Canh Chua Cá Basa (Sweet and Sour Basa Fish Soup) is one of the refreshing, easy-to-cook, and distinctly Southern Vietnamese dishes that often appears in Vietnamese family meals. The mild sourness from tamarind or lime, blending with the sweetness of basa fish and aromatic herbs, creates a bowl of soup that is both delicious and heartwarming.

If you are living in the US and want to recreate the flavor of your homeland, VeeFood will guide you on how to cook authentic Vietnamese Canh Chua Cá Basa, using easily sourced ingredients and a simple recipe.

1. Preparing Ingredients for Canh Chua Cá Basa

To cook a pot of sweet and sour fish soup sufficient for 3–4 servings, you will need:

• Basa fish fillet or cut into chunks (500g)

• 2–3 tomatoes

• ¼ pineapple (thơm or dứa)

• 150g bean sprouts (giá)

• 5–7 pieces of okra (đậu bắp)

• Elephant ear stalks (bạc hà) or celery as a substitute if unavailable

• Shallots, minced garlic

• Tamarind paste (the type sold at Vietnamese markets)

• Rice paddy herb (rau om), saw-leaf herb (ngò gai)

• Seasonings: salt, fish sauce, sugar, seasoning powder (hạt nêm)

Basa fish is widely sold at Vietnamese stores and Asian supermarkets. If you want the utmost convenience, just place an order through VeeFood to get everything you need for the sweet and sour soup meal:

• Knorr Tamarind Flavor Seasoning Powder 40g x5
  
• Thien Huong 5 Pack Seasoning Salt 195g
• Knorr Tamarind Flavor Seasoning Powder 40g

Prepare all ingredients needed to cook Canh Chua Cá Basa (Sweet and Sour Basa Fish Soup)

2. Pre-processing Ingredients

Before starting to cook, properly preparing the ingredients will help the Canh Chua Cá Basa maintain its freshness, minimize fishy odors, and ensure a harmonious flavor when served:

• Basa Fish: Rub with coarse salt, rinse thoroughly, and drain. Marinate with 1 teaspoon of seasoning powder, 1 tablespoon of fish sauce, and a little ground pepper. Let it absorb the seasoning for about 10 minutes.

• Tomatoes, Pineapple: Wash thoroughly, slice into bite-sized pieces.

• Bean Sprouts, Herbs: Wash thoroughly, drain.

• Shallots, Garlic, Ginger: Crush, then sauté until fragrant to eliminate the fishy odor.

3. Steps to Cook Authentic Vietnamese Canh Chua Cá Basa

To achieve the familiar taste of Vietnamese cuisine in your sweet and sour fish soup, you just need to follow a few simple steps in sequence:

• Step 1 - Sauté Shallots and Garlic: Add a little oil to the pot, and sauté the shallots and garlic until golden. The emerging fragrance is the familiar flavor foundation of Vietnamese cuisine.
• Step 2 - Sauté Tomatoes for Color: Add the tomatoes and cook until soft. Thoroughly cooked tomatoes will give the broth a beautiful, natural color, eliminating the need for paste or artificial coloring.
• Step 3 - Add Water and Tamarind: Pour 1.5–2 liters of water into the pot. Add 1–2 spoonfuls of tamarind paste and stir until dissolved. You can adjust the sourness according to your taste.
• Step 4 - Add the Basa Fish: When the water is gently simmering, add the fish. Do not add it when the water is boiling vigorously, as basa fish meat is easily broken. Basa fish is an ideal choice for sweet and sour soup because the meat is fatty, tender, and absorbs flavors very quickly.
• Step 5 - Add Vegetables: When the fish is almost cooked, add the pineapple, okra, elephant ear stalks, and bean sprouts. The vegetables only need to be cooked just until tender-crisp to maintain their sweetness and crunch.
• Step 6 - Final Seasoning: Season with fish sauce, salt, sugar, and seasoning powder. Finally, turn off the heat and sprinkle with rice paddy herb (rau om) and saw-leaf herb (ngò gai) - the two herbs that make up the soul of sweet and sour soup.

Canh Chua Cá Basa is a highly nutritious and refreshing dish

4. Secrets to a Perfectly Flavorful Sweet and Sour Fish Soup

To make your sweet and sour fish soup taste more harmonious and perfectly flavorful, VeeFood will share a few simple secrets that you can immediately apply in your kitchen:

• Sauté the tomatoes thoroughly before adding water; this helps the broth be clear and beautiful.

• Basa fish breaks easily if cooked too long, so only add it at the right time.

• Add the okra last to keep it crunchy.

• Tamarind paste is easier to buy than fresh tamarind and provides a mild sour taste that is perfect for this dish.

These small tips help your sweet and sour fish soup retain the true spirit of Vietnamese cuisine, even though you are living in the US.

Canh Chua Cá Basa dish with rich, authentic Vietnamese flavor

5. Where to Buy Ingredients in the US?

Many people worry about finding Vietnamese ingredients, but it's actually quite easy:

• VeeFood – A platform specializing in Vietnamese food, offering everything from basa fish, vegetables, to spices. Order online for home delivery, ideal for busy people.

• CT Produce – Famous for fresh vegetables and familiar food products for Vietnamese people.

• Vietnamese-American Markets – Places where the Vietnamese community gathers, fully stocked with ingredients to cook all traditional dishes.

Thanks to these sources, you can cook sweet and sour fish soup anytime without spending time searching.

Choose Reputable Stores to Buy Ingredients for Delicious and Safe Meals

Canh Chua Cá Basa (Sweet and Sour Basa Fish Soup) is not only a refreshing and easy-to-cook dish but also a flavor closely tied to Vietnamese family meals. Even though you are living in the US, with just a few easily sourced ingredients and a little love in the seasoning, you can still bring the full flavor of your homeland into every hot bowl of soup.

With VeeFood, cooking Vietnamese food in a foreign land is no longer a challenge. From ingredients to recipes, we are always ready to accompany you on the journey of preserving Vietnamese cuisine. Visit VeeFood to select ingredients and explore more Vietnamese recipes that are easy to cook, easy to remember, and always rich with family sentiment.