Vietnamese Chả Cá Lã Vọng with Dill and Turmeric

Name: Vietnamese Chả Cá Lã Vọng with Dill and Turmeric
Prep time: 1 h
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Main Course
Ingredients: Firm white fish fillets (catfish or ling); Turmeric powder; Fish sauce; Sugar; Vegetable oil; Ginger — minced; Garlic — minced; Fresh dill — chopped; Spring onions — chopped; Small onion — thinly sliced; Vermicelli noodles — soaked and drained; Lime wedges; Red chili — sliced; Roasted peanuts — chopped

Fragrant turmeric-marinated fish with fresh dill

A traditional Vietnamese dish that highlights the harmonious blend of turmeric-seasoned fish with aromatic fresh herbs.

1 h 30 min
4
Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Marinated Fish

Firm white fish fillets (catfish or ling)

500g — cut into chunks

Turmeric powder

2 tablespoons

Fish sauce

1 tablespoon

Sugar

1 tablespoon

Vegetable oil

1 tablespoon

Ginger — minced

1 teaspoon

Garlic — minced

1 teaspoon

For the Herb Mix

Fresh dill — chopped

1 bunch

Spring onions — chopped

1 bunch

Small onion — thinly sliced

For the Noodle Base

Vermicelli noodles — soaked and drained

200g

For the Condiments

Lime wedges

Red chili — sliced

Roasted peanuts — chopped

Preparation

Marinating the Fish

Combine Marinade Ingredients

In a bowl, combine turmeric powder, fish sauce, sugar, vegetable oil, ginger, and garlic. Mix well.

Coat Fish Chunks

Add fish chunks to the marinade, ensuring they're well-coated.

Use a bowl with a lid for easier marinating; just shake it to coat the fish evenly.

Refrigerate

Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for deeper flavor.

Avoid over-marinating the fish, as the turmeric can become overpowering.

Preparing the Herb Mix

Chop Herbs

Chop fresh dill and spring onions; set aside separately.

Slice Onion and Combine

Thinly slice the onion and mix with chilled herb components.

Arrange for Garnish

Arrange prepared herbs and onion on a platter, ready for garnish.

Cooking Process

Grilling the Fish

Preheat a grill pan over medium heat and cook the marinated fish pieces until golden and cooked through, about 2–3 minutes per side.

Use medium heat for grilling the fish.

Herb Sautéing

In a separate pan, lightly sauté the mix of dill and spring onions in a bit of oil until fragrant.

Use low to medium heat for sautéing the herbs.

Noodle Preparation

Briefly cook the soaked vermicelli noodles in boiling water for 2 minutes until just tender, then drain.

Plating & Serving