Cha Ca Style Alaska Rockfish

Bright, bold, and bursting with flavor, this Cha Ca Style Alaska Rockfish brings a taste of Vietnam to your table. Wild-caught in the cold, pristine waters off Kodiak, tender rockfish fillets are marinated in aromatic yogurt, turmeric, dill, and ginger, then served over cool rice noodles with fresh herbs, crisp vegetables, and tangy pickled onions. This colorful dish blends the delicate sweetness of Alaska rockfish with the zesty, herb-forward punch of one of Hanoi’s most beloved street foods — perfect for adventurous home cooks and seafood lovers alike. 

Bowl of Cha Ca Style Alaska Rockfish with noodles, pickled onions, lettuce, and herbs — Vietnamese-inspired Alaskan seafood dish

  • Prep Time: 15 min, not including 24 hr marinade time
  • Cook Time: 12 minutes
  • Total Time: 27 minutes, plus overnight marinade
  • Servings: 4
  • Yield: 4 (4-6 oz each) rockfish, plus 6-8 cups noodles and salad

Ingredients

Cha Ca Marinade
  • 1 cup plain yogurt
  • 1 shallot, diced
  • 1 garlic clove, diced
  • 1 tsp. ginger, diced
  • 1 jalapeno, seeded and diced
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, roughly chopped
  • 3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp. turmeric powder
  • 2 tsp. fish sauce
  • ½ tsp. sugar
Nuoc Mam
  • 1 cup fish sauce
  • ¾ cup rice wine vinegar
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 1 ½ cup water
  • 2 Tbsp. garlic
  • 2 Tbsp. sambal
  • 1 Tbsp. minced ginger
Pickled Red Onion
  • ½ cup warm water
  • 1 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 3 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 tsp. salt
  • 2 star anise cloves
  • 2 large red onions, julienned
Assembly
  • 4 (4-6 oz.) Alaska rockfish fillets, marinated 24 hours in the Cha Ca Marinade
  • 12 oz. package rice noodles, cooked and cooled
  • 6 oz. Nuoc Mam
  • 6 oz. shredded cabbage
  • 1 head Bibb lettuce, torn
  • 4 Tbsp. roasted peanuts, crushed
  • 2 Tbsp. fresh dill sprigs
  • 3 Tbsp. green onions, cut into 1 in. pieces
  • 4 Tbsp. pickled red onion

Instructions

  1. Prepare marinade/rockfish Combine all marinade ingredients and marinate rockfish fillets for 24 hours, or overnight.
  2. Prepare pickled onions Day of, combine pickled onion ingredients in a bowl. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
  3. Bake rockfish In a 400°F oven, place the fillets on a baking sheet and roast for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Prepare Nuoc Mam Combine all ingredients in a bowl.
  5. Assemble and serve In four separate bowls, divide the rice noodles and dress with the Nuoc Mam. Divide the cabbage and torn lettuce between the bowls. When the fish is done, remove from the oven and place in the bowls. Top with crushed peanuts, herbs, and pickled onions.
Recipe courtesy of Chef Chris Shepherd
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