Cantonese Steamed Fish Food

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Cut the scallions into 2-inch lengths, and cut the pieces in half lengthwise. Julienne them thinly. Thinly slice about 15g of ginger, and julienne them. Give the cilantro a rough chop. Set the aromatics aside.
• Combine the light soy sauce, salt, sugar and hot water in a small bowl and mix until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside.
• Prepare your steaming set-up, and fill with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil.
• Rinse your fish fillet, and carefully lay it on an oblong heat-proof plate that will fit into your wok or steaming setup. Carefully place it in the steamer, and adjust the heat to medium. The water should be at a slow boil that generates a good amount of steam, but not so high that the water evaporates too quickly.
• Cover and steam for 7-10 minutes depending upon the size and thickness of your fish fillet. If you have extremely small, thin fillets (half an inch), cook for 4-5 minutes. Check for doneness using a butter knife. If it falls easily through the thickest part of the fillet to the bottom of the plate, the fish is done.
• Turn off the heat, and carefully drain any liquid on the plate. Spread about ⅓ of the scallions, ginger, and cilantro on the steamed fish (alternatively, you can wait to do this AFTER adding the sauce).
• To make the sauce, heat a wok or small saucepan to medium high heat, and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the remaining ⅔ of the ginger, and fry for 1 minute. Add the white parts of the scallions and cook for 30 seconds.Then add rest of the scallions and cilantro. The mixture should be sizzling.
• Add the soy sauce mixture. Bring the mixture to a bubble, and cook until the scallions and cilantro are just wilted, about 30 seconds.
• Pour this mixture over the fish. If you prefer to add the raw aromatics after adding the sauce, you can do so now, and heat an additional 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to pour over the raw aromatics. Serve immediately!

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.
• Soak dried mushrooms. Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover and soak 20 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, you can prepare other ingredients. Once hydrated, strain the liquid into another bowl, squeezing any excess liquid from the mushrooms (this is Shiitake Dashi, and you can use this umami-rich broth in other cooking). Cut off the stems (discard them) and slice the mushrooms.
• Slice the tomato, cut green onions into matchsticks, and peel ginger and cut into fine matchsticks.
• Rinse the fish inside and out under running cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Using a sharp knife, make three diagonal slits on both sides of the fish.
• Arrange the tomato on the base of a heatproof platter that will fit inside a wok. Lay the fish on top.
• Mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and rice wine in a small bowl and season with pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the fish and sprinkle over the mushrooms and ginger. Cover with saran wrap and leave to marinate in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

CHINESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Cut half of the scallion and ginger into small sections.
• For decoration: shred scallion with a fork and then soak them in cold water.
• Clean the fish completely and peel off any black skins in the stomach of the fish. Drain completely.
• Watch the body shape if your fish. If it gets a thick back, cut a line and separate the back into two parts. Or if it gets thick stomach, cut 2 lines on the thickest meat, so the meat can be cooked in a shorter time and be kept as tender as possible. (Optional for fresh water fish only), spread a very thin layer of salt on the surface and stomach of the fish. Place scallion and ginger inside of the fish.
• Place two scoops on the plates, or two sections of chopsticks and then place the fish in.
• Bring enough water to a boiling in a large pot and place the fish in after the water boils. Start the count the time, steam 5 minutes and stand for 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a clean plate, discard the scallion and ginger and place the newly cut scallions. Heat around 2 tablespoons of cooking oil until almost smoky and pour the oil evenly on the scallion shreds.
• Heat the seasoned soy sauce until warm and pour evenly on the plate. If your soy sauce is cold, pour them on the two sides of the fish, not over the fish.
• Serve hot and should be finished within 10 minutes.

CANTONESE STYLE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Place the fish in a large bowl.
• Add the rice wine, soy sauce, chopped ginger and sesame oil, and toss lightly to coat.
• Cover with clingfilm and leave to marinade in the fridge for 10 minutes.
• Arrange the fish on a heatproof plate, with the marinade, and place in a steamer. Steam over simmering water in a covered wok for 5-8 minutes, or until the fish flakes when the skin is pressed firmly or the dorsal fin pulls out easily.
• Remove the fish from the steamer and place in a heatproof platter.
• Heat a wok over high heat, add the oil and heat until smoking.
• Sprinkle the steamed fish with the spring onion, shredded ginger and pepper, and slowly pour the hot oil over the fish.
• This will cause the skin to crisp, and cook the garnish.

