What Delicious Dishes Can Be Made With Catfish? Top 11 Rice-Worthy Meals

Eeltail catfish is one of the fish species with firm, fragrant meat, few bones, and is quite common in many sea regions of Vietnam. Not only rich in nutrition, but eeltail catfish can also be easily processed into many dishes from hotpots to savory braised dishes. So, what are the best dishes to make with eeltail catfish and how to choose fresh fish to preserve the full flavor? Let’s explore 11 delicious dishes that go perfectly with rice in this article with Ola Squid!

1. What are the best dishes to make with eeltail catfish?

With eeltail catfish as the main ingredient, you can prepare a variety of delicious and attractive dishes to treat the whole family. Here are some easy-to-make eeltail catfish recipes at home:

1.1. Spicy and sour eeltail catfish hotpot

Ingredients:

• 1 eeltail catfish (about 1kg)
• 3 tomatoes, 1/2 pineapple
• 1/4 onion, 2 shallots
• 1 lemon, 1 chili pepper
• Garnish herbs: basil, rice paddy herb, green onions
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 5 tablespoons kumquat juice
• 1/2 tablespoon fish sauce, 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1/2 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon seasoning powder

How to cook spicy and sour eeltail catfish hotpot:

• First, you need to clean the entrails and gills of the fish, rub it with salt and lemon to remove the slime, rinse with clean water, and then cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Cut tomatoes and onions into wedges. Mince shallots and chili. Peel and slice the pineapple, wash the garnish herbs and cut them short.
• Next, sauté the shallots and chili with cooking oil, then add about 2 liters of water and bring to a boil. Once the water boils, add half of the tomatoes, pineapple, and the fish to cook through. Remove the fish and season the hotpot broth with sugar, kumquat juice, fish sauce, seasoning powder, and salt.
• Add the remaining tomatoes, adjust the seasoning to taste, and then return the fish to the pot. Finally, add the garnish herbs and it’s done.

1.2. Eeltail catfish hotpot with fermented bamboo shoots

Required ingredients:

• 1 eeltail catfish (about 1kg)
• 600g fermented bamboo shoots, 300g water mimosa
• 300g Sesbania sesban flowers
• 2 tomatoes, 1 chili pepper
• 5 shallots, 5 cloves of garlic
• 4 stalks of lemongrass, a bit of sawtooth herb, rice paddy herb
• 150ml tamarind juice, 1.5 liters of bone broth
• 3 tablespoons fish sauce, 3 tablespoons cooking oil
• 1.5 tablespoons chili sate, 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
• 3 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon seasoning powder
• 1.5 tablespoons rock sugar, 1 teaspoon MSG

Instructions for making eeltail catfish hotpot with fermented bamboo shoots:

• Clean the eeltail catfish and rub with salt to remove the slime, rinse with water and cut into bite-sized chunks. Then marinate the fish with salt, pepper, and a bit of sate for about 15 minutes to absorb the flavor.
• Slice the lemongrass, mince shallots and garlic, and slice the chili. Cut tomatoes into pieces. Clean the water mimosa and Sesbania flowers, wash and drain. Wash the sawtooth herb and rice paddy herb and chop them.
• Next, boil water with a little salt, add the fermented bamboo shoots and blanch for about 3 minutes, then remove and soak in cold water, wash and drain to reduce the harsh sourness. Heat oil, lightly fry the fish until firm, then remove to a plate.
• Then sauté shallots, garlic, and lemongrass, add tomatoes, sate, and fermented bamboo shoots and stir-fry. Season with fish sauce and seasoning powder for the shoots to absorb flavor, then turn off the heat.
• Next, boil the bone broth with tamarind juice, then add the fish and tomatoes to cook. Season with salt, seasoning powder, fish sauce, rock sugar, and MSG to taste. When the water boils again, add the stir-fried bamboo shoots and cook for another 10 minutes. Finally, add water mimosa, Sesbania flowers, sawtooth herb, rice paddy herb, and chili, wait for it to boil, then turn off the heat.

1.3. Eeltail catfish roe patty

Prepare ingredients:

• 100g eeltail catfish roe
• 3 stalks of green onions, 2 duck eggs
• 100ml white wine
• 1/2 teaspoon MSG, 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1.5 teaspoons fish sauce, 1 tablespoon cooking oil

How to make eeltail catfish roe patty

• Soak the eeltail catfish roe in white wine for about 20 minutes to remove the fishy smell, wash it, and peel off the outer membrane. Lightly crush the roe so that some whole grains remain to create richness. Wash and chop the green onions.
• Next, put the catfish roe, duck eggs, and green onions in a bowl and whisk well. Season with fish sauce, sugar, MSG, and a little water, then stir until the mixture is well blended and slightly fluffy.
• Finally, heat oil in a pan, then pour the catfish roe mixture in and fry over medium heat. Flip both sides until the patty is golden brown and fragrant, then turn off the heat.

