Vietnamese-Style Salmon in Tomato Sauce is a firm favourite in our family. It’s simple, quick and packed with flavour. Best of all, it pairs perfectly with a steaming bowl of rice, making it an ideal choice for a fuss-free, comforting meal.
If you’ve ever struggled to get your kids to enjoy fish, this dish might just change that. The rich, tangy tomato sauce complements the salmon beautifully, making it an easy win for even the pickiest eaters. And the best part? You can have it on the table in just 20 minutes – perfect for a busy weeknight dinner.
A classic Vietnamese way to cook fish
In Vietnamese cuisine, fish cooked in tomato sauce is a much-loved staple. The method is simple: pan-fry the fish first to seal in the flavour, then let it simmer gently in a rich tomato sauce. The result? Tender, juicy fish infused with the savoury-sweet taste of tomatoes and fragrant herbs.
Let me walk you through how to make this easy yet delicious meal with just a few basic ingredients.
What you’ll need
One of the best things about this dish is that it doesn’t require any fancy ingredients. Everything you need is easy to find and you might already have most of it in your kitchen.
- Salmon fillet – The star of the dish, of course! I usually buy fresh salmon during my weekly shop and cook it as soon as possible to keep it at its best.
- Fresh vine tomatoes, chopped – But if you’re short on time, canned chopped tomatoes work just as well.
- Spring onion, finely chopped – Use the white part for frying and save the green part for garnishing.
- Dill – This herb is a must for any Vietnamese fish dish. Its fresh, slightly sweet aroma enhances the flavour beautifully.
- Fish sauce – This adds depth and umami to the dish.
- Olive oil – For frying the salmon and cooking the sauce.
How to make Vietnamese-Style Salmon in Tomato Sauce
Prepare and fry the salmon
I used a side of salmon fillet, roughly 500g, and cut it into 4-5 strips. Before frying, I lightly seasoned the salmon with salt and pepper.
Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Place the salmon pieces in the pan, skin-side down first – this helps prevent them from breaking apart. Fry for 2 minutes, then gently flip and fry for another 2 minutes. The aim is to sear the salmon, not cook it through, as it will finish cooking in the sauce. Once done, remove the salmon from the pan and set aside.
Make the tomato sauce
In the same pan, heat another tablespoon of olive oil. Add the chopped white part of the spring onion and fry until fragrant.
Next, add the chopped tomatoes and stir-fry for a minute or two until they start to soften. Add a dash of water and fish sauce, then mix well. Let the sauce simmer for another minute or two before adding the fried salmon pieces back into the pan.
Cover with the lid and let everything simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the salmon to soak up all the rich flavours. Before turning off the heat, sprinkle the chopped green part of the spring onion and a generous amount of dill on top.
Serve and enjoy
And just like that, your Vietnamese-style Salmon in Tomato Sauce (Cá Hồi Sốt Cà Chua) is ready! Serve immediately with hot steamed rice.
Tonight, I also made a quick mixed vegetable stir-fry to go with it, and it complemented the dish perfectly. But even on its own, this salmon dish is an absolute winner.
Let me know if you give it a try! I’ve love to hear how it turned out for you. For us, it was a definite hit – gone in minutes!
Why you’ll love this dish
- Quick & easy – Ready in 20 minutes, perfect for a weeknight dinner.
- Kid-friendly – The milk yet flavourful tomato sauce makes fish more appealing to little ones.
- Heathy & nutritious – Packed with omega-3s from the salmon and vitamins from the tomatoes.
- Authentic Vietnamese flavours – A classic way to enjoy fish, just like in a Vietnamese home.
Looking for more delicious ways to cook salmon? Give these recipes a try and add some variety to your meals:
Vietnamese-Style Salmon in Tomato Sauce (Cá Hồi Sốt Cà Chua)
Description
A simple yet delicious Vietnamese-style salmon dish, featuring pan-seared salmon simmered in a rich, savoury tomato sauce. Perfect for a quick and comforting weeknight meal!
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Prepare the Salmon
- Lightly season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
-
Pan-fry the salmon
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pan over medium heat.
- Place the salmon skin-side down and fry for 2 minutes.
- Flip and fry for another 2 minutes. Remove and set aside.
-
Make the Tomato Sauce
- In the same pan, add 1 tablespoon olive oil and sauté the white part of the spring onions until fragrant.
- Add the chopped tomatoes, stir-fry for 1-2 minutes until softened, then add fish sauce and water.
-
Simmer the Salmon
- Return the salmon to the pan, cover and simmer for 5 minutes, ensuring the sauce coats the fish.
-
Garnish and Serve
- Sprinkle with the green part of the spring onion and fresh dill.
- Serve immediately with steamed rice.
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 347.73kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 23.78g37%
- Saturated Fat 4.79g24%
- Cholesterol 68.75mg23%
- Sodium 621.53mg26%
- Potassium 790.17mg23%
- Total Carbohydrate 5.98g2%
- Dietary Fiber 1.86g8%
- Sugars 3.56g
- Protein 27.02g55%
- Vitamin A 129.1 IU
- Vitamin C 23.29 mg
- Calcium 34.78 mg
- Iron 1.03 mg
- Vitamin D 13.75 IU
- Vitamin E 6.12 IU
- Vitamin K 30.09 mcg
- Thiamin 0.3 mg
- Riboflavin 0.22 mg
- Niacin 11.72 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.91 mg
- Folate 58.24 mcg
- Vitamin B12 4.05 mcg
- Phosphorus 333.85 mg
- Magnesium 58.06 mg
- Zinc 0.7 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
