Cá Kho

Fact: In Vietnam, there is a village that specializes in making Cá kho called Vũ Đại village.

Cá Kho: Basic Information

Pronunciation

/kɑː kɔː/

Alternative Name(s)

No

Dish Type

Braised dishes

Course

Main Course

Mealtime

Lunch, Dinner

Cá Kho: Origin and Region

Origin

Vietnam

Continent’s Region

Southeast Asia

Country’s Region

Nationwide Origin

Associated Region

Unspecified

Popular Cá Kho Variations

Cá Kho Làng Vũ Đại

This is a renowned version from Vũ Đại village, typically made with black carp or grass carp, cooked in a specific clay pot with traditional spices like riềng (galangal) and ginger, over longan wood fire.

Cá Cấn Kho Lá Nén

A Central Vietnamese dish featuring small river fish braised with fresh turmeric, nén leaves, and other spices, known for its unique, aromatic flavor.

Cá Kho Tiêu

Fish braised with pepper, known for its spicy and aromatic taste.

Cá Kho Tộ

A Southern variation where fish is braised in a clay pot, often with a rich, savory sauce.

Cá Kho Măng

This dish includes fish braised with bamboo shoots, offering a crunchy texture and a mild, earthy flavor.

Cá Kho Nghệ

Fish braised with turmeric, providing a vibrant color and a warm, bitter taste.

Cá Kho Dưa Chua

Fish braised with pickled mustard greens, lending a tangy and slightly sour taste to the dish.

Cá Kho Bầu

In this version, fish is braised with bottle gourd, which adds a mild, sweet flavor and a soft texture.

Cá Kho Cà

Fish braised with tomatoes, creating a dish that’s tangy and savory with a rich tomato sauce.

Cá Kho Dứa

This variation features fish braised with pineapple, giving the dish a sweet and tangy flavor profile.

Cá Kho Củ Cải Trắng

Fish braised with white radish, which contributes a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a crunchy texture.

Cá Kho Chuối Xanh

A unique combination where fish is braised with green bananas, offering a starchy texture and a mild flavor.

Cá Kho Mắm

In this version, fish is braised with fermented fish, adding a rich umami and salty flavor.

Cá Kho Tương Bần

Fish braised with tương Bần (a traditional Vietnamese fermented soybean paste), resulting in a savory and slightly sweet dish.

Cá Kho Chay

A vegetarian version of cá kho, often using tofu or mock fish with the same rich, savory braising sauce as traditional cá kho.

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Cá kho is a traditional Vietnamese dish that primarily involves fish that has been braised in a rich, savory sauce.

The sauce typically features a combination of Vietnamese caramelized sauce, fish sauce, and various seasonings, giving the dish a distinctive sweet, salty, and umami flavor profile.

Commonly used fish in cá kho include catfish or snakehead, although other varieties can be used as well.

The fish is slowly cooked until tender, absorbing the flavors of the sauce. Cá kho is often served with steamed rice and is known for its deep, complex flavors.

Let me walk you through all the features of this dish, its components, its notable versions, its benefits and drawbacks, common queries, and comparable meals.

Cá Kho Images

Braised king mackerel or cá kho thu on white plate with pepper and cilantro.

A traditional Vietnamese fish braised in a clay pot, served with steamed rice and fresh cucumber slices.

Fish braised with chili and onion garnished on top.

A Vietnamese culinary delight, featuring catfish deeply cooked in a rich fish sauce in a ceramic pot.

Smelt fish caramelized and served in a clay pot, placed on a wooden table.

This simple yet flavorful braised perch dish is a common everyday meal in Southern Vietnam.

Vietnamese caramelized and braised fish on white plate with green onions on top.

What Are Common Cá Kho Ingredients?

Cá Kho, a traditional Vietnamese dish known for its rich and savory flavors, typically includes the following common ingredients:

Fish

For cá kho, catfish or snakehead fish are ideal, usually bought whole and cut into steaks.

Alternatives include basa, cod, halibut, swai, mahi mahi, snapper, tilapia, etc. Fillets can also be used but need careful cooking to avoid breaking apart.

Sauce

Fish sauce, Vietnamese caramel sauce

Seasonings

Shallots, ginger, black pepper

Garnish

Green onions, fresh chili

With these key ingredients, cooks can create a plethora of cá kho variations, each offering a unique twist on this classic Vietnamese culinary delight.

What Are Well-known Variations of Cá Kho?

Each variation of “cá kho” offers a unique taste and texture, influenced by the local ingredients and culinary traditions of different regions in Vietnam. Here’s a breakdown:

Cá Kho Làng Vũ Đại

This is a renowned version from Vũ Đại village, typically made with black carp or grass carp, cooked in a specific clay pot with traditional spices like riềng (galangal) and ginger, over longan wood fire.

Cá Kho Tiêu

Fish braised with pepper, known for its spicy and aromatic taste.

Cá Kho Măng

This dish includes fish braised with bamboo shoots, offering a crunchy texture and a mild, earthy flavor.

Cá Kho Nghệ

Fish braised with turmeric, providing a vibrant color and a warm, bitter taste.

Cá Kho Dưa Chua

Fish braised with pickled mustard greens, lending a tangy and slightly sour taste to the dish.

Cá Kho Bầu

In this version, fish is braised with bottle gourd, which adds a mild, sweet flavor and a soft texture.

Cá Kho Cà

Fish braised with tomatoes, creating a dish that’s tangy and savory with a rich tomato sauce.

Cá Kho Dứa

This variation features fish braised with pineapple, giving the dish a sweet and tangy flavor profile.

Cá Kho Củ Cải Trắng

Fish braised with white radish, which contributes a mild, slightly sweet flavor and a crunchy texture.

Cá Kho Chuối Xanh

A unique combination where fish is braised with green bananas, offering a starchy texture and a mild flavor.

Cá Kho Mắm

In this version, fish is braised with fermented fish, adding a rich umami and salty flavor.

Cá Kho Tương Bần

Fish braised with tương Bần (a traditional Vietnamese fermented soybean paste), resulting in a savory and slightly sweet dish.

Cá Kho Chay

A vegetarian version of cá kho, often using tofu or mock fish with the same rich, savory braising sauce as traditional cá kho.

Cá Cấn Kho Lá Nén

A Central Vietnamese dish featuring small river fish braised with fresh turmeric, nén leaves, and other spices, known for its unique, aromatic flavor.

It’s clear that each cá kho variation brings its own unique blend of tastes and textures, reflecting the rich culinary landscape of Vietnam; however, it’s also important to weigh the pros and cons of cá kho.

Pros and Cons of Eating Cá Kho

Cá kho has several pros and cons that should not be missed:

Furthermore, don’t overlook the frequently asked questions about cá kho.

Cá Kho FAQs

Thịt Kho

Thịt kho is a Vietnamese braised dish normally including pork in a caramelized sauce and other ingredients.