This week's column is written by Chef Ron Christian, who has been a chef for 30 years. He is a CNC Professional Cook instructor, who has also taught at BCIT, Vancouver Community College and has worked all over the world. If you have any questions or comments, e-mail christianr@cnc.bc.ca.
Basa fish is Pangasius bocourti, one of 21 species belonging to the Pangasiidae family of catfish.
Found throughout most of southeast Asia, Basa is raised by Vietnamese and Cambodian fish farmers along the Mekong River. It's a pretty tasty fish, with a delicate texture and a nice white flesh.
The fast-flowing waters of the Mekong give Basa a nice clean taste. The body of a basa is stout and heavy. The rounder head is broader than it is long, the blunt snout having a white band on its muzzle. Basa fish feed on plants, spawning at the onset of flood season. The young are first seen in June, averaging about 5 cm in mid June.
Basa has become very common in the UK under the name Vietnamese River Cobbler, mainly being sold fresh and frozen in large supermarkets.
Macadamia panko breaded basa filet with a fresh fruit salsa
1 - 8 ounce basa filet cut in two pieces length wise
1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts mixed with the bread crumbs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs cracked and well mixed
Salt and pepper to taste
1/2 lemon
3 tbsp vegetable oil
3 tbsp clarified butter
Fruit salsa
1/2 papaya cut and peeled, -inch diced
1/2 mango peeled, -inch diced
1 small shallot finely diced
1/4 jalapeno, finely diced
1 teaspoon cilantro, minced
1/4 cup diced fresh pineapple
1/2 peeled & diced kiwi
Mix all the ingredients together set aside.
Method
Season and lemon juice the filets
Pass through flour, then egg mixture.
Pass through the breading
Pat the breading and make it stick.
In a heavy bottom fry pan, heat over medium heat, add the oil and butter; the pan should not be too hot.
Add the fish filets and brown on both sides and cook until done
The pan cannot be too hot. Remove from pan and plate.
Nappe (cover) with the salsa and eat.
