Sngor Chruok Trey

Name: Sngor Chruok Trey
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Cambodian
Ingredients: 500g catfish or tilapia fillets, cut into chunks; 3 tbsp palm sugar; 2 tbsp fish sauce; 1 tsp Kampot black pepper; 3 cloves garlic, sliced; 2 shallots, sliced; 1 tbsp vegetable oil; 100ml water; 2 green onions, cut into pieces

ស្ងោរជ្រលក់ត្រី (sngor chroo-uk tray)

Caramelized Fish in Clay Pot

⏱ Prep Time 15 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 292 kcal

Fish fillets braised in a sweet-savory palm sugar caramel with black pepper and fish sauce, slowly cooked in a traditional Cambodian clay pot.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 28.0g

Carbs 18.0g

Fat 12.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

dairy-free gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ fish

Equipment Needed

clay pot wooden spoon

Presentation Guide

Vessel: clay pot

Garnishes: green onions, black pepper

Accompaniments: steamed jasmine rice, stir-fried greens

Ingredients

500g catfish or tilapia fillets, cut into chunks
3 tbsp palm sugar
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tsp Kampot black pepper
3 cloves garlic, sliced
2 shallots, sliced
1 tbsp vegetable oil
100ml water
2 green onions, cut into pieces

Instructions

1
Heat palm sugar in a clay pot over medium heat until it melts and turns amber.
2
Add oil, garlic, and shallots. Stir 30 seconds.
3
Add fish sauce, pepper, and water. Stir to combine with caramel.
4
Nestle fish chunks into the sauce. Cover and braise on low heat for 20 minutes.
5
Garnish with green onions. Serve directly from the clay pot with rice.

💡

Did You Know?

Clay pot cooking is essential to this dish, as the porous clay imparts a unique earthy flavor to the caramel.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

clay pot
wooden spoon

Garnishing

green onions, black pepper

Accompaniments

steamed jasmine rice, stir-fried greens

The Story Behind Sngor Chruok Trey

Caramelized fish in clay pot is a home cooking staple across Cambodia, demonstrating the Khmer mastery of palm sugar caramelization. This technique creates a deeply flavored sauce from simple ingredients.

Clay pot cooking has been practiced in Cambodia since ancient times, with clay vessels found in archaeological sites dating to the pre-Angkor period. The slow braising method tenderizes fish while concentrating flavors.

This dish is pure comfort food, served in homes across Cambodia as an everyday family meal paired with rice and vegetables.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed lunch or dinner 📜 Origins: Ancient

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