Basa fillet
What Hong Kong calls 龍脷柳 is the frozen fillet of farmed Vietnamese pangasius: white, soft, boneless, mild and cheap, and exactly the fish under the café's corn-sauce fish rice, cheese-baked fish and lemon fish (the menu says grouper, the plate is basa). Every Australian supermarket freezer carries it as basa fillets, and some fish counters call it dory or cream dory; same fish, imported from Vietnam. For a better plate use Australian flathead tails or hoki, firmer at much the same price; barramundi is the dear option.
Cautions: read first
- Fish is a mandatory-declaration allergen in Australia; thaw frozen fillets slowly in the fridge and do not refreeze.
Preparation
Thaw, pat dry, cut into 4 cm pieces and marinate briefly with salt, pepper and cornflour before frying.
Origin
The Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Basa fillets in every supermarket freezer; dory at fish counters; flathead and hoki are the Australian step up.
Availability in Australia
Easy to find
Where · Every supermarket freezer; fish counters
What to ask for · Basa and dory are the same fish
If it is not there · Australian flathead tails or hoki, firmer; barramundi at the top end