Aunt Phet likes to cook fishes for her family members. Now and then one of her sons would go fishing in the Mekong River, nearby pond or stream and she would make a meal out of the catch of the day.

When all her sons are busy going to school or work, then it’s usually up to Aunt Phet to head to Pakse Market (Dao Heuang Market) for grocery shopping.

Today, she wanted to make Spicy Fried Catfish ( Pad Pa Douk ພັດປາດຸກ ) for dinner and bought a few fishes that were still alive from her regular fish seller at Dao Heung Market.

I have never eaten Spicy Fried Catfish. I can remember eating plenty of Fried Catfish as a little kid in Laos. It’s one of the fishes that I can remember by name next to Pa Kor since my siblings and I used to go fishing for them in Vientiane, Laos. When we caught enough we usually fried the fish and eat it with Tam Maak Thua (Spicy String Beans Salad) or with Jeow Maak Len (Spicy Tomato Chutney). If we didn’t fry the catfish, then my father would make Pon Pa Douk out of it.

Looking at the photos of Aunt Phet’s cooking, I would definitely give Pad Da Douk a try the next time I am in Laos.