STEAMED SALMON CANTONESE STYLE

Steps:

• To steam in a wok, cross two chopsticks in an X, then cut a groove in the lower chopstick so that the top one fits snugly.
• Set the chopsticks in the wok and add water to 1 inch below the level of the chopsticks.
• Place lid on wok and turn heat to high.
• Place the salmon, skin side down, on a glass pie plate or rimmed glass plate slightly smaller than the diameter of the wok.
• Cover with ginger slices.
• Pour rice wine and fish sauce over fish.
• When the water is boiling, remove the lid from the wok and position the plate containing the salmon and seasonings on top of the chopsticks.
• Replace the lid and cook 7 to 8 minutes, or until the salmon just turns opaque and begins to flake.
• Two to three minutes before the salmon is done steaming, heat the peanut oil in a small skillet over high heat.
• When the oil is very hot, add the garlic and cook until browned.
• Discard the garlic, but do not turn off the heat until you use the oil; it must be very hot to sear the fish properly.
• When the salmon is cooked, transfer to a warm plate.
• Place green onion strips on top of the fish and immediately pour hot oil over the fish and onions.
• Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve immediately.
• Serves 2 as an entree, 4 as an appetizer.

CHINESE STEAMED FISH WITH GINGER PASTE

Steps:

• The fish should be gutted and descaled (by your fish vendor)
• Clean the fish cavity thoroughly (make sure not more debris and any fish blood that has a stinky smell)
• Pour some hot water over the entire fish with a ladle a few time.
• Bring the water in the wok to a boil.
• Place a stalk of spring onion on the plate, and one chopstick (or a metal spoon) at the middle of the plate.
• Place the fish on top of the chopstick.
• Apply some Shaoxing wine to the fish.
• Steam over HIGH HEAT, LID-ON, UNOPENED for 8 minutes. (Refer to the note section below for exact timing,)
• Discard the water in the plate after steaming.
• Blend ingredients (B)
• Saute ingredients (C) in a pan.
• Add Ingredients (B) and (D) it the pan. Combined and cook for 1 minute.
• Spread the ginger paste on the fish. Garnish with spring onions and chili.

STEAMED CANTONESE-STYLE FISH WITH SPICY NOODLES

Steps:

• To make the fish, pat the fish dry with kitchen towels and rub evenly with the salt, rubbing it inside the cavity as well if you are using a whole fish. Put the fish on a heatproof plate and squeeze the ginger over the top.
• Set up a steamer or put a rack into a wok or deep pan. Fill with 5cm/2in of water and bring to the boil over a high heat.
• Put the plate of fish in the steamer or on the rack, cover tightly and steam until it is just cooked. Flat fish fillets will take about 5 minutes; whole fish, or thick fillets, will take 12-14 minutes. The fish should turn opaque and flake slightly but still remain moist.
• Remove the plate and pour off any liquid that may have accumulated. Scatter the spring onions on the fish, then drizzle over the light and dark soy sauces.
• Heat the two oils together in a small saucepan until smoking, then immediately pour them over the fish.
• Meanwhile, to make the spicy noodles, bring a saucepan of water to the boil and cook the noodles for 3-5 minutes or according to packet instructions. Drain and then plunge the noodles in cold water. Drain thoroughly and toss them with 2 tablespoons of sesame oil. Arrange on a serving platter.
• Heat the sesame oil in a wok over a medium heat, and add the garlic and spring onions. Fry for 1 minute, then add the soy sauces, sesame paste, chilli paste, chilli oil and vinegar and mix well.
• Mix the ground peppers and sugar together in a bowl and add to the wok. Add the noodles and mix well to combine.
• Garnish the fish with the coriander and serve with the noodles on the side.

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH WITH GINGER, CILANTRO & GREEN ONIONS

Steps:

• Pour an inch of water in a wide skillet with a well fitting lid. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat until just simmering.
• Cut the fish fillets into 2 to 3 inch pieces. Lay the pieces on a heat-proof plate that will fit easily inside the skillet (this same plate can be used for serving, if you like), or a steamer insert. Drizzle the cooking wine over top, sprinkle with white pepper, and scatter over ginger strips. Place the plate or steamer insert into the skillet or pot with the simmering water, cover with the lid, and steam until the fish is flakey and almost opaque throughout. The time this takes will vary significantly depending on the thickness of your fish - anywhere from 5 to 12 minutes. Carefully remove the plate or steamer insert, discarding the water and ginger strips. It will continue cooking after it's removed from the heat, so be sure to pull it from its steamy pan when the center still has a touch of translucency.
• If using a steamer insert, move the fish to a serving plate. Scatter the onions and cilantro over the fish.
• Heat the canola oil in a small skillet until just beginning to smoke. Carefully pour the hot oil over the steamed fish. Sparingly drizzle everything with the seasoned soy sauce and sesame oil.

CHINESE STEAMED TILAPIA

Steps:

• Prepare your steamer. I set up a steamer rack in a large skillet on the stove with about an inch of water.
• Place tilapia filets on a plate that will fit in your steamer.
• Pour soy sauce over fish. Sprinkle ginger, garlic, and green onion over the fish as well.
• Carefully place the plate of fish into your steamer. Cover with a lid and steam for 15 minutes or until fish is cooked through. Serve right away.