11 Reviews of Vietnamese Fish Simmered in Caramel Sauce (Ca Kho To)

From: multi-cultural foodie

On Aug 17, 2005

This is a favorite with my family everytime we go back to vietnam, so i can vouch for the authenticity of my tips: **for authentic "ca kho to", try leaving out the ginger, and when the pot comes to a boil, before simmering, add coconut juice (not coconut milk), just enough to cover the fish filets, which should be with the bone in, cross-sections, instead of traditional filets found in the west--if possible. then bring everything, including coconut juice, to a boil, then simmer until the sauce is reduced and the flavor is to your liking. without the coconut juice, it's just basic "ca kho"--still fantastic, mind you...**try this variation for a different "ca kho"...add garlic and finely diced fresh tomatoes to the shallots and chilli (still no ginger), and if possible, use sardines (like the kind found in mediterranean cuisine). this is also a fabulous version of "ca kho".

From: Jim_Minh

On Sep 13, 2003

This is almost exactly how the Vietnamese make Ca Kho To, except they use a heavy covered clay pot, and they do not stir while cooking. The saucepan works almost as well. Make sure it is very heavy. It is essential to have good heat distribution or the fish will stick to the pan. Also make sure that all of the fish has at least partial contact with the caramel sauce while cooking.

From: Nolita_Food

On Apr 2, 2004

I made this the other day. Very simple, very close to the one we have at home in Hanoi. But I didn't stir the fish. Depending on what kind you cook with, it may break up the meat to small chunks. Also, you can add 1 or 2 slice of galingale to the sauce. Galingale looks very much like ginger root, but it has brown/red dark colour.

From: Just Kim

On May 2, 2009

good recipe. i added some coconut soda (1/4 cup) to it also to add flavor and juice. Otherwise, it would be a little too salty for me. I also boiled the fish beforehand to get all the dirty bubbles out (you'll know what I'm talking about once you boil it). This also gets rid of the "fishiness". I sauted some onion and added that in afterward to give it more flavor and made it smell really good.

From: tara portee

On Jun 17, 2004

This was really good. I had never made a dish quiet like this, so I was not sure if I would like the sweet with the fish, but I was just crazy about it.

From: FoOdLoVeR 99

On Mar 15, 2005

Oh wow. I've tasted this dish but NEVER thought I'd one day be making it! It was so authentic and so delicious! Thank you so much Angelcakes for sharing this recipe!!!

From: Thao Painter

On Mar 30, 2004

I thought this recipe was very simple to make and had an excellent flavor. It is almost like I was back at my grandmother's house again (South Vietnam). This recipe made it very easy to enjoy this dish without having to find an authentic Vietnamese restaurant.

From: Meghan

On Nov 5, 2008

FABULOUS!!!! I made some slight modifications based on feed back. I omitted the ginger and used garlic instead of the shallots and it turned out AMAZING. Exactly like the addictive dish at one of my fave Vietnamese restaurants.

From: Chef #1027882

On Nov 15, 2008

Excellent recipe! I found a similar recipe on another site before, which was good, but this one was even better. This is one of my dad's favorite vietnamese dishes; I was so happy that this recipe tastes just like the real thing! My husband, a picky eater, loved it too! Thanks for the recipe!

From: katzluva

On Jan 14, 2007

I know a lot of people gave this a high rating and all..but it turned out to be really, really salty. I had to add about two cups of water just to neutralize the flavor.