Steamed Soy & Ginger Fish
A fish recipe that is so simple yet so incredibly delicious, you will be blown away. I love the drama of hot oil being over the fish, making the ginger and spring onion topping sizzle! Make this Chinese steamed fish recipe using a steamer OR bake it in foil!
It never ceases to amaze me how such simple recipes can taste so incredible. This Steamed Fish with Ginger and Sauce is a classic example. It has so few ingredients and is so fast to make, you can get this on the table in 15 minutes.
If you don’t do have a bamboo steamer or other steamer large enough to fit the fish, the simple solution is to just bake it in foil. The fish is not quite as juicy simply because it doesn’t get the benefit of the moisture from steaming. But the difference is not very noticeable.
When the oil is poured over the fish, it pools on the plate with the soy sauce, sesame oil and fish juices, forming the sauce. I know it doesn’t sound like an impressive recipe. But truly, that sauce is SO GOOD!!
For a little splash of colour, you could garnish it with some red chillies if you want. Not spicy ones, we used the long red chillies that are very mild.
INGREDIENTS:
1-2 spring onions (scallions)
1 x 200g (7oz) fish fillets (e.g. seabass, cod or salmon) I used cod
4cm piece ginger, finely julienned
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 long red chilli, deseeded and sliced
steamed rice to serve
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1
Slice the spring onion lengthways into long, thin strips. Place the spring onion in a bowl of cold water and soak until ready to serve (slices will curl).
STEP 2
To set up a makeshift steamer, choose a large, wide and deep pan with a tight-fitting lid. Fold and scrunch a piece of foil into a long snake shape. Then coil the shape to form a trivet. Place in the bottom of the pan.
STEP 3
Place fish fillets onto a plate that is smaller than your pan and top with ginger.
STEP 4
Combine soy sauce and lime juice, then pour the mixture over the fish.
STEP 5
Place the plate of fish on top of the foil trivet in your pan. Pour water into the pan (being careful not to pour any on the plate) until it comes to just below the bottom of the plate. Turn the heat on high. Once the water starts to steam, place the lid on. Cook for about 12 minutes (or a bit longer for salmon) or until the fish fillets are cooked (they will easily flake when poked with a fork).
STEP 6
Just before the fish is ready, place the vegetable oil and the sesame oil in a small saucepan. Heat until a wooden spoon causes bubbles to form when placed into the oil. Turn the heat off but keep the oil warm on the stovetop.
STEP 7
Use a tea towel to protect your hands as you carefully remove the hot plate of fish from the pan. Top with spring onion. Pour the hot oil over the spring onion to sizzle and cook the onion a little. Top with chilli slices and serve with steamed rice.
