Hoàng Lan

The Asia Book of Records recently recognised dishes made from thát lát fish (or strabismus fish) as among the top 11 of Việt Nam’s tastiest specialties.

The Mekong Delta Province of Cà Mau has been known as a “kingdom” of field fishes such as catfish and snakehead fish and thát lát fish. 

Locals feel pride in these fish. The fish’s aromatic flavour has created many characteristics dishes, such as bone removed fish grilled with chili and citronella. But the most famous far and wide is the grilled chopped fish and vermicelli soup topped with grilled or steamed chopped fish, and hotpot.

Many people, particularly youngsters, love Cà Mau's grilled chopped thát lát fish. Photo cachnau.vn

Local Thái Thị Cát, 65, said Cà Mau people often process the fish by hand. But before that, the fresh fish should be carefully cleaned in cold water with light salt to reduce its fish smell.

“It’s rather difficult to use a knife to remove all of the fish’s bones, but Cà Mau housewives have their experienced skills to do it,” Cát said, noting the fish meat is minced or grounded and stuffed well then mixed with a little cooking oil, salt, broth mix and pepper powder and left for 20-25 minutes to ensure that it is tough and fragrant.

Some gourmets are interested in vermicelli soup topped with steamed and grilled chopped thát lát fish. Photo cachnau.vn

Gourmets from HCM City and surrounding provinces often drive to Cà Mau to enjoy the dish. One of them, Châu Hoàng Đức, said he loves thát lát fish dishes. “I often bring my family members to the province to enjoy the dish on the weekend. My parents, my wife and I are interested in vermicelli soup topped with grilled and steamed chopped fish while my children choose grilled chopped fish in chili sauce, they enjoy it so much.”

“Apart from being attractive for its white from vermicelli, topped with red from tomato, green from fresh onions and brown yellow from grilled chopped fish, the vermicelli soup bowl has a natural sweet and aromatic flavour, no fishing smell and a rich nutritious broth cooked from the fish’s bones. It’s more enjoyable when eaten with fresh herbs," Đức said.

Cà Mau Province has been considered a " kingdom" of field fishes including thát lát fish. Photo etime.danviet.vn

Origin of the grilled chopped fish

It was related that, long ago, Từ Dụ, mother of King Tự Đức (1829-1883) was interested in eating dishes made from thát lát fish raised at her native home of Gò Công Village of Gia Định Province, now called Tiền Giang Province. 

After being selected into the Huế Imperial Palace, she asked her maid to bring young thát lát fish from her village to raise it in a pond located in the back of her imperial palace near Huế’s An Cựu Market, said Cát.

She said in the past, to make grilled chopped fish, locals often minced the entire fish (including its bones) because they thought the fish bone could help to add calcium and make their body healthier.

Quail eggs wrapped up in grounded thát lát fish meat, sauced with tomato, has become a very nutritious dish for both elderly and children. Photo yeutre.vn

They also made the dish tougher (not be broken) by stuffing carefully before balling and grilling it.

“Huế people considered the fish among the most healthy dishes compared with other fishes,” Cát said, adding that in winter, housewives often cooked thát lát fish hotpot to warm up their bodies while in summer, they cooked steamed chopped fish soup with bitter gourd, which became very nutritious dishes for both elderly and children. VNS