Vietnamese Clay Pot Fish

Name: Vietnamese Clay Pot Fish
Ingredients: 1/2 cup (4 oz./125 g) sugar; 1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) canola oil; 3 garlic cloves, minced; 3 shallots, minced; 1-inch (2.5-cm) piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated; 2 small red or green Thai chiles or other small hot chiles, halved lengthwise, seeded and thinly sliced; 1⁄4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) Asian fish sauce; 1⁄4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) soy sauce; 2 lb. (1 kg) firm, mild white fish fillets such as black cod or halibut, cut into equal-sized pieces; Freshly ground pepper, to taste