Catfish is a specialty that is abundant in the Central region, most of which are found in the waters of Phu Yen, Quang Ngai, and Da Nang. Explaining its name, the people here said that the fish has a body about 30-40cm long, similar to an eel, but smaller and flatter, thinner, so it is associated with the name catfish. There is also another explanation, this fish is small and long, only the processing method is cut or left to dry, so it is called dry.
This fish has an unsightly shape because of its smooth skin, long, and looks like an eel or a snake. Catfish are mainly found in the dry months from April to September. Previously, catfish was associated with the poor meals of people in the sea. After each trip to the sea, when the catfish is harvested, the people in the sea bring it back and process it into dishes, of which the most popular dish is braised catfish. However, this type of fish does not have much meat, the meat is friable, and has crushed bones, so it is not popular.
Catfish has an unsightly appearance
Mr. Hoang Van Thinh (who lives in the coastal area of Quang Nam) said that catfish has its own taste, but has little meat, and its shape is not good-looking, so it is not priced like other fish. “Every fishing boat comes back with all kinds of fish and shrimp. Although the quantity of catfish is not much, the price is very cheap, or it is mainly brought home to eat. When processing catfish, it must first be washed with lemon or new star fruit. clean its viscous part and remove the fishy smell.Then, marinate the fish with spices but the indispensable thing is lemongrass.The more carefully the braised catfish tastes better, the fish meat is not fishy, soft but not crushed.
On that day, the pot of braised fish was fragrant and fragrant, served with hot rice, so simple yet so delicious. Now, in the countryside, people rarely stock fish like before, but mainly deep-fried, grilled with lemongrass and chili, roasted with salt, um, hot pot…”.
It belongs to catfish, so when making it, it must be washed with lemon or star fruit
From the kind of fish that is criticized, cheap, about 3-5 years ago, dried catfish has molted into a specialty, shoulder to shoulder with dried squid, anchovies, dried beef… and sold on the market. , on e-commerce platforms with not cheap prices. Thanks to that, the catfish has helped many households in the coastal areas of Quang Nam – Da Nang escape poverty and have a stable income.
According to the survey, dried catfish or seasoned dried catfish are carefully packed, priced at up to 230,000 VND/kg. To buy delicious dried catfish, Thinh shared, everyone should buy at reputable places, or look at the color and smell of the fish, avoid buying dried catfish that has been left for too long, not preserved carefully, being damaged. Moldy, eating has lost nutrients and affects health.
Mr. Chinh added, in order to make delicious dried catfish, the first thing is to choose really fresh catches, in addition, it depends on the quality of the fish. weather and experience marinating fish.
To dry delicious catfish, definitely choose fresh fish. In addition, it also depends on the secret of marinating the fish, depending on experience and the weather, the “salt” and “sunshine” also change. The fish has just been caught, the fishermen do it right away by cutting off the head, washing it, splitting it in half and then cooking in salt water mixed with a little seasoning with moderate salinity to soak the fish.
Dried catfish brings income to coastal people
After cleaning and marinating, the fish is spread on a griddle and placed on a high platform, 1-1.5m above the ground to dry, to avoid sand. The sun is just hot enough for the fish to shrink, pliable, not greasy, but still retain the sweetness of the fish. For every 5 kg of fresh fish, 1 kg of dried fish can be made. The big ones will be sold for about 100,000 VND/kg, with the smaller ones will cost from 70,000 to 80,000 VND/kg.
Dried catfish in addition to grilled dishes can also be fried crispy, fried sweet and sour, tamarind sauce, grilled satay … any style is delicious, fragrant, is a drink available at restaurants in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Dried catfish is popular because it is not only delicious but also quite convenient. Customers who buy it can store it in the refrigerator, when lazy to go to the market or have unexpected guests at home, just take it and fry it for a few minutes to have a delicious meal or a delicious meal.
Seafood connoisseurs said that dried catfish does not need to be processed much to lose its flavor, grilled catfish must be left on a low fire, not old.
For those who are far from the countryside or tourists coming to this sea, everyone wants to once enjoy the taste of dried catfish. When they come back, they buy them as gifts for relatives and friends. “There is no shortage of catfish in the city or on the e-commerce platform, but I want to buy it from the source, while ensuring the price is softer, so I sometimes collect a batch and sell it to colleagues and the apartment market. , just to eat. Our kids love grilled flatfish or garlic rim”, Ms. Tra Giang (in Hanoi) shared.
at Blogtuan.info – Source: Eva.vn – Read the original article here
