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Vietnamese Sour Soup with River Leaf (Canh Chua La Giang)


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5 from 1 review

  • Author: Vicky Pham
  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4

Description

A traditional sour fish soup with river leaf (la giang). Serve with steamed rice for a complete Vietnamese family-style meal.


Ingredients

Units Scale

Fish/Chicken Marinade

  • 1 lb fish (whole or filet catfish, salmon or any fish of your choice. You can also use chicken thighs cut into bite-size pieces)
  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce
  • 3 chili peppers (optional; slice thin)

Soup

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 garlic cloves (peel and roughly chop)
  • 1 small shallot (peel and roughly chop)
  • 1.5 liters water
  • 200 grams blanched La Giang
  • 1 tomato (slice into thin wedges)
  • 5 tablespoons granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon chicken bouillon powder

Instructions

  1. Marinate the fish: Marinate the fish with fish sauce and chili peppers for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or overnight in fridge.
  2. Sauté aromatics: In a medium-size stock pot, heat up vegetable oil on medium-high. Add garlic and shallot. Sauté until fragrant.
  3. Cook the soup base: Add water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Add the marinated fish and accompanying juices. Cook the fish for about 10 minutes on medium low. Skim off any foam that floats to the top and discard.
  4. Add vegetables and seasonings: Once the fish is fully cooked, add La Giang and tomato. Season the soup with sugar, salt and pork/chicken/mushroom stock powder.
  5. Serve: Turn off heat and serve as a side dish to steamed rice.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Category: Soup
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Vietnamese