Yellow Catfish Hot Pot

Yellow Catfish Hot Pot

　　A specialty of Sichuan—Yellow Catfish Hot Pot—is one of the distinctive hot pot dishes of the region. With the signature Sichuan-style broth kept at a rolling boil and yellow catfish as the base, it’s what’s known as Yellow Catfish Hot Pot. Diners cook and eat the fish directly in the pot, combining heat and flavor in a “heat-enhanced freshness.” In addition, the broth is meticulously crafted, featuring a blend of various glutamates and nucleotides that interact to produce an exceptionally enticing umami aroma. Paired with premium seasonings, fresh ingredients, and flavorful dipping sauces, it offers layer upon layer of deliciousness and a memorable aftertaste.

　　 Specialty Preparation: 1. Clean the yellow catfish by slaughtering it, removing the gills and internal organs, then rinse thoroughly with water and set aside. Cut the celery first into 3 cm-long segments, then into thin strips. Slice the tomato into 0.2 cm-thick pieces. Remove the stems from the garlic cloves and set aside. Cut the scallions into 5 cm-long sections.

　　 2. Place a wok over the heat, add scallion oil and heat until 70% hot. Add rock sugar and stir-fry over low heat until it turns reddish-brown. Then add broad bean paste, Sichuan peppercorns, black pepper, old ginger, and peanuts. Stir-fry vigorously over high heat until fragrant. Add stock and chicken bouillon, then simmer over medium heat until the broth turns a rich, bright red and becomes thick and aromatic. Strain out the solids and set the broth aside.

　　 　 　 3. Place a wok over the heat, add a small amount of salad oil and heat until 50% hot. Add pickled mustard greens, yellow catfish, and celery, and stir-fry vigorously over high heat until fragrant. Pour in the prepared red broth and simmer gently over low heat for 8 minutes to let the flavors meld. Add Sichuan peppercorn sections, whole garlic cloves, fresh tomatoes, and scallion sections, then serve hot at the table.

　　 4. Key Preparation Tips: Select yellow catfish that are not too large—medium-sized ones are ideal.

　　 Specialty Benefits: 1. Helps regulate qi and relieve pain, soothe the spirit and stimulate the spleen; can treat chest and abdominal distension, stomachache, vomiting, loss of appetite, and indigestion.

　　 2. Warms the stomach, relieves hiccups, dispels wind, and alleviates pain.

　　 3. Promotes qi circulation to relieve pain, strengthens the stomach, and dispels cold.

　　 4. Dries dampness, strengthens the spleen, expels phlegm, warms the middle, and combats cold and malaria.

　　 5. Regulates qi and soothes the middle, strengthens the stomach and aids digestion. Used medicinally for symptoms such as stomach and abdominal distension, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, enteritis, dysentery, and fetal restlessness.