Description
A super-deep night market stamina food where giant 'Tu Shi' (Taiwanese catfish) cut into thick cross-sections is simmered in a pitch-black medicinal soup scented with Dong Quai and goji berries.
Restaurants serving Medicinal Catfish Soup
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We are researching restaurants that serve this dish.
On this site you can check dictionary details and, later, places to buy or eat related items.
The Recipe section below is a general reference, not a recipe from the listed shops.
Recipe
Ingredients
- Catfish(Tu Shi)
- Medicinal herbs like Dong Quai
- Rice wine
- Jiucengta(Taiwanese Basil)
- Pork bone broth
Instructions
- [Authentic Recipe]
- [Medicinal Soup] Boil Chinese herbs blended with Dong Quai, lovage, Rehmannia (source of black color), cassia, and licorice, massive rice wine, and pork bone broth in a large pot until pitch-black.
- [Catfish Prep] Wash Taiwanese farmed catfish (Tu Shi) skin cleanly, chop into
- large cross-sections: head, middle (body), and tail.
- Parboil catfish briefly in boiling water to completely remove unique mud smell and slime.
- Put parboiled catfish into the medicinal soup pot, add massive 'Jiucengta' (Taiwanese basil).
- Simmer slowly on low until the catfish's gelatinous skin softens and herbal aroma penetrates the white meat.
- Upon order, customers specify 'Head, Middle, or Tail' (Middle has most meat, Head has most collagen). Plate and pour the black soup.
Learn more Spice, substitutes, tips
Key spices
Intense medicinal aroma of Dong Quai and Basil
Substitutes at Japanese supermarkets
Shirayaki Eel or Conger eel (substitute and boil in soup)
Pairing
White Rice or Taiwan Beer
Trivia
[Hardcore] The twin pillar of night market medicinal menus alongside 'Yao Dun Pai Gu' (Pork), but this one has intense visual impact with 'giant catfish heads' peeking from the soup. Meat is fatty like eel, skin collagen is superb.
Eating tips & etiquette
[Unique Eating] Dip the jiggly catfish skin and fluffy white meat into a sauce mixed from Taiwanese doubanjiang and Jiangyou Gao, washing it down with the pitch-black soup!
Allergen
Seafood, (Soy/Wheat in sauce)