Salmon Head Soup Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 salmon head, cut in half and cleaned
- 1/2 onion, thinly sliced
- 4 shallots, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 10 bird’s eye chilies, sliced (adjust to taste)
- 1 ripe tomato, diced
- 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, smashed
- 1 thumb-sized piece of galangal, smashed
- 1 thumb-sized piece of turmeric, smashed
- 1 stalk lemongrass, smashed
- 4 bay leaves
- 4 kaffir lime leaves
- 1 bunch basil, washed and leaves picked
- 10 winged beans, cut into pieces (adjust to taste)
- Cooking oil for sautéing
- Water, to taste
- Sugar, to taste
- Salt, to taste
- Fish sauce, to taste
- Soy sauce, to taste
Instructions:
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Prepare the Aromatics: Heat a generous amount of cooking oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the shallots and garlic, sautéing until they become fragrant. Once the shallots and garlic have started to release their aroma, add the sliced onion. Sauté for a few more minutes until the onion softens and becomes translucent.
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Add the Spices: Stir in the ginger, galangal, turmeric, kaffir lime leaves, bay leaves, and lemongrass. Cook the mixture, stirring occasionally, until the spices are well combined and aromatic.
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Simmer the Broth: Pour in enough water to cover the ingredients. Bring the broth to a gentle boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let it simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together.
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Incorporate Vegetables: Add the diced tomato and cut winged beans to the pot. Continue to simmer until the vegetables begin to soften.
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Cook the Salmon Head: Gently add the cleaned salmon head to the pot. Season with fish sauce, soy sauce, sugar, and salt. Allow the soup to simmer until the salmon head is cooked through and the flavors have fully developed.
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Finish with Herbs: Once the salmon head is cooked and the broth is flavorful, add the basil leaves. Stir gently to combine and let the basil wilt.
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Taste and Adjust: Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning if needed, adding more salt, sugar, or fish sauce as desired.
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Serve: Ladle the hot soup into bowls and serve immediately. Enjoy the rich, aromatic flavors of this traditional salmon head soup.
Bon Appétit! 😊
