INGREDIENTS: (for 4 persons)
500g (1lb) Pangasius, steak, sliced 2.5 cm (1 in) thick
1 litre (4 cups) of fish stock or water
1/2 cup of pineapple, peeled and sliced
1 small red chilli, seeded and sliced
2 pieces lady’s fingers (or okra), sliced
1/4 cup of tamarind pulp
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of bean sprouts
1 sprigs of mint, diagonally sliced
1 tomato, cut into wedges
3 tablespoons of fish sauce
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/2 tablespoon of rice paddy herb*, chopped 1/2 tablespoon of saw-leaf herb*, chopped
DIRECTIONS:
Bring the Vietnamese authentic flavour to your family with this delicious soup.
Blanch fish for about 5 minutes in boiling stock, then remove from heat and drain, keeping both the stock and the fish.
In a large pan, bring stock to boil again. Add the pineapple, chilli and lady’s fingers. Reduce heat and simmer for 3-4 minutes, then add tamarind pulp juice, bean sprouts and tomato.
Bring to the boil again. Skim the top and season with fish sauce and sugar. Place the fish in a large soup bowl, laddle the vegetables stock in and garnish with saw- leaf herb and rice paddy herb.
Serve hot with steamed rice or rice vermicelli.
Helpful hints:
*Rice paddy: A very small, rounded, pale green leaves that sprout at intervals along the stem, and a sharp, citrus flavor. It is used as a garnish for chicken curry and sour fish sauce.
*Saw-leaf herb: This leaf, which smells like coriander, is part of the standard garnish of fresh herbs that are served on the table with most Vietnamese meals. It has a long, serrated green leaf. Also known as’ long coriander.
