What is barramundi fish? How much does it cost? How to prepare and cook it properly for a delicious dish?

Barramundi, a common food ingredient, has become an inspiration for many delicious and diverse dishes such as braised, fried, and many other flavors. To add variety to your family’s menu, let’s explore useful information about Barramundi, such as the price of Barramundi fish, how many types there are, and add some delicious dishes to your menu that you can prepare with this fish.

I/ What is Barramundi Fish?

1. Identification of Barramundi Fish

Barramundi, a relatively large fish, can reach lengths exceeding 1.5 meters when they reach adulthood. The weight of Barramundi fish typically ranges from 10 to 30 kilograms, but there are cases where Barramundi fish can weigh up to a hundred kilograms.

Interestingly, Barramundi fish belong to the group of smooth-skinned fish, so their entire body is covered with a layer of mucus. Barramundi fish have a dorsal fin formed by a spine at the front and a fatty fin around the body, and their dorsal fin has saw-like teeth. The unique characteristic of Barramundi fish lies in their appearance, with a flat and elongated body, a slightly horizontal head, and notably, four fairly long whisker pairs.

2. Nutritional Value of Barramundi Fish

Barramundi fish is a high-nutrient food source that offers many important health benefits. Here are five excellent benefits of Barramundi fish:

1. Supports Urination: Barramundi fish has a mild and sweet taste that stimulates the detoxification and purification of the body by enhancing urination. This helps remove harmful substances and maintain water balance in the body.
2. Eye Health: The vitamin A in Barramundi fish is beneficial for the eyes. Regular consumption of fish can improve eye health, ensuring bright eyes and protecting them from issues like macular degeneration, dry eyes, glaucoma, and cataracts, especially in older individuals.
3. Skin Care: The fish oil in Barramundi fish is a valuable skincare ingredient. It cleanses the skin, prevents acne, and promotes skin elasticity. The nutrients in fish also slow down the aging process, giving you youthful and healthy skin.
4. Bone Health Support: Regular consumption of Barramundi fish provides essential nutrients for the development and strength of bones. This not only helps prevent joint inflammation but also ensures healthy bones.
5. Provides Omega-3 and DHA: Barramundi fish is an excellent source of Omega-3 and DHA, two essential compounds for brain and eye development. These fatty acids play a crucial role in brain cell growth, improving sleep, and enhancing learning abilities in both children and adults. For pregnant women, adequate Omega-3 supplementation can stimulate visual development for the fetus.

II/ Popular Types of Barramundi Fish

1. Golden Barramundi

Golden Barramundi, with its luxurious golden skin, is a special type of fish known for its delicious, firm meat and characteristic rich, fatty taste of smooth-skinned fish. It is used to prepare various enticing dishes such as grilled with chili salt, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, cooked with banana blossoms, and hotpot. However, what makes it even more special is its use as the precious ingredient in the renowned “Cha Ca La Vong” dish in Hanoi.

2. Redtail Barramundi

Redtail Barramundi is known for its superior nutritional content compared to other Barramundi fish types. It contains a variety of essential nutrients such as Omega-3, Vitamin A, DHA, and many other beneficial nutrients for health. Due to these qualities, Redtail Barramundi is always considered a highly valuable food source and a top choice for many consumers today.

3. Black Barramundi

Black Barramundi has a sleek appearance with its distinctive black color. The fish’s head is designed to be flat, and as it moves towards the tail, the body becomes longer and slimmer. Dark brown or black spots often appear on the back of the fish, creating a sporadic pattern on both sides. The fish’s belly is usually silver.

Black Barramundi has tender, succulent meat that offers a sweet and enticing flavor. A notable feature is that Black Barramundi does not have any fish bones, making it convenient to eat without discomfort. Its rich nutritional profile makes it a top choice for many restaurants when creating their menus.

4. Pink Barramundi

Pink Barramundi, with its shimmering golden-yellow skin and sweet, firm flesh, possesses the characteristic rich flavor of smooth-skinned fish that has attracted the attention of many diners across the country. Recently, Pink Barramundi has emerged in the market and become a popular choice. The story surrounding this fish began just a few years ago. Some traders and culinary enthusiasts claimed that this fish originated from Thailand and was created through crossbreeding between Barramundi and…dragonfish. Hence, the Pink Barramundi’s distinctive golden-pink skin color is vibrant, and when enjoyed, it brings luck and blessings.

III/ How much does snakehead fish cost per kilogram?

