Ca Kho To - Vietnamese Caramelized Fish in Clay Pot

Ingredients

• Fish fillets (1 lb (450g), skin-on preferred)
• Cooking oil (2 tablespoons)
• Shallots (2, thinly sliced)
• Garlic (4 cloves, minced)
• Fish sauce (1/4 cup)
• Sugar (3 tablespoons)
• Black pepper (1 teaspoon)
• Water (1/2 cup)
• Green onions (2, chopped (for garnish))
• Cilantro (1/4 cup, chopped (for garnish))

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, combine the fish sauce, sugar, minced garlic, and black pepper. Mix well to create a marinade.
2. Place the fish fillets in the marinade, ensuring they are well-coated. Allow them to marinate for 15 minutes to absorb the flavors.
3. In a clay pot or a deep skillet, heat the cooking oil over medium heat until shimmering.
4. Add the sliced shallots to the pot and sauté until they become fragrant and translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
5. Carefully place the marinated fish fillets in the pot, skin side down, arranging them in a single layer.
6. Pour the remaining marinade over the fish and add the water to the pot.
7. Cover the pot and reduce the heat to low. Let the fish simmer for approximately 30 minutes, or until cooked through and the sauce has thickened, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
8. Once cooked, remove the pot from heat and garnish the dish with chopped green onions and cilantro.
9. Serve hot with steamed rice for a complete meal.