• Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fitsian Food Life
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Fitsian Tips
  • My Story
  • Contact Me
    • Subscribe
    • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easter
  • Recipes
  • My Story
  • Subscribe
  • Contact Me
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Fitsian Food Life » Healthy Vietnamese Recipes

    Ca Kho To Recipe (Vietnamese Braised Caramelized Fish)

    Published: Jan 20, 2023 by Clara · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Ca Kho To, or Vietnamese Braised Fish, is a classic comfortable Vietnamese dish that is savory, healthy, and takes less than 15 minutes to put together.

    A casserole dish with the braised fish pieces with scallions and a serving plate with chopsticks on the side.
    Jump to:
    • 🍳 Why Make This Recipe
    • 💭 What is Ca Kho To?
    • 🍏 Calories and Nutrition Facts - How to Make It Healthy
    • 📋 Ingredient Notes
    • 📖 Substitutions and Variations
    • 🔪 Step by Step Instructions
    • 💡 Expert Tips
    • 💭 Recipe FAQs
    • 🍽 Related Recipes
    • 🍳 Recipe

    🍳 Why Make This Recipe

    • It's healthy and delicious, perfect for anyone who wants to eat some Healthy Vietnamese Food
    • Super simple and quick – it only takes about 15 minutes to put together!
    • Delicious umami flavor that is characteristic of Vietnamese cuisine

    💭 What is Ca Kho To?

    Ca Kho To, or Vietnamese Caramelized Fish, is a delicious Vietnamese dish consisting of a braised white fish simmered in a delicious umami caramelized sauce.

    Traditionally, the dish is served in a clay pot and with a side of rice.

    This dish is great to eat with another recipe from my Healthy Vietnamese Recipes list – my personal favorite if to pair it with bo kho noodle soup.

    If you like umami fish recipes, you should also check out my Thai Chili Salmon recipe.

    🍏 Calories and Nutrition Facts - How to Make It Healthy

    Ca kho to is naturally quite healthy given that it consists of ingredients that are naturally low in calories already.

    The main base ingredient of this dish is white fish, which is a great lean-protein source with many health benefits. Portion it with a delicious braising sauce and you've got yourself a delicious healthy meal.

    A serving of Ca Kho To is only 353 calories, with 62 grams of protein, 0 grams of fat, and 14 grams of carbs.

    The only thing to keep in mind is portion control, especially for the sauce. Here's how I portioned it.

    • Used 12 oz of cod, a lean white fish, to bulk up on protein content
    • Portioned sauce ingredients to be only 73 calories

    For a detailed breakdown of each ingredients, their portioning, and how they make up the nutrition profile of the ca kho to recipe, you may refer to the table below:

    A table showing the ingredient breakdown with the calories and macros based on the quantity of each ingredient.

    📋 Ingredient Notes

    Ingredients for ca kho to laid out on the table.

    Stir Fry Sauce

    • Fish Sauce – A keystone part of the sauce. I would not recommend omitting this ingredient, and there are not really any good substitutes. You can easily pick up fish sauce at most major grocery stores or order off of Amazon. Three Crabs Fish Sauce is my favorite brand.
    • Oyster Sauce – You can also substitute with dark soy sauce.
    • Sugar – Traditionally, this dish is made with palm sugar, but brown or white sugar would also work.

    Base Dish

    • White Fish – This dish is traditionally made with cat fish, but any white fish would work. I made this with black cod, which I find to be much softer and flakier.
    • Thai chilis – Optional, adjust based on spice tolerance. I would recommend 1 chili for a mild spice, 2-3 for a medium spice, and anything more than that will be quite heavy

    See my recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.

    📖 Substitutions and Variations

    Use Other White Fish Basa – Cat fish, Basa, cod, or any other white fish would work. Even salmon work, but not the higher calorie content of salmon.

    Ca Kho To in a Clay Pot – You can cook it in a clay pot, as it is traditionally done.

    Without Oyster Sauce – You can use soy sauce with a teaspoon of additional sugar, or dark soy sauce.

    Make Spicier or Not Spicy – Omit the Thai chili(s) for a non spicy dish, or use fresno chilis or red pepper flights for a milder spice.

    🔪 Step by Step Instructions

    Prepare the fish – Start by cutting the fish into bite size pieces.

    Start the sauce – Mix all the sauce ingredients (except the sugar) in a bowl and set aside.

    Sauté the sugar and veggies – Begin to sauté the sugar for about 1-2 minutes, then add garlic, onions, carrots, and Thai chilis in a pan with cooking spray.

    Make the sauce – Once the vegetables have softened, start to create the sauce by pouring in the sauce ingredients except water. Taste and adjust if needed. Once the sauce ingredients have mixed well together, add water as needed so that there is enough braising liquid for the fish.

    Sautéing the aromatics in a skillet with the other ingredients on the side.
    Make the sauce by adding in the fish sauce and oyster sauce and mixing together.

    Braise the fish – Place the catfish pieces in a single layer. Bring the heat down to low and allow the fish to simmer in the sauce for about 3-4 minutes each side, or until the sauce begins to reduce.

    Serve – Remove from heat, garnish with scallions, and enjoy!

    Simmering the fish pieces in the sauce on a pan.
    The finished braised fish dish topped with garnishes.

    💡 Expert Tips

    Use a spatula – The fish will become very flaky and soft while cooking. Use a spatula to flip the fish pieces to prevent the fish from breaking.

    Use a softer white fish – You don't have to make this with white fish! If you prefer softer, flakier fish, you can opt for something like Cod or Rock Fish.