The price of snakehead fish varies depending on the type. Refer to the price list for different types of snakehead fish below:

• Golden Snakehead Fish: Weight from 2-2.5kg, price from 185,000 VND/kg.
• Golden Snakehead Fish: Weight from 2.5-5kg, price 195,000 VND/kg.
• Red-Tail Snakehead Fish: 280,000 – 720,000 VND/kg.
• Black Snakehead Fish: 80,000 – 100,000 VND/kg.
• Pink Snakehead Fish: 95,000 VND/kg.

IV/ How to prepare snakehead fish

By following these steps, you can ensure that your final dish will be delicious and enticing:

Step 1: Head Smashing

• To begin, after purchasing the snakehead fish, prepare a mallet.
• Place the fish on a hard surface and gently strike the head area, paying attention to the area near the mouth and where it meets the back of the fish. The goal here is to quickly dispatch the fish without causing excessive thrashing.

Step 2: Remove Unnecessary Parts

• Once the fish is deceased, proceed by removing unnecessary parts such as fins, tail, and gills.
• Place the fish belly up on a table and use a sharp knife to cut these parts. Don’t forget to flip the fish to cut the belly fin and the part near the mouth.

Step 3: Gutting

To conveniently remove the guts, continue by cutting off the fish’s gills. Starting from the mouth of the fish, cut both sides of the mouth and cut horizontally where the two gills are attached. Then, you can remove the remaining gill part.

Step 4: Removing Organs and Membrane

After removing the gill part, you will see the organs and the membrane inside the fish’s belly. Use your fingers to open up the meat to access the organs. Then, use your fingers to pull out the organs and membrane entirely. If you prefer, you can save the fish fat for later use.

Step 5: Peeling the Membrane

To avoid a fishy smell in your dish, you need to peel off the white membrane underneath the fish’s belly. Also, remove the dark red membrane if present.

Step 6: Rinse the Fish

Finally, after peeling the membrane, cut the fish into suitable pieces, depending on the dish you want to prepare. Then, wash the fish thoroughly by applying a little salt and rinsing it several times with clean water to remove any remaining impurities on the fish’s surface.

With this method of preparing snakehead fish, you are ready to create delicious dishes from this fresh and tasty ingredient.

V/ Delicious Dishes with Snakehead Fish

1. Braised Snakehead Fish

Ingredients:

• 1 snakehead fish
• 2 sprigs of spring onions (chopped)
• 1 tablespoon of lard
• 2 tablespoons of shallots (chopped)
• 2 dangerous chili peppers
• 1/2 tablespoon of fish sauce
• 1 tablespoon of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce
• Common seasonings (sugar, salt, ground pepper)

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Snakehead Fish

• Wash the snakehead fish thoroughly and lightly rub it with salt to remove the slime on the fish.
• Cut the fish into pieces about the size of your palm.

Step 2: Marinate the Fish

• In an earthenware pot, place 1 tablespoon of lard, then neatly arrange the fish on top.
• Add some chopped spring onions and shallots.
• Marinate the fish with 1/2 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, a little salt, ground pepper, 1 tablespoon of dark soy sauce, and 1/2 tablespoon of soy sauce, along with dangerous chili peppers.
• Mix well and let the fish marinate for about 30 minutes.

Step 3: Braise the Fish

• Turn on the stove, place the earthenware pot, and cook over high heat.
• When you see the fish’s bottom is firm and the fish meat turns slightly brown, flip the fish to ensure even cooking.
• Reduce the heat and continue braising the fish for about 15-20 minutes, occasionally turning the fish to ensure both sides are cooked.
• When the fish is cooked, adjust the seasonings to taste, along with a little ground pepper if necessary, then turn off the heat.

Step 4: Finished Dish

The braised snakehead fish will have a shiny brown color, delicious aroma, and a perfect balance of salty-sweet flavor with a hint of spiciness.

2. Sour Soup with Snakehead Fish

Ingredients:

• 500g snakehead fish
• 200g tomatoes
• 200g pineapples
• 300g sour bamboo shoots
• 100g lima beans
• 100g bean sprouts
• 3 sprigs of cilantro
• 300g okra
• 1 lime
• 1 garlic bulb
• 3 shallots
• 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
• 3 tablespoons of fish sauce
• A little salt/sugar to taste

Here’s the process to make a delicious sour soup with snakehead fish for your family:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Clean the snakehead fish by rinsing it with boiling water and using a knife to scrape off any remaining slime.
• Marinate the fish with a mixture of lime juice and salt to remove the fishy smell.
• Rinse the fish thoroughly and cut it into chunks.

