My Version of Sauteed Fermented Fish

Hello foodie lovers I want to share something special that I made in my kitchen — my own version of fermented fish. It might not look fancy or special for others, but this is one of those foods that give comfort, especially when times are heavy. I never knew grew up eating dishes like this. But when I met my husband he taught me how to eat something unique like these.

Ingredients

10 cloves of Garlic
2 pieces Onion
2 pieces Tomatoes
4 red Chili
Cooking oil
2 tablespoon Fish sauce
Seasoning
2 cups of Water
Fermented Fish

I slice the ingredients except for the red chili. I like a bit of spice. In a hot pan, I put a little oil and sautéed the onion first. I waited until it becomes fragrant before adding the garlic. When the onions turned soft, I added the tomatoes, chili, seasoning and fish sauce. Then mixed everything together. I cooked them until they became mushy and released their juice. The smell already feels comforting.

Then I added the fermented fish, its texture looks thick and lumpy, but I just mixed it and add one cup of water. I stir until it boils, it started to soften and blend with the tomatoes and onions. The aroma becomes stronger — a smell that only real fermented fish lovers understand. It might seem strange for some, but for us it's really delicious and sour.

When it was done, I ate it with hot rice. The taste was the way I wanted, sour, creamy, and a bit spicy. It’s not a beautiful dish for photos, but it is beautiful in a different way. It tastes is comforting during hard days, like something you cook not because it’s fancy, but because it feeds your heart too.