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1.4. Eeltail catfish sour soup

Ingredients:

• 500g eeltail catfish
• 3 kumquats, 3 tomatoes
• 1/2 pineapple, 4 chili peppers
• 3 sprigs of basil
• 4 shallots, 3 cloves of garlic
• Salt, fish sauce, seasoning powder, sugar, pepper

Instructions for cooking eeltail catfish sour soup:

• Clean the eeltail catfish, remove entrails, and keep the roe if any. Rub the fish with salt or lemon to remove the fishy smell, rinse, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Cut tomatoes into wedges and slice the pineapple. Squeeze kumquats for juice. Crush shallots, mince garlic, and slice chili. Wash and chop the basil.
• Then put a pot on the stove and sauté garlic with cooking oil, add the pineapple and stir-fry briefly, then add about 1 liter of water, bring to a boil, and skim off foam. Continue to add shallots, chili, and kumquat juice to the pot.
• When the water boils, add the fish to cook, frequently skimming foam for clear soup. Finally, add tomatoes and basil, season to taste, cook for a few more minutes, then turn off the heat and sprinkle with pepper.

1.5. Eeltail catfish braised with pepper

Ingredients:

• 500g eeltail catfish
• Green onions, chili
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar, 3 tablespoons fish sauce

How to make eeltail catfish braised with pepper:

• Clean the eeltail catfish and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Wash the green onions and chili and chop them separately. Then put the fish in a bowl, marinate with fish sauce, sugar, onions, and chili. Mix well and let the fish absorb the seasoning for about 10 minutes.
• Put the pot on the stove, then add the marinated fish and braise over low heat for about 20 minutes until the fish is tender and the sauce thickens. Finally, season to taste, sprinkle with more pepper, green onions, and chili, then turn off the heat.

1.6. Eeltail catfish braised in a clay pot

Required ingredients:

• 300g eeltail catfish
• 2 chili peppers, a little green onion
• 1 tablespoon caramel sauce, 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon cooking oil, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 tablespoon sugar

Instructions on how to cook eeltail catfish braised in a clay pot:

• First, cut off the venomous spines on both sides of the fish body, then clean the gills and barbels and wash thoroughly. Then cut the fish into thick, bite-sized rounds.
• Next, put the fish in a clay pot (or a regular pot), marinate with fish sauce, caramel sauce, sugar, and minced garlic. Mix gently and let the fish absorb the seasoning for about 15 minutes.
• Put the pot on the stove, cook over medium heat until the fish simmers gently, then add cooking oil and toss gently so the fish cooks evenly. Lower the heat and braise until the sauce thickens, then add green onions and chili, then turn off the heat.

>>> Similar delicious dish: What are the best dishes to make with goby fish? 13 authentic Western style goby fish recipes

1.7 Eeltail catfish braised with turmeric

Required ingredients:

• 500g eeltail catfish
• 2 shallots, 1 fresh turmeric root
• 2 bird’s eye chilies, 3 – 4 cloves of garlic
• 100ml fresh coconut water, 2 stalks of green onions
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce, ½ tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon sugar

How to make eeltail catfish braised with turmeric:

• First, you need to cut off the venomous spines on both sides of the fish, clean the gills and barbels, wash thoroughly, and cut the fish into bite-sized rounds. Quickly blanch the fish in boiling water to firm the meat and reduce the fishy smell.
• Peel and wash the turmeric, then crush it. Mince shallots and garlic and slice the chili. Wash and cut the green onions into pieces.
• Add cooking oil to a clay pot, sauté shallots, garlic, and turmeric, then put the fish in the pot. Season with fish sauce, salt, sugar, seasoning powder, chili, and pepper, tossing gently for the fish to absorb the flavor, marinate for about 15 minutes.
• Next, turn on the stove to medium heat and add fresh coconut water once the fish starts to boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the sauce thickens and the fish is tender, then adjust the seasoning to taste and turn off the heat. Then place the fish on a plate, pour the braising sauce over it, and sprinkle with green onions to enhance flavor and color.

1.8. Eeltail catfish braised with ginger

Ingredients:

• 500g eeltail catfish
• 2 chili peppers, 1 fresh ginger root
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil, 1 tablespoon fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon caramel sauce, 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon MSG

How to make eeltail catfish braised with ginger:

• Clean the eeltail catfish entrails, use salt to rub and remove the fishy smell, then rinse multiple times with water. Cut the fish into bite-sized pieces and drain.
• Peel the ginger, wash, and crush it, then squeeze out some juice so it’s not bitter. Remove the chili stalks, wash, and crush with the ginger.
• Then heat the cooking oil, sauté the ginger-chili mixture until fragrant. Next, add the fish and toss, then season with fish sauce, sugar, salt, MSG, and caramel sauce, adding a little filtered water. Lower the heat to simmer until the fish is tender, absorbs the flavor, and the sauce thickens, then turn off the heat.

