Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Caught anything lately? Post up how you cooked it here and if it was a success. Doesn't only have to be fish....
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Seasherpa
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Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Seasherpa »

Pulled the last of the SWR mackerel out of the freezer this morning and SWMBO said she would make Ca Kho To,a Viet claypot dish. :up:
Here's what you need:
1/2 kg mackerel steaks, bone and skin on (Aussie salmon, snapper or other firm fish would work too)
3 tbs brown sugar
2 tbs minced garlic
Couple of twists of black pepper
3 spring onions, sliced 1 inches long
1 chilli
Cooking oil
From the Asian grocery:
4 tbs fish sauce
3 tbs caramel sauce
1 can of coconut juice (not cream or milk as I found out :oops: )

To speed things up at the Asian grocers, here's what they look like:
Asian grocery ingredients.jpg
Method:
1) Marinade steaks with fish sauce, sugar, pepper, garlic, and shallots for about 1/2-1 hr.
2) In pot, heat about 1 tbs of cooking oil on medium high and add the marinaded fish.
3) Allow to sear and brown for about 2-3 before searing opposite side for another few minutes.
4) Add the caramel sauce and just enough coconut juice to the level of the fish steaks. Cover and turn to med low heat and allow to simmer for about 25 min (longer if you want it really soft),
5) Checking a few times to make sure that it's not reduced too much. Add more coconut juice or caramel sauce if needed.
The fish will eventually caramelize and brown, as will the sauce which will be a thick gooey consistency. T
6) Taste sauce and make final adjustments with fish sauce or sugar as needed.
7) Turn off heat and add additional fresh cracked pepper, green onions, and chili.
8) Serve with rice and a good beer. :thumbsup:

Smashed it before I remembered to take a photo but here's what it looks like:
3810970242_382afeac0d.jpg
Last edited by Seasherpa on 08 May 2016, 20:18, edited 1 time in total.
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Galey
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Galey »

Bloody hell that sounds so good!
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Seasherpa
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Seasherpa »

Galey wrote:Bloody hell that sounds so good!
Mate I still haven't moved off the couch! :lol:
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loboloco
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by loboloco »

Nice one, I think I need to get some mackerel out of the freezer and give it a go, looks delicious! :up:

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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Outback Yak »

My mouth's watering as I read that. The next Vyak lunch WILL be held at Eoin's place during the school holidays in a few weeks.....all invited :evilgrin:
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Seasherpa »

loboloco wrote:Nice one, I think I need to get some mackerel out of the freezer and give it a go, looks delicious! :up:

Cheers
Loboloco
Cutlets are better than fillets if you have them to keep the fish moist.
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Seasherpa
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by Seasherpa »

Outback Yak wrote:My mouth's watering as I read that. The next Vyak lunch WILL be held at Eoin's place during the school holidays in a few weeks.....all invited :evilgrin:
You'll have to send Lobo up north to pick up some more mackerel then Dino, mines all gone! :lol:
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by shane »

I can donate you a bit of spotty mac Dino. :up:
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loboloco
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by loboloco »

I finally got around to pulling some mackerel steaks out of the freezer and giving this a go. It was really nice! Certainly something different to what I normally do!
I couldn't find the caramel sauce so I just made some, I also used coconut water and I added two chilies to the marinade.

This is how it turned out...

Image



Now we need to go get some more :twisted:

Cheers
Loboloco
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Re: Ca Kho To - Last of the SWR mackerel

Post by happyas »

Wife hates anything spicy so it will be all mine. That sounds absolutely sh1thot. I will put that one in my recipe box. Yum. Thanks Eion. I reckon that it would work on shark as well.
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