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Prep time
30 minutes
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Cook time
40 minutes
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Serves
2-3
Author Notes
From the files of childhood favorites, my mother would pan fry a whole fish and then topped it with quickly cooked minced tomatoes (using two meat cleavers!) and spicy ginger fish sauce. I've simplified it using fish fillets. It's a favorite for the vivid colored sauce, spicy gingery bite, and crispy skin (if you can get fillets with the skin still on). This even tastes good with those bland out of season tomatoes. —HalfPint
Ingredients
- Tomato Sauce
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2 cups
small-diced fresh tomatoes
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1
small clove garlic
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1 tablespoon
oil
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2
~6-8 oz fillets (skin-on preferably, and scales removed) of any white-fleshed fish
- Spicy Ginger Fish Sauce
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3 tablespoons
lemon or lime juice, fresh squeezed
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2 tablespoons
sugar
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1/4 cup
water, plus more if needed
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2 tablespoons
fish sauce
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1 tablespoon
grated ginger root
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1-3 teaspoons
chili garlic sauce (tuong ot toi)
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1 teaspoon
minced garlic
Directions
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For the spicy ginger fish sauce:
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust seasonings to get the heat level and balance that you prefer. You want a sauce that has a good balance between the salt/sweet/sour flavors. Set aside and make tomato sauce. This can be made a few days ahead and refrigerate.
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For tomato sauce:
Heat garlic with oil in a skillet over medium high heat, ~30 seconds or until the garlic is fragrant and just turning golden. Add tomatoes (juice and all) and cook on high for about 3-4 minutes. Depending on the tomatoes, it will be watery, which is ok.
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Pan fry the fish fillets in a thin layer of oil until golden and skin is crispy. Transfer to a large plate. Smother the fish with all the tomato sauce. Then top with a generous drizzle of the spicy ginger fish sauce, extra sauce can be served in a small bowl alongside the fish. Serve immediately with hot cooked rice and some sauteed spinach & garlic.
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