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1.9. Eeltail catfish braised with fermented bean paste

Ingredients:

• 700g eeltail catfish
• 200g fermented bean paste
• 2 horn chilies, 4 cloves of garlic
• 5 shallots, a little green onion
• 300ml fresh coconut water
• 1 tablespoon seasoning powder, 1/2 teaspoon MSG
• 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon salt

Instructions for cooking eeltail catfish braised with fermented bean paste:

• After buying the eeltail catfish, clean the gills, fins, and entrails, then rinse with water. Next, soak the fish briefly in boiling water for about 2 minutes, then lightly scrape the slime off the skin, and cut into bite-sized pieces.
• Peel garlic and shallots, then crush them in a mortar along with the horn chilies. Wash and chop the green onions for decoration.
• Then put the fish in a bowl and marinate with fermented bean paste, sugar, seasoning powder, salt, and MSG. Mix well for the fish to absorb the flavor, then add the crushed garlic, onion, and chili mixture and marinate for about 30 minutes.
• Finally, boil the fresh coconut water and add the fish and the marinade to the pot. Simmer on low heat until the sauce thickens, the fish is well-seasoned, and it becomes fragrant. Note that during braising, remember to skim foam for a clearer sauce.

1.10. Eeltail catfish braised with star fruit

Ingredients:

• 400g eeltail catfish
• 2 sour star fruits, 1/2 chili pepper
• 2 shallots, 1 stalk of green onion
• 1 tablespoon caramel sauce, ½ tablespoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce, 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 teaspoons salt, 1 teaspoon MSG

How to process eeltail catfish braised with star fruit:

• After buying the eeltail catfish, cut off the venomous spines on both sides, clean the gills and entrails, wash thoroughly, and cut into rounds. Then use salt to lightly rub the fish body to remove slime and fishy smells, then rinse and drain.
• Wash the star fruits, trim the hard edges, then slice them. Peel and thinly slice the shallots and slice the chili. Wash the green onions, cut into pieces, and keep the white parts separately.
• Next, put the fish in a bowl, marinate with fish sauce, caramel sauce, salt, sugar, MSG, chili, and minced onion and garlic. Mix well and let the fish absorb the seasoning for about 15 minutes.
• Then sauté shallots and garlic with cooking oil, add the fish to sear until both sides are lightly golden. Continue to add the marinade and an adequate amount of water, then braise on low heat until the fish is cooked. Finally, add star fruit, shallots, and the white part of green onions and braise for another 10-15 minutes until the sauce thickens, then turn off the heat.

1.11. Grilled eeltail catfish with chili salt

Ingredients

• 1 kg eeltail catfish
• 1 bowl of tamarind fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon MSG, 1 tablespoon chili salt
• 500g cucumber
• A little salt

How to make grilled eeltail catfish with chili salt

• Clean the purchased fish, removing fins, scales, tail, and entrails. Carefully remove the gills, blood vessels, and ovaries (if any) to avoid breaking them. Then soak the fish in diluted salt water for about 15 minutes, rinse with clean water, and drain. You can leave it whole or cut it into bite-sized pieces.
• Next, mix the fish thoroughly with chili salt and MSG, marinate for about 15 minutes to absorb the flavor. Light the charcoal and place the fish on the grill, grilling evenly on both sides.
• Finally, grill until the fish skin is crispy, and the meat is tender and fragrant. Grilled eeltail catfish retains a savory, naturally sweet taste. You can eat it with raw vegetables, roll it with a few slices of cucumber, and dip it in tamarind fish sauce mixed with a bit of spicy chili for even better taste.

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2. How to choose fresh eeltail catfish

When buying eeltail catfish, you should prioritize those that are still alive so the meat is firm and retains its natural sweetness. Choose fish with a large, round, firm body, shiny scales, transparent eyes, and skin without unusual colors, scratches, or scars. Avoid buying fish with a soft, mushy body, gills with clotted blood, black or dark red color, a bloated body, or a foul smell with many flies around, as that is fish that has been stored for a long time and is no longer fresh.

Eeltail catfish is a versatile ingredient, easy to prepare into many delicious dishes, from spicy and sour hotpot, clay pot braising, and ginger braising to chili salt grilling, each dish offering a rich, attractive flavor. We hope that after reading this article, you have found the answer to the question “what are the best dishes to make with eeltail catfish” and if you are looking for more recipe ideas for other attractive dishes for your family or high-quality dried seafood products, please visit Ola Squid shop today!