and fish stomach.

Next, rinse the fish thoroughly with saltwater and then place it in a pot to marinate with spices, finely ground pepper, and thinly sliced purple onions for nearly an hour to make the fish firmer.

To make the delicious Braised Goby Fish with Pepper dish, it is essential to have thickened caramel sauce. Cook black sugar using traditional methods with a little water in a pot, then simmer over low heat until it emits a fragrant smell, then remove from the heat to use gradually.

Marinate the goby fish in the pot with spices, add a little thickened caramel sauce and enough water to submerge the fish, then simmer over low heat. About half an hour later, when the lid is lifted, the pot of braised fish emits a rich fragrance, and the dark-colored fish looks truly appealing.

In the past, many people meticulously stewed fish in earthen pots over low heat using bamboo charcoal. Then, they buried the pot of braised fish in rice husk ashes to dry the fish without burning it, enhancing the flavor even more.

Nowadays, with a busy schedule, once the fish is cooked, it is removed from the heat, plated, and sprinkled with a little finely ground pepper on top, resulting in an excellent braised fish dish.

The firm and flavorful An Khe braised fish, combined with fragrant freshly harvested rice, creates an indescribable deliciousness. While enjoying, some may wonder: Did our ancestors thousands of years ago ever enjoy this dish?

Experience the An Khe braised fish dish when visiting Quang Ngai

An Khe is a lagoon located between Pho Thanh and Pho Khanh communes (Duc Pho, Quang Ngai), known for its rugged and picturesque beauty.

The aquatic resources in the lagoon are abundant, providing food for the ancient Sa Huynh residents and now serving as an important source of nutrition for the people living along the coast.

Among them, An Khe Pond is the most important link as it provides fresh water for the daily life and agriculture of the ancient Sa Huynh community.

Source: Minh Ky/Tuoi Tre

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