Braised fish on a rainy day

Rich and flavorful braised fish. Photo: B.D

My hometown is a true rural area. The lives of the people mainly depend on a few rice paddies where they grow rice and other crops. I remember that around this time, about August or September in the lunar calendar, the rainy season begins. Every rainy season, we get to eat delicious stewed freshwater fish.

Fish flowed in from upstream, swimming upstream from the swamps in countless numbers. My father said that if you were diligent enough to spend a few hours each day casting nets, setting traps, or fishing, you could catch a plentiful supply of plump freshwater fish. There were many types of freshwater fish, such as carp, grass carp, and silver carp, but perhaps the most abundant were crucian carp and perch.

When Dad brought the fish home, Mom cleaned it, cutting the larger ones into pieces and leaving the smaller ones whole. To remove the fishy smell, besides adding a few chili peppers, she also added a piece of galangal. And Mom's braised fish would never be complete without finely chopped turmeric leaves and slices of sour starfruit. She braised the fish in an earthenware pot over a wood-fired stove.

The meal was served, a plate of freshwater fish with turmeric leaves, and slices of sour, golden-yellow starfruit – it looked delicious even before you took a bite. Bringing the bowl to your mouth and scooping up the fish with hot rice, words couldn't describe how delicious it was.

Freshwater fish has firm, fragrant flesh that absorbs the spices and the sourness of starfruit, creating an incredibly rich flavor. Whenever my sisters and I had braised freshwater fish, our stomachs would always be full. That's why every time my mother braised fish, she would tell my older sister to cook extra rice so the whole family wouldn't be left wanting more.

Time flies, and almost twenty years have passed. My family is no longer as poor as before, and my father no longer has to brave the rain and wind to go fishing. I've grown up, had the opportunity to travel, and enjoyed many delicious dishes, but I'll never forget that braised fish on a rainy day.

Life is truly joyful and happy when you still have a place to return to, where you can enjoy familiar dishes, and gather with loved ones. Sitting at the dinner table with my parents, enjoying braised fish, my heart swells with emotion…

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/noi-ca-kho-ngay-mua-3141551.html