Cantonese Style Steamed Haddock Food

CHINESE STEAMED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Remove any scales from your fish using a serrated steak knife. The areas to look for are the belly and the edges of the fish including the top, near the dorsal fins, and the head. There is nothing worse than having to pick out scales while you're having dinner.
• Cut off any fins with kitchen shears. They are pretty tough, so be careful with this step. Leave the tail and head in tact for presentation.
• Look at the cavity, and you should see the backbone. You may also see a membrane that you should pierce and cut, revealing a blood line near the bone. Run your finger or a spoon across it to clean it thoroughly.
• Check the head and gills. You should not see any gills left, and if there are, remove them with the kitchen shears and rinse the area clean. Older Chinese folks who like dining on the fish head will appreciate this step.
• Give the fish a final rinse, shake off the excess water (no need to pat it dry) and transfer to a heat-proof plate for steaming. No salt, seasoning, or wine should be used on the fish before steaming. Repeat. Nothing on the fresh fish before steaming!
• For steaming, I used an elongated heat-proof plate. To accommodate that, I needed to MacGyver a steaming apparatus that would fit said plate. It's simple enough. I used a wok and metal steam rack. If you need more height to keep the plate above the water in the wok, set a rack on top of a metal can with both ends removed. It's a handy and cheap addition to your kitchen arsenal!
• Steam for 9 minutes and turn off the heat. Use a butter knife to peek at the meat and confirm the fish is cooked through. The meat should be opaque down to the bone, but the bone should be slightly translucent and not fully cooked (remember, you will not be eating the bone. Trust me on this one!).
• Next, carefully pour off all of the liquid accumulated on the plate from steaming and spread half of the ginger, the green portions of the scallion, and the cilantro over the fish.
• Mix the water, salt, sugar, light soy sauce or seasoned soy sauce, and fresh ground white pepper in a small bowl or measuring cup. Heat 2 tablespoons oil and the other half of the ginger in a saucepan until the ginger begins to sizzle and add in the sauce mixture. Heat the mixture until simmering.
• Once simmering, add the rest of the oil and white portions of the scallion and stir until the liquid begins to simmer and sizzle once again. Spoon the entire mixture evenly over the fish and serve hot!

CANTONESE STYLE STEAMED HADDOCK

Steps:

• Place the ginger in some water in a rice steamer. Place the haddock in the top part of the steamer. Steam the fish for 10 minutes or until the fish is flaky and done.
• Mix the soy sauce, water, and sugar together. Set aside. Place oil in a skillet. Cook the white parts of the scallions until wilted. Add