    Be wary of the sugar burning – letting the sugar over burn can quickly turn a delicious dish into something else

    A piece of the braised fish picked up by a pair of chopsticks.

    💭 Recipe FAQs

    What fish do I use for ca kho to?

    I used cat fish here but any white fish could do . Other alternatives could include bass or tilapia, to name a few. Check out this article from the Kitchn on How to Choose the Best Whitefish for more tips and potential substitutions.

    Do I have to use a clay pot?

    No, as you can see from the photos, a clay pot is NOT mandatory. In fact, most restaurants actually cook the fish in a skillet and move it in the clay pot for serving.

    What brand fish sauce do I use?

    I personally love the Three Crabs Brand fish sauce. For more information about the different fish sauce brands, check out this article about the Top Ranked Fish Sauce brands.

    How long does this dish last?

    This dish is best consumed fresh. I would nor recommend storing it for more than 1-2 days in the fridge before eating.

    🍽 Related Recipes

    If you like this recipe, check out the following:

    • Healthy Chicken Pho Recipe (Is Pho Good For Weight Loss?)
    • Are Garlic Noodles Healthy? (Healthy Garlic Udon Noodles)
    • Easy Bo Tai Chanh (Vietnamese Beef Carpaccio Recipe)
    • Air Fryer Vietnamese Lemongrass Chicken

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like this recipe, consider a review further down the page. Thank you!

    🍳 Recipe

    ca kho to recipe

    Ca Kho to Recipe (Vietnamese Caramelized Fish)

    Developed by Clara
    Ca Kho To, or Vietnamese Braised Fish, is a classic comfortable Vietnamese dish that is savory, healthy, and takes less than 15 minutes to put together.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 10 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Vietnamese
    Servings 1
    Calories 353 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    Stir Fry Sauce

    • 1.5 tablespoon Oyster sauce
    • 1.5 tablespoon Fish sauce
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • ¼ cup Water
    • Sprinkle of white pepper

    Base Dish

    • 12 oz Cod (Or other white fish)
    • 2 cloves Garlic
    • 1-2 Thai chilis (Optional: adjust based on spice tolerance)
    • ½ Shallots
    • Scallions and Red Pepper (For garnish)

    Instructions
     

    • Start by cutting the fish into bite size pieces.
    • Mix all the sauce ingredients (except the sugar) in a bowl and set aside.
    • Begin to sauté the sugar for about 1-2 minutes, then add garlic, onions, and thai chilis in a pan with cooking spray.
    • Once the vegetables have softened, start to create the sauce by pouring in the sauce ingredients except water. Taste and adjust if needed. Once the sauce ingredients have mixed well together, add water as needed so that there is enough braising liquid for the fish.
    • Place the catfish pieces in a single layer. Bring the heat down to low and allow the fish to simmer in the sauce for about 3-4 minutes each side, or until the sauce begins to reduce.
    • Remove from heat, garnish with scallions and pepper, and enjoy!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 353kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 62gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 146mgSodium: 3046mgPotassium: 1573mgFiber: 1gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 176IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 2mg

    Notes

    Substitutions and Variations
    Use Other White Fish Basa – Cat fish, Basa, cod, or any other white fish would work. Even salmon work, but not the higher calorie content of salmon.
    Without Oyster Sauce – You can use soy sauce with a teaspoon of additional sugar, or dark soy sauce.
    Expert Tips
    Use a spatula – The fish will become very flaky and soft while cooking. Use a spatula to flip the fish pieces to prevent the fish from breaking.
    Be wary of the sugar burning – letting the sugar over burn can quickly turn a delicious dish into something else
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @fitsianfoodlife or tag #fitsianfoodlife!
    « Healthy Thai Chili Salmon Recipe
    Instant Pot Hainanese Chicken Rice (Is It Healthy?) »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sarah

      July 29, 2022 at 2:10 pm

      5 stars
      Another great recipe to try this week - thanks for this!

      Reply
    2. tartan

      July 19, 2022 at 1:10 pm

      Hard to resist this recipe! Tastes delicious, easy to make and it looks pretty... very little else one can look for in a recipe! Thank you for sharing!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome to Fitsian Food Life!

    Photo of myself on top of Lanikai hike in Oahu Hawaii.

    Hi, I'm Clara! I cook calorie-conscious, macro-friendly recipes to help achieve your fitness goals.

    Learn more >>

    Let's Stay Connected

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    🐣 Easter Recipes

    • Easy Scallop Fried Rice Recipe
    • Healthy Paella Recipe
    • Ube Latte Recipe
    • Is Shakshuka Healthy? (Low Calorie Shakshuka)
    • Healthy Chicken Burrito Recipe
    • Gyudon Yoshinoya Beef Bowl Recipe

    ⭐ Popular Posts

    • 20 Healthy Low Calorie Thai Foods (Is Thai Food Healthy?)
    • Is Kimchi Fried Rice Healthy? (Healthy Kimchi Fried Rice Recipe)
    • Is Pepper Lunch Healthy?(A Low Calorie Pepper Lunch Recipe)
    • Is Japanese Curry Healthy? (A Low Carb Japanese Curry Recipe)
    • Is Sashimi Healthy? (5 Types of Sashimi and Their Benefits)
    • 24 Low Calorie Healthy Korean Foods (Is Korean Food Healthy?)

    Footer

    • Facebook profile
    • Instagram
    • Mail
    • Pinterest

    More Info

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Buy Me A Coffee

    Browse

    • All Recipes
    • Fitsian Tips

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Fitsian Food Life