DISH RESEARCH · Main dish
Cha Ca
Turmeric-and-galangal cá lăng with herbs, peanuts, bún and a shrimp-paste dipping sauce.
About Cha Ca
Chả cá Lã Vọng is a Hanoi fish speciality. Bùi Thủy’s old-Hanoi version combines cá lăng, galangal, turmeric and mẻ, with bún and a shrimp-paste dipping sauce.
Fish sauce, shrimp paste and pork lard give the fish a savoury richness. Dill, scallion, coriander and húng Láng provide an aromatic herbal accompaniment, with peanuts and citrus alongside.
The fish pieces have golden edges and firm, tender flesh. Soft noodles and cooked herbs contrast with the roasted peanuts, while the finished fish is served hot.
Allergens in this recipe
Contains: Fish, Crustaceans, Peanut.
Other allergen details are unconfirmed.
Ingredients vary by restaurant. Confirm your allergens with staff before ordering.
Ingredients in Cha Ca
Bùi Thủy’s old-Hanoi chả cá Lã Vọng.
- Fresh cá lăng filletsProteinIngredient page not linked
- Galangal rootAromatic
- Fresh turmeric rootAromatic
- Coarse saltSeasoning
- Traditional fish sauceSeasoning
- Traditional fermented shrimp pasteSeasoning · Marinade and own dipping sauce
- Ripe mẻSeasoning · MarinadeIngredient page not linked
- Cà cuống aroma extractSeasoning · Own dipping sauceIngredient page not linked
- SugarSeasoning · Marinade and own dipping sauce
- Chanh juiceSeasoning · Own dipping sauce
- Chilli pepperSeasoning · Seasonings
- DillAromatic · Herbs and final pan
- ScallionAromatic · Herbs and final pan
- Coriander leavesAromatic · Herbs and final pan
- Húng LángAromatic · Accompanying herbsIngredient page not linked
- OnionAromatic · Accompanying herbs · Optional
- Roasted peanutsGarnish · Service
- Pork lardCooking medium · Marinade, grilling and final pan
- Prepared bún coilsAccompaniment · Service
- WaterLiquid · Scallion preparation
- White liquorSeasoning · Own dipping sauceIngredient page not linked
Ingredient details & uncertainties
Allergen information is incomplete. Unconfirmed details do not establish that an allergen is absent.
- Fresh cá lăng fillets: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Fish source-confirmed. Native fish name retained; exact species is unprovided. No precise catfish species is inferred.
- Galangal root: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader galangal candidate; fresh root is pounded.
- Fresh turmeric root: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Coarse salt: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader salt candidate; source specifies muối hạt.
- Traditional fish sauce: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Fish source-confirmed. Exact product formula and any additional allergens are unprovided.
- Traditional fermented shrimp paste: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Crustaceans source-confirmed. One input covers marinade and dipping sauce; exact product formula remains unprovided.
- Ripe mẻ: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. The source names mẻ ngấu without a manufacturing recipe or full formula. Exact mapping and additional allergens remain unresolved.
- Cà cuống aroma extract: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Literal tinh dầu cà cuống retained; the source gives no species, manufacturing formula or exact catalogue mapping.
- Sugar: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. One required input covers the measured marinade sugar and dipping sauce; extra sugar while grinding turmeric is optional.
- Chanh juice: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader citrus-juice candidate; no exact lemon/lime botanical identity is forced from chanh.
- Chilli pepper: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. List-only chilli retained; no cultivar or extra chili-sauce formula is invented.
- Dill: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Scallion: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Coriander leaves: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed
- Húng Láng: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Exact local herb name retained. No Thai basil or mint species is substituted.
- Onion (optional): Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Explicit tuỳ chọn in the ingredient list controls the later slicing instruction.
- Roasted peanuts: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Peanut source-confirmed. The tail recommends red-skinned lạc cúc; broader roasted-peanut candidate does not establish a cultivar.
- Pork lard: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. First option selected before native chicken fat; one input covers warm marinade lard, brushing and final pan.
- Prepared bún coils: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Broader rice-noodle candidate; the first old-Hanoi small-coil presentation is retained. Exact prepared-noodle formula is unprovided.
- Water: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Literal water bowl for split scallion bases; no extra unspecified washing quantities or noodle recipe are invented.
- White liquor: Recipe-specific ingredient evidence; Allergen details unconfirmed. Method-only rượu trắng retained. Grain/base and exact formula are unprovided; no cereal allergen is assumed.
Origins & food traditions
Chả cá is associated with Hanoi’s family-run restaurants; the Lã Vọng style combines grilled seasoned fish with a final herb-filled pan.
Cuisines & regions
- Hanoi Cuisine
- Northern Vietnamese cuisineCatalogue link pending review
- Vietnamese CuisineCatalogue link pending review
AI-generated illustration of one possible presentation. Recipes and ingredients vary; the image does not establish allergen content.