Vietnamese Sweet and Sour Fish Soup

Ingredients

• 500g (1.1 lb) catfish fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces 500g (1.1 lb) catfish fillets, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 onion, thinly sliced 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces 2 stalks lemongrass, bruised and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp, soaked in 1/4 cup warm water and strained 1 tablespoon tamarind pulp, soaked in 1/4 cup warm water and strained
• 1 cup pineapple chunks 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges 2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 4 cups fish or vegetable broth 4 cups fish or vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon sugar
• 2 red chili peppers, sliced 2 red chili peppers, sliced
• 1 bunch Vietnamese coriander, leaves picked 1 bunch Vietnamese coriander, leaves picked
• Salt, to taste Salt, to taste

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 250 kcal / 1046 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 8g, 1g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 20g, 10g
• Protein: 25g
• Fiber: 4g
• Salt: 2g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Heat the vegetable oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and lemongrass. Sauté until fragrant.
2. 2.
   Add the tamarind pulp, pineapple chunks, and tomatoes to the pot. Stir well to combine.
3. 3.
   Pour in the fish or vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. 4.
   Add the catfish fillets, fish sauce, sugar, and chili peppers to the pot. Simmer for another 5-7 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.
5. 5.
   Remove the pot from the heat and season with salt to taste. Stir in the Vietnamese coriander leaves.
6. 6.
   Serve the Sweet and Sour Fish Soup hot with steamed rice or rice noodles.

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Catfish — Make sure to choose fresh catfish fillets with a mild aroma. If catfish is not available, you can substitute it with other white fish such as tilapia or cod.

Tips & Tricks

• To enhance the flavor, you can add a small amount of shrimp paste or fermented fish sauce to the soup.
• Adjust the level of spiciness by adding more or fewer chili peppers according to your preference.
• For a vegetarian version, you can replace the fish with tofu or mushrooms.

Serving advice

Serve the Sweet and Sour Fish Soup as a main course accompanied by steamed rice or rice noodles. Garnish with fresh herbs such as cilantro and serve with lime wedges on the side for an extra burst of flavor.

Presentation advice

Present the Sweet and Sour Fish Soup in individual bowls, ensuring that each bowl contains a generous amount of fish, vegetables, and broth. Garnish with a sprig of Vietnamese coriander and a slice of chili pepper for an attractive and appetizing presentation.