Vertical Ray of the Sun: Cha Ca Ha Noi (Grilled Fish Hanoi-Style w/Rice Noodles & Herbs)

adapted from Culinary Vietnam, by Daniel Hoyer

Serves 4

Marinade:

2 teaspoons mashed fresh galangal or ginger (or 1 teaspoon dry powder)

2 teaspooons ground tumeric

2 tablespoon fish sauce (or 1 tablespoon shrimp paste)

2 teaspoons sugar

3 tablespoons plain yogurt (*see note)

1 teaspoon rice vinegar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons vegetable oil

4 (6 ounce) boned catfish, tilapia or other white fish fillets

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 cups fresh dill, thick stems removed

a pinch of salt

4 scallions or chives (or both), green parts only, cut into 3" lengths)

1/2 cup coarsely chopped dry roasted (unsalted) peanuts

4 cups cooled cooked rice noodles (about 1/8 in. wide, mai fun, rice sticks, or rice vermicelli)

2-3 cups mixed herbs: various mints (peppermint, purple mint, Vietnamese mint, lemon mint), perilla, Thai (holy) basil, cilantro, culantro, sorrel, shredded scallions (white part only)

Sauce:

3/4 cup warm water

3-4 tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup fish sauce

1/4 cup lime juice

2 teaspoons brown sugar

2-3 Thai bird chiles, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, peeled and sliced

(*= "The original recipe calls for sour rice, a fermented concoction that takes several weeks to prepare, but plain yogurt works well," says Daniel. If you can find fermented rice at your Asian market, you can add about 1 teaspoon instead of the yogurt.)

Combine marinade ingredients and toss gently with the fish fillets. Marinate fish for 30 minutes to 1 hour (up to overnight refrigerated).

For sauce, combine all ingredients and reserve.

Grill fish or broil until done, then cut into bite-size pieces (about 2" x 2"), cover to keep warm.

Heat oil in a skillet or wok and add dill, salt, scallions/chives. Sauté until fragrant and hot, then add fish pieces in and toss lightly to mix. Remove from heat.

Serve with the noodles, peanuts, herbs, and sauce for each person to combine together on their plate or in a bowl. (As you can see from the photograph, at the restaurant, they cook the fish at your table.)

Found at: http://chef-du-cinema.blogspot.com/2011/02/tv-bites-vertical-ray-of-sun-mua-he.html

All original content © Copyright 2010-11 by Ron Deutsch. Permission required for any republishing.