Cá kho – Caramelized Fish

Wash the fish with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Clean the shallots, halve them, and chop finely. Peel the ginger and slice it.

In a larger pan or a shallow pot, melt the sugar; this will take about 3-5 minutes. Let it caramelize slowly and nicely dry, making sure it doesn't brown too much or even blacken.

Place the fish in the pot, add shallots, ginger or galangal, lime leaves, and chili. Add fish sauce, caramelized sugar, pour in hot water, and cover with a lid. Cook over low heat for approximately 30 – 40 minutes until the water reduces into a creamy sauce.