Canh chua
Encyclopedia
Mekong Delta
The Mekong Delta is the region in southwestern Vietnam where the Mekong River approaches and empties into the sea through a network of distributaries. The Mekong delta region encompasses a large portion of southwestern Vietnam of . The size of the area covered by water depends on the season.The...
region of southern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. It is typically made with fish from the Mekong River Delta, pineapple
Pineapple
Pineapple is the common name for a tropical plant and its edible fruit, which is actually a multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries. It was given the name pineapple due to its resemblance to a pine cone. The pineapple is by far the most economically important plant in the Bromeliaceae...
, tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es (and sometimes also other vegetables such as okra
Okra
Okra is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of South Asian, Ethiopian and West African origins...
or bạc hà
Alocasia odora
Alocasia odora ; in Lao the plant known as thon toon , the stalk known as khan toon is a flowering plant native to Asia.Its stems are used as a green vegetable in the cuisines of Southeast Asia, and...
), and bean sprouts, in a tamarind
Tamarind
Tamarind is a tree in the family Fabaceae. The genus Tamarindus is monotypic .-Origin:...
-flavored broth
Broth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
. It is garnished with the lemony-scented herb ngò ôm (Limnophila aromatica
Limnophila aromatica
Limnophila aromatica is a tropical flowering plant in the plantain family, Plantaginaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia, where it flourishes in hot temperatures and grows most often in watery environments, particularly in flooded rice fields...
), caramelized garlic
Garlic
Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, and rakkyo. Dating back over 6,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent...
, and chopped scallions, as well as other herbs, according to the specific variety of canh chua; these other herbs may include rau răm
Vietnamese coriander
Persicaria odorata, the Vietnamese coriander, is an herb whose leaves are used in Southeast Asian cooking. Other English names for the herb include Vietnamese mint, Vietnamese cilantro, Cambodian mint and hot mint. The Vietnamese name is rau răm, while in Malaysia and Singapore it is called daun...
(Vietnamese coriander), ngò gai
Eryngium foetidum
Eryngium foetidum is a tropical perennial and annual herb in the family Apiaceae. It is native to Mexico and South America but is cultivated worldwide...
(long coriander), and rau quế (Thai basil
Thai basil
Thai basil is a type of sweet basil native to Southeast Asia that has been cultivated to provide a distinctive set of traits. It has an identifiable licorice flavor not present in sweet basil, and its flavor is more stable under high or extended cooking temperatures than that of sweet basil...
).
The sour taste of the soup comes from tamarind, which is mixed with a small amount of hot water; the mixture is then stirred for a few moments to release all the essence, and the liquid (minus the tamarind seeds and other solids, which are discarded) is then added to the soup.
When made in style of a hot pot
Hot pot
Hot pot , less commonly Chinese fondue or steamboat, refers to several East Asian varieties of stew, consisting of a simmering metal pot of stock at the center of the dining table. While the hot pot is kept simmering, ingredients are placed into the pot and are cooked at the table...
, canh chua is called lẩu canh chua.
Varieties
- Canh chua me - made with tamarind; includes most varieties of canh chua
- Canh chua me đất or canh chua rau nhút - made with water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea)
- Canh chua cá - made with fish
- Canh chua đầu cá - made with fish heads
- Canh chua cá lóc - made with snakehead fishChannaChanna is a genus of the Channidae family of snakehead fishes. This genus contains about 29 species, but the most well known are probably northern snakehead and the giant snakehead . Channa has a wide natural distribution extending from Iran in the West, to China in the East, and parts of Siberia...
- Canh chua cá bông lau - made with PangasiusPangasiusPangasius is a genus of catfishes of the shark catfish family .-Taxonomy:In 1993, Pangasius was one of two extant genera in the family Pangasiidae. At this point, it was separated into four subgenera. Pangasius included P. gigas and P...
krempfi catfishCatfishCatfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores... - Canh chua cá lăng - made with HemibagrusHemibagrusHemibagrus is a genus of catfishes of the family Bagridae.The genus Hemibagrus is known from Southeast Asia, India, and southern China...
catfish - Canh chua cá ngát - made with PlotosusPlotosusPlotosus is a genus of catfishes of the family Plotosidae. It includes six species, P. canius, P. fisadoha, P. limbatus, P. lineatus, P. nkunga, P. papuensis.-Distribution:...
catfish - Canh chua cá trê - made with airbreathing catfishAirbreathing catfishAirbreathing catfishes are fishes comprising the family Clariidae of order Siluriformes. There are about 14 genera and 100 species of clariids...