Step 2: Prepare Other Ingredients

• Remove the skin of the sour bamboo shoots and cut them into thin strips.
• Cut the ends off the lima beans and split them in half.
• Rinse the bean sprouts and drain them.
• Wash and chop the cilantro.
• Cut the okra into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Season the Fish

• Heat 2 tablespoons of cooking oil in a pot.
• Add garlic and shallots and sauté until fragrant.
• Add tomatoes and pineapple and stir-fry until they become soft.
• Season with fish sauce, sugar, and a little salt to taste.
• Add the snakehead fish chunks and cook for a few minutes.

Step 4: Cook the Soup

• Add water to the pot and bring it to a boil.
• Once the soup is boiling, add the sour bamboo shoots, lima beans, and okra.
• Cook until all the ingredients are tender.

Step 5: Finish the Soup

• Just before serving, add bean sprouts and cilantro to the soup.
• Squeeze lime juice into the soup to give it a fresh, sour taste.
• Adjust the seasoning with fish sauce, sugar, and salt if necessary.

This sour soup with snakehead fish is now ready to be enjoyed with its sweet and sour flavors and a variety of fresh ingredients.

3. Snakehead Fish Braised with Banana Blossoms and Tofu

Below is how to prepare this enticing dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 snakehead fish, approximately 600g (choose fresh live fish or fish portions with skin and shiny scales)
• 2 green bananas
• 2 pieces of tofu
• Cilantro, basil, spring onion
• Turmeric, shrimp paste, lemongrass, ginger, garlic, shallots
• Seasonings (salt, fish sauce) to taste

Instructions:

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

• Rinse and grate turmeric. Mix it with a little shrimp paste, lemongrass, shrimp paste, and water to extract the essence.
• Peel and chop shallots.

Step 2: Prepare the Snakehead Fish

• Rinse the snakehead fish. Use coarse salt to rub the fish’s body to remove the slime.
• Cut the fish into pieces that are suitable for eating.
• Marinate the fish in the turmeric and shrimp paste mixture for about 15-20 minutes.

Step 3: Pan-Fry Tofu

• Cut the tofu into square pieces that are easy to eat.
• Pan-fry the tofu until they are evenly golden on all sides.

Step 4: Prepare the Green Bananas

• Remove the outermost layer of the green bananas.
• Cut the bananas into chunks that are suitable for eating and soak them in a mixture of water and vinegar to prevent browning.

Step 5: Prepare Herbs and Seasonings

• Peel and mince garlic.
• Rinse and drain cilantro, basil, and spring onions.

Step 6: Braise the Snakehead Fish with Bananas and Tofu

• Place a pot on the stove and heat it. Add some cooking oil.
• Sauté minced garlic until fragrant.
• Add the marinated snakehead fish and sear them until both sides turn golden brown.
• Add chopped shallots and continue to sauté.
• Add a little water and let the fish simmer.
• Add green banana chunks and simmer until the bananas are cooked.
• Add pan-fried tofu.
• Adjust the seasoning with salt and fish sauce to taste.
• Add minced ginger and lemongrass to enhance the aroma.

Step 7: Finish the Dish

• Finally, add cilantro, basil, and spring onions to the pot before turning off the heat.
• The dish is now ready to be served.

This “Snakehead Fish Braised with Banana Blossoms and Tofu” is a flavorful and nutritious dish for you and your family to enjoy.

VI/ How to Store Snakehead Fish for a Longer Time

Here’s a guide on how to effectively store snakehead fish in the freezer of your refrigerator:

Step 1: Clean and Prepare the Fish

• Wash the fish thoroughly to remove dirt and impurities.
• Use paper towels to dry the fish, ensuring that it’s not moist.

Step 2: Packaging and Labeling

• Place the fish in an airtight bag or container to prevent air and bacteria from entering.
• If you have a vacuum sealer, use vacuum-sealed bags and seal them tightly. Don’t forget to label with the start date.

Step 3: Adjust the Temperature

Set the freezer’s temperature to 0°C or lower. This helps preserve the fish better and prevents bacterial growth.

Step 4: Thaw and Use

• When you need to use the fish, you can thaw it by placing it in the refrigerator compartment overnight.
• If you need to use it faster, immerse the bag/container with the fish in cold water for about 2-3 hours before cooking.

Note:

• This storage method helps keep the fish fresh for up to 6 months.
• Storing the fish in the freezer preserves its nutrients and prevents bacterial growth.
• Ensure compliance with food safety steps to protect you and your family’s health.

VII/ Conclusion

With the information provided by KINGFISH, you not only have valuable information about snakehead fish but also get to experience preparing delicious dishes from snakehead fish in your own kitchen. Explore and cook these unique and flavorful dishes for your family and friends.