Cha Cha Fish With Fresh Dill, Hanoi Style

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Democracy Dies successful Darkness

The Lunar New Year would not beryllium implicit without feasts, and this aromatic, layered crockery is practically a feast each by itself. The golden, crisp food is nestled connected a furniture of noodles, lettuce and herbs, topped with nuts and served with an addictive dipping condiment (which tin beryllium refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 week). Fish symbolizes abundance, and dill, considered a good-luck awesome by 1st-century Romans, is appropriately prominent.

Adapted from "Quick and Easy Vietnamese," by Nancie McDermott (Chronicle Books, 2006).

Ingredients

For the dipping condiment (makes astir 1/2 cup)

1 tablespoonful chopped garlic
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 spoon chili-garlic condiment (may substitute finely chopped blistery reddish chili peppers oregon 1 spoon dried chili capsicum flakes)
3 tablespoons food sauce
3 tablespoons water
1 lime (juice only; astir 2 tablespoons)

For the fish

2 tablespoons food sauce
3 tablespoons rootlike oil
1 tablespoonful finely minced ginger basal oregon galangal
1 spoon crushed turmeric
1/4 spoon salt
1 lb firm-fleshed food fillets, specified arsenic tilapia, monkfish oregon catfish, chopped into 2- to 3-inch chunks
8 ounces thin, dried atom noodles, softened successful lukewarm h2o for 15 minutes and drained (may substitute angel-hair pasta)
2 cups coarsely chopped dill
5 scallions, achromatic and tender greenish parts, chopped into 2-inch lengths
3 cups shredded lettuce leaves, specified arsenic Boston, Bibb oregon oak leaf
1 cupful mint oregon cilantro leaves
1/2 cupful chopped, roasted, salted peanuts

Nutritional Facts

Per serving (with 1 tablespoonful dipping sauce)

Calories
503
Fat
15 g
Saturated Fat
2 g
Carbohydrates
70 g
Sodium
369 mg
Protein
30 g
Fiber
7 g

This investigation is an estimation based connected disposable ingredients and this preparation. It should not substitute for a dietitian’s oregon nutritionist’s advice.

Adapted from "Quick and Easy Vietnamese," by Nancie McDermott (Chronicle Books, 2006).

Tested by Marcia Kramer.

Published March 11, 2026