Fish soup is one of the simple, refreshing dishes that is very easy to make.
It doesn’t require much effort; with just a few basic ingredients and a little skill, you can have a steaming bowl of soup, with a gentle sour taste blended with the natural sweetness of fresh fish, served with a bowl of spicy Hoà Hiệp fish sauce for an amazing experience.
• 500g fresh fish (preferably red tilapia, snakehead fish, or pomfret)
• 2–3 ripe tomatoes, cut into wedges
• 1 bunch of celery (can be substituted with water spinach if preferred)
• 3–4 green onions, chopped
• 1 red onion, sliced
• Seasoning:
o Hòa Hiệp fish sauce 40N: 1–2 tablespoons
o Salt, seasoning powder, ground pepper, sugar
o Cooking oil
Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
• Clean the fish, scale it, and gut it. To eliminate the fishy smell, rub the fish with coarse salt or crushed ginger, then rinse it with clean water and let it drain.
• Wash the tomatoes and cut them into wedges.
• Thoroughly wash the celery and green onions, then cut them into bite-sized pieces.
• Peel the shallots, slice them thinly for frying.
Step 2: Sauté the tomatoes for color
• Place a pot on the stove, add 1–2 tablespoons of cooking oil, and sauté the shallots until fragrant.
• Then add the tomatoes and stir-fry until soft, allowing the tomatoes to release their juices and create a beautiful red color.
Step 3: Prepare the broth
• Pour about 1 liter of water into a pot (you can use coconut water for a tastier soup) with the sautéed tomatoes, and bring to a boil.
• When the water boils, gently add the fish. Cook over medium heat to ensure the fish cooks evenly and doesn’t break apart.
• After 10–15 minutes, when the fish is just cooked, add the celery and green onions to the pot, simmer for another 2–3 minutes, then turn off the heat.
Step 4: Season to taste
• Season the soup with:
• 1–2 tablespoons of Hòa Hiệp 40N fish sauce – this enhances the natural flavor of the dish without needing to add much salt.
• ½ teaspoon of seasoning powder, a pinch of sugar, and ground pepper to taste.
• If you prefer a stronger sour flavor, you can squeeze a few drops of lemon when serving (no need for pineapple like in many other recipes).
• Thoroughly remove the fishy smell from the fish using salt or fresh ginger. You can blanch the fish in boiling water before cooking if necessary.
• Do not stir vigorously once the fish has been added to the pot.
• Using Hòa Hiệp fish sauce will help mask the slight fishy smell and enhance the natural aroma of the soup.
• Tomatoes should be sautéed first to release their fragrance and create a beautiful color for the soup.
Not only is fish soup a dish that helps cool down on hot summer days, but it is also a nutritious meal, low in oil, making it very suitable for dieters, the elderly, or young children.
When combined with Hòa Hiệp fish sauce, the dish becomes more flavorful – truly embodying the essence of “delicious from the drop of sauce, refreshing from the drop of soup.”
You can prepare this dish for family gatherings on weekends, or simply as a regular meal to change things up. With just 20–30 minutes of preparation and cooking, you can have a healthy and flavorful meal ready.
Discover the delicate blend of flavors and aromas, while preserving the original rustic essence of Hòa Hiệp fish sauce!
