Fun with Jane and Dick

We just went shopping at our local Asian grocery store and bought some fresh fish. Now to cook it up!

The fancy way to say how we’re preparing this is “pan searing” the fish.

Basically, we’re frying it in a pan.

In Vietnamese, fried fish is called “Ca Chien” and it’s quite simple.

I picked these two types of fish in particular because when you fry them, they don’t fall apart and get all mushy like some fish do. I hate that.

STEP 1:

I like to cut slits on the side of my fish. It makes it pretty  and crunchy too.

Make sure to cut them at an angle.

STEP 2:

Coat the bottom of your frying pan with a good layer of oil.

I like to use Canola because it is said it’s the next healthiest right behind Olive Oil.

It’s also comparable in taste to Vegetable Oil. Heat is on high.

STEP 3:

Once the oil gets really hot, I put the fish in the pan. Then seasoned with salt.

The oil splatters around alot so luckily I have  splash shield, which helps.

Sprinkle with salt (Or garlic salt is better. I ran out.)

STEP 4:

Once it gets nice and golden, I flip the fish over.

You see how nicely the slits turn out in the lower fish. The upper fish is where I tried to get all fancy and carve out “Dick” and “Jane” on the fishes, hoping you could read it once it was fried. I was unsuccessful.

Oh, and towards the end, I add a bunch of garlic to be fried. Dick and I love eating the garlic and it gives the fish a good garlic flavor.

SAUTEED SNOW PEA LEAVES

When Vietnamese people eat “Ca Chien”, it is usually accompanied with some sauteed veggies like “Rau Muong” or  in my case today, sauteed snow pea leaves.

Snow pea leaves are the shoots that grow into a vine and are cut off  before the actual snow pea develops. It’s super delicious but a little chewier than say…sauteed spinach, which tends to be more mushy.

Add a little oil and wait till it gets hot. Then add the snow pea leaves.

Season with salt and pepper.

Take it off when it looks like this and serve.

DINNER TIME

Accompanied with some rice and soy sauce to dip. We had some white rice already and Dick wants brown, to be healthier for this marathon he’s running. I would have eaten the brown rice too but I don’t want to waste the white rice. Plus, I’m not running a marathon…thank God.

-Jane, Fried Fish Lover.

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