Ca Kho To
Catfish braised in a dark, savoury-sweet caramel sauce.
Ingredients
- 600 g White fish fillet
- 4 tbsp Sugar
- 4 tbsp Fish sauce
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 2 Shallot
- 1 Ginger
- ½ tsp Black pepper
- 2 Scallions (optional)
Method
- Cut the white fish fillet into large chunks; mince the garlic, shallot, and ginger.
- In a clay pot or heavy pan, melt the sugar over medium heat and cook, swirling, until it turns a dark amber caramel, then stir in the minced aromatics and fish sauce.
- Nestle the fish into the caramel, add a splash of water, and braise gently over low heat, basting now and then, until the sauce is glossy and clings to the fish.
- Slice the scallions, then finish with the black pepper and scallions and serve with rice.
Tap “Start cooking” for live timers that flag what to get ahead on while something simmers.
About Ca Kho To
Ca kho to is a Vietnamese caramel-braised fish, traditionally cooked and served in the small clay pot, or to, that gives the dish its name and its gentle, even heat. It belongs to the kho family of savory-sweet braises that are cornerstones of home cooking, especially in the south, where a dark caramel sauce is used to lacquer fish or pork until it turns deeply glossy. Catfish is the classic choice, though any firm white fillet takes to the treatment well.
The flavor is intense and layered: bittersweet caramelized sugar, the funk and salt of fish sauce, and warm aromatics of garlic, shallot, and ginger, all reduced until the sauce clings to each chunk of fish. The technique that makes it worth the effort is cooking the sugar to a true dark amber before anything else goes in, because that near-burnt edge is what gives kho its signature color and its savory depth rather than mere sweetness. Finished with black pepper and scallion and eaten with plenty of plain rice to soak up the sauce, it is comfort food that rewards a slow, low braise.
Ca Kho To: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Ca Kho To?
A serving has about 220 calories — 27g protein, 19.5g carbs, 3.6g fat, 1.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is it high in protein?
Each serving has about 27g of protein, roughly 49% of its calories.
Is Ca Kho To gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Ca Kho To has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
How long does Ca Kho To take to make?
About 45 minutes start to finish, but only around 37 of those are hands-on — the rest is cooking time. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
Do I need every ingredient to make Ca Kho To?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out scallions — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Ca Kho To make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.