Fuss-free recipes are perfect for those midweek dinners and Grandma’s Cá Chiên Sốt Cà Chua comes together using only 4 main ingredients! Her home-style Vietnamese Fried Fish with Tomato Sauce is fried until crisp, then smothered in a sweet, savory and tangy Asian-style salsa that’s just out of this world.
If you love this cooking style, try it with a ginger soy glaze or pickled mustard greens!
A fresh side dish that’ll brighten any day
If you need a new and exciting Summer recipe, then Grandma’s Cá Chiên Sốt Cà Chua is the one for you! It’s the perfect way to keep an entire menu fresh, tropical and fruity (especially if paired with pineapple and chili salt or sweet fish sauce).
I’m telling you now, the secret is in the sauce. When you bite down into fish fried shatteringly crisp, the first half of your taste buds will cry with joy.
Then let your mouth discover pops of tomatoes gently simmered with onions and you’ll wonder why you don’t have this sauce on anything else!
Did I mention that this whole recipe only needs 4 main ingredients? You can easily have a meal ready to go with seasoning you probably already have in your pantry. I love saving myself a trip to the market!
Make the most of your weeknights by making Grandma’s quick and easy home-style recipe!
Which fish is best for frying?
There are many fish suitable for frying, but here are some tips for the most ideal types:
- Choose fish that are not too oily. The tomatoes in this dish have a fresh flavor, which would pair well with a leaner protein.
- Make sure the fish has a neutral taste. The sauce is reminiscent of a warm salsa and best complemented with a milder flavored fish. You’ll find that fish with white flesh generally fall under this category. Flounder, trout, tilapia, catfish, perch and cod are great options to try out!
Before frying: Just make sure to score the fish deeply in an ‘X’ shape, then once across the middle for the fish to cook quickly and evenly. It’s also a great way for the sauce to sink in!
Why this recipe works
- Using flounder means the meat to sauce ratio is 50:50, which highlights the sauce’s fresh taste.
- Onions add a natural sweetness and aromatic flavor to the Vietnamese-style salsa to balance the tanginess.
- Mixing starch into the tomatoes instantly thickens the juices when cooked so you don’t have to make a separate batch.
What you’ll need
About the ingredients
For this recipe, we like to use flat fish like flounder because it gets much crispier faster, which complements the sauce well. But you can use whichever variety you like.
How to make this recipe
Turn the heat of the wok or pan on high and pour a generous amount of oil in the pan to cover the base. When hot, add the fish in to fry for 15 minutes or until golden brown on one side.
Flip and fry for another 15 minutes or until golden brown as well. When done, transfer to a plate.
Clean the wok or pan and add 2 tbsp oil in on medium heat. Pour in the onions to cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic in. Stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Meanwhile, mix the tomatoes, potato starch, sugar, chicken bouillon powder and salt together.
Add the tomatoes to the aromatics and mix for 1 minute before adding in the water. Stir until well combined.
Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
Serve the tomato sauce on top of the fried fish when ready to eat and enjoy with rice!
Recipe FAQs
Since this dish is savory, you can simply balance it out with sugar or pineapple juice. Just make sure that if you’re using pineapple juice that you do it 1 tsp at a time until it tastes to preference, otherwise it will taste more like pineapple.
If it’s fried extra crisp, it can be eaten. So long as biting into it snaps it enough for you to chew it well, then it’s safe for you to eat. But if you prefer not to, simply discard it or add it in a stock if there’s no tomato on it.
Certainly! You can use what you have on hand. Homegrown, store-bought or canned will work. Just keep in mind that different varieties and whether they’re fresh or canned will produce a different taste.
Tips for the best results
- Use fresh produce. If you can get your hands on fresh ingredients, the flavors and textures will be completely natural and free from any additives.
- Avoid overly ripe tomatoes. These will soften too quickly and lose their structure, which takes away from the texture of the sauce.
- Use your favorite fish. While we love this dish with flounder, if there’s a variety that you enjoy more, make your meal more enjoyable by using what you love.
More home-style Vietnamese comfort foods
- Ga Ragu (Chicken Ragu) – This is the perfect way to warm up. Thick tomato sauce is slow cooked with chicken until beautifully soft.
- Chả Trứng Hấp (Steamed Egg Meatloaf) – Juicy and full of porky goodness, Grandma’s recipe is incredible when served in a Cơm Tấm combo with Đồ Chua (Pickled Carrot and Daikon), Sườn Nướng (Grilled Pork Chops), Bì (Shredded Pork Skin) and Nước Mắm (Vietnamese Dipping Sauce).
- Vietnamese Pork Mince – Serve these with noodles or keep things light in lettuce wraps.
- Thịt Kho (Braised Pork Belly and Eggs in Coconut Water) – Thick-cut pork belly pieces are caramelized in sugar and coconut water for the most incredible side dish to rice!
Want more home cooked recipes?
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Cá Chiên Sốt Cà Chua (Vietnamese Fried Fish with Tomato Sauce)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Turn the heat of the wok or pan on high and pour a generous amount of oil in the pan to cover the base.
- When hot, add the fish in to fry for 15 minutes or until golden brown on one side.
- Flip and fry for another 15 minutes or until golden brown as well. When done, transfer to a plate.
- Clean the wok or pan and add 2 tbsp oil in on medium heat.
- Pour in the onions to cook for 2 minutes, then add the garlic in. Stir for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
- Meanwhile, mix the tomatoes, potato starch, sugar, chicken bouillon powder and salt together.
- Add the tomatoes to the aromatics and mix for 1 minute before adding in the water. Stir until well combined.
- Let it simmer for 2 minutes.
- Serve the tomato sauce on top of the fried fish when ready to eat and enjoy with rice!
Notes
- Use fresh produce. If you can get your hands on fresh ingredients, the flavors and textures will be completely natural and free from any additives.
- Avoid overly ripe tomatoes. These will soften too quickly and lose their structure, which takes away from the texture of the sauce.
- Use your favorite fish. While we love this dish with flounder, if there's a variety that you enjoy more, make your meal more enjoyable by using what you love.
- We like to use flat fish like flounder because it gets much crispier faster, which complements the sauce well. But you can use whichever variety you like.
Nutrition
This post was originally published on 13/02/20 and updated with tips and FAQs in March 2022.
This dish was a big hit! We all loved how crispy the fish turned out and the tomato sauce was delicious!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed it, Jamie!
Quick fish recipes are my favorite – they save time and are healthy & delicious! Can’t wait to give this recipe a try!
It’s great for the family! I hope you enjoy it, Mahy!
Fried fish is always a favorite! Love the Vietnamese flavors!
Thanks, Tisha!
I enjoy trying unique recipes and can’t wait to give this one a try!
Thanks, Vicky! It’s definitely worth a try!
This recipe is so good! It’s a delicious switch up from my usual baked or pan seared fish. Definitely a go-to weeknight recipe!
I love changing it up every now and then too!
I made this for lunch yesterday. It was easy and delicious. Looking forward to trying more of your recipes. Thanks!
That’s wonderful to hear, Jeremy! Glad you liked it!