- Canh chua cá linh bông so đũa - made with mud carpCarpCarp are various species of oily freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae, a very large group of fish native to Europe and Asia. The cypriniformes are traditionally grouped with the Characiformes, Siluriformes and Gymnotiformes to create the superorder Ostariophysi, since these groups have certain...
and Sesbania grandifloraSesbania grandifloraSesbania grandiflora or hummingbird tree/scarlet wisteria is a small tree in the genus Sesbania.-Description:...
flowers - Canh chua lá giang cá kèo - made with Aganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphum is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and is used medicinally and as a food, appearing for example in one variety of the Vietnamese soup called canh chua. In Vietnamese, it is called lá giang, literally "river leaf."...
leaves and mudskipperMudskipperMudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae , within the family Gobiidae . They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land...
fish in the genus Apocryptes - Canh chua lươn - made with eelEelEels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
- Canh chua cá hồi - made with salmonSalmonSalmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
- Canh cải chua cá - made with pickled mustard greensBrassica junceaBrassica juncea, also known as mustard greens, Indian mustard, Chinese mustard, and leaf mustard, is a species of mustard plant. Subvarieties include southern giant curled mustard, which resembles a headless cabbage such as kale, but with a distinct horseradish-mustard flavor...
and fish
- Canh chua tôm - made with shrimp
- Canh chua tôm rau muống or canh chua rau muống nấu tôm - made with shrimp and water spinach (Ipomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquatica is a semi-aquatic tropical plant grown as a leaf vegetable. It is known in English as Water Spinach, Water Morning Glory, Water Convolvulus, or by the more ambiguous names "Chinese spinach" and "swamp cabbage". It has many other names in other languages, such as "Phak bung" in Thai...
) - Canh chua thơm nấu tép or canh chua thơm nấu với tép - made with pineapple and small shrimp
- Canh chua tôm rau muống or canh chua rau muống nấu tôm - made with shrimp and water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica
- Canh chua gà - made with chicken
- Canh chua lá giang gà or canh chua gà lá giang - made with chicken and Aganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphum is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and is used medicinally and as a food, appearing for example in one variety of the Vietnamese soup called canh chua. In Vietnamese, it is called lá giang, literally "river leaf."...
leaves - Canh chua lá giang cá kèo - made with Aganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphumAganonerion polymorphum is a species of flowering plant in the family Apocynaceae. It is native to Southeast Asia and is used medicinally and as a food, appearing for example in one variety of the Vietnamese soup called canh chua. In Vietnamese, it is called lá giang, literally "river leaf."...
leaves and mudskipperMudskipperMudskippers are members of the subfamily Oxudercinae , within the family Gobiidae . They are completely amphibious fish, fish that can use their pectoral fins to walk on land...
fish in the genus Apocryptes
- Canh chua lá giang gà or canh chua gà lá giang - made with chicken and Aganonerion polymorphum
- Canh chua rau muống - made with water spinach (Ipomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquatica is a semi-aquatic tropical plant grown as a leaf vegetable. It is known in English as Water Spinach, Water Morning Glory, Water Convolvulus, or by the more ambiguous names "Chinese spinach" and "swamp cabbage". It has many other names in other languages, such as "Phak bung" in Thai...
)- Canh chua tôm rau muống or canh chua rau muống nấu tôm - made with water spinach (Ipomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquaticaIpomoea aquatica is a semi-aquatic tropical plant grown as a leaf vegetable. It is known in English as Water Spinach, Water Morning Glory, Water Convolvulus, or by the more ambiguous names "Chinese spinach" and "swamp cabbage". It has many other names in other languages, such as "Phak bung" in Thai...
) and shrimp
- Canh chua tôm rau muống or canh chua rau muống nấu tôm - made with water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica
- Canh chua chay - vegetarian
- Canh chua măng - made with pickled bamboo shoots
- Canh cải chua - made with pickled mustard greens
- Canh cải chua thịt bằm - made with pickled mustard greens and ground pork
- Canh cải chua sườn non - made with pickled mustard greens and baby back pork ribs
- Canh cải chua cá - made with made with pickled mustard greens and fish
- Canh cải chua ruột non or canh cải chua lòng heo - made with pickled mustard greens and pork intestinesChitterlingsChitterlings are the intestines of a pig, although cattle and other animals' intestines are similarly used, that have been prepared as food. In various countries across the world, such food is prepared and eaten either as part of a daily diet, or at special events, holidays or religious...
- Canh cải chua nấu với bắp bò - made with pickled mustard greens and beef shankBeef shankThe beef shank is the shank portion of a steer or heifer. In Britain the corresponding cuts of beef are the shin , and the leg ....
- Canh chua Thái or canh chua Thái Lan - an adaptation of Thai tom yumTom yumTom yum or tom yam is the name for a spicy clear soup typical in Laos and Thailand. Tom yum is widely served in neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia, and has been popularized around the world...