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Nyonya Acar Fish
April 11th, 2011Recipes, Malaysian Recipes, Recipes, Nyonya Recipes, Recipes23 Comments
Whenever I am home in Penang, I make it an effort that I learn our family recipes from my aunt, who is in her late 70′s. Since my late mother passed away some 3 years ago, she is now the only person who knows the recipes of all our much-treasured family dishes—everyday home-cooked recipes, Nyonya food, and kuih (sweet cakes).
This mouthwatering and super delicious Acar Hu, or Nyonya Pickled Fish, is a much celebrated Nyonya recipe. Everyone in my family loves this concoction of deep-fried fish pickled with a turmeric-vinegar base, spiced with garlic, ginger, and chilies…
In my family, we would use a type of fish called “chee ya hu” (silver mullet). However, you can make Acar Fish with fish fillet such as red snapper as silver mullet is not widely available. When my friend Patty Unterman of San Francisco Examiner came to visit Penang, my brother and I introduced her to Penang’s Nyonya food. At the first bite, Patty asked me for the Acar Fish recipe. I am so glad that both my brother CK and I had the opportunity to make this dish together, following my aunt’s instructions as she sat in the kitchen narrating the step-by-step to us. Acar fish is extremely tasty and tantalizing, with the perfect balance of flavors. To learn more about Nyonya food, check out my site.
(Click Page 2 for the Nyonya Acar Fish Recipe)
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I love acar. This is a pretty interesting recipe in the method used to cook the fish. I guess it’s like a hot pickle?
Is the fish served hot or cold?
Yes, chi-ya hu taste the best when comes to Acar Fish. This is a very appetising dish!
Hi! Glad I came across your site. I love authentic nyonya food. Will definitely try out your acar fish. Thanks for sharing.
How long does Acar fish keep for in its marinade, Bee? Hmm, never had this.
I miss eating Acar Hu! I enjoy eating fish cooked this way, brings back all the good memories back home!
Love this… my mom used to cook this too… :D
I am sure that would be an amazing flavor. The dish looks so delicious and it is full of my favourite ingredients, I have bookmarked this one!
Even though I am a hard core vegetarian, I can’t help but admire the way the colours in the photograph is standing out. It’s a very simple recipe but you have made it look exotic!!! Amazing :)
This looks very hot and fiery. I live red snapper so I’m going to try and give this a go. I have to say, Nyonya cuisine sounds very similar to Indian cuisine looking at the ingredients list.
Hi Sukaina, this dish is not hot at all despite the many chilies used. The chilies are actually “pickled” so they will taste sour and they are eaten together with the fish.
Hi Bee, glad that you got back safe. Hope your baby travelled well. This would be a great dish, I believe, with white porridge. Very homely dish!
I just stumbled upon this blog and am so excited. I was born in KL but grew up in Singapore…but now living in Mexico – where these incredibly flavours are really a world away! I really love your blog and am so excited to find a blog dedicated to the wonderful South East Asian flavours! Excellent!
I never heard of acar fish .. but all that chilly on the plate is making my mouth super watery :) I love spice.. saving this dish to give a try :)
I also have not heard of Acar fish, but my family does eat red snapper. The chillies are actually pickled? Is there still some bite? I love sour dishes, but spicy ones as well.
Also, I completely understand your desire to learn the family recipes. I am the youngest and only girl in the family, so the responsibility of learning to cook our family’s recipes falls to me.
Yes, chilies are pickled and nice! You will love this recipe.
Would Chinese black vinegar be ok?
No!
Hi…looks great ! Couple of questions….left to pickle overnight in the fridge or at room temp ? I guess this dish is served at room temperature and not re-heated ? Thanks !
Room temperature.
Sorry…one more question…the 2 cups of oil are for the marinade right ? Oil, water, vinegar, sugar etc. Those 2 cups of oil aren’t for deep frying the fish ? Just checking….don’t want to make a really oily marinade if there’s not supposed to be oil in it ! Ta.
Yes, two cups of oil. Supposed to be oily, not the oil for frying.
I love Acar Fish! My mom use to make this for us 40 years ago