ClockTuesday, 12/03/2019 07:57

Cranoglanis fish in cactus soup

TTH.VN - Arriving back home on a rainy day, my husband and his brother went together to net some cranoglanis fish. Mom and I barely finished preparing lunch when they returned with bags on both hands full of wild-caught cranoglanis.

Sour shrimp sauce simmered with pork bellyVegetarian dishes: frugal but pleasantMai fish stewed with turmeric - a rustic but delicious dishTasty stream snails

Cranoglanis in cactus soup – a fresh delight in the springtime. 

While his brother took the fish off the net, to my surprise, my husband quickly rushed to a nearby sand dune and returned with a basket full of cactus. My mother-in-law cried in delight “What a blend! Cranoglanis and cactus make a perfect match!”

She then went on to prepare the cactus. Picked cactus was cut into pieces, skin-peeled, then thinly sliced along the edge to leave out the core. The chopped cactus was then marinated with raw salt to reduce slime, then tightly squeezed to remove water, washed, and squeezed again till dry. Fresh cranoglanis was cleaned, seasoned, and let sit for about 20 minutes.

Surprised and excited with the strange dish, I was also thrilled to taste it with mom. After marinating, she fried minced onion with oil and chili powder in a pan to arouse smell. She added cranoglanis and stirred it well before filling the pan with cactus, then poured some cold boiled water. We waited till the fish was fully cooked, then turned off the stove.

The whole family gathered around the tray full of delicious city-made dishes, but the fabulous rural hot soup of cranoglanis and cactus was far more popular. While enjoying, my husband and dad recalled tales of the old days.

For coastal villagers, growing vegetables is a challenge since the sand can only be home to cactus - a kind of "vegetable" substitute for regular meals. Especially in the dry season, a bowl of cactus soup with freshly caught sea fish can be truly invigorating. Yet the cranoglanis caught in lagoon still makes the best ingredient for the soup. 

At first, cactus in the soup did not impress me with any of its distinct flavors, but the more I chewed, the crunchier it became, alongside with its chewy and mild sour taste. Cactus is slightly sour with a milder flavor than starfruit and lemon and can reduce any fishy taste. It is thus can be suitably used for many kinds of fish, sea and freshwater fish alike.

I had the chance to try quite a few strange dishes since becoming daughter-in-law in a rural coastal family. Yet it never dawned on me how cactus could go with cranoglanis in a soup when this spiny plant makes a fabulously succulent vegetable. Its flavor reflects the soul of the coastal villagers and indeed, raises generations after generations in the arid sandy soil.

On the very first days of spring, I sensed love and sincerity within our sad and fun stories, within the hearts and souls of the coastal people when we all gathered around the family meals with a bowl of cactus hot soup, enjoyed it with hearty laughs.

Story and photo: THAO VY

RATING
Be the first to review this post!
  Comment

YOU MAY CARE ABOUT

Crystal-clear Mirror Candy from Hue

Mirror candy has a transparent appearance, resembling a small mirror and I found out and interesting thing is that most traditional candies from the Imperial City of Hue are named after the shape or form of their appearance, such as betel nut candy, ginger candy, hammer candy, and mirror candy... These names are unique, simple, and easy to remember.

Crystal-clear Mirror Candy from Hue
Vietnam - Japan Traditional New Year Culinary Exchange

On November 11th, Hue Tourism College collaborated with Vietnam - Japan Friendship Association of Thua Thien Hue Province to host a seminar and exchange event featuring Vietnamese - Japanese traditional New Year culinary culture.

Vietnam - Japan Traditional New Year Culinary Exchange
What status for Hue’s famous delicacy?

Many renowned dishes representing various regions have been recognized as National Intangible Cultural Heritage, such as Quảng noodles of Quang Nam province and the craft of making phở of Nam Dinh province. In light of this information, diners are asking where bún bò Hue (beef noodle soup) stands on the culinary map and why it has not been recognized yet.

What status for Hue’s famous delicacy
Sea herrings at night

At 8 p.m. Tram and her friends were present on the coast in Giang Hai (Phu Loc). They thought they were early, but in the dim light of flashlights, they saw tens of people already there choosing the best herrings.

Sea herrings at night
Hue Traditional Food Week 2024 opens

On the evening of April 27, at Thuong Bac Park, Dong Ba Ward, the People's Committee of Hue City in collaboration with Phu Dat Gia Co., Ltd. organized the opening ceremony of the Hue Traditional Food Week 2024.

Hue Traditional Food Week 2024 opens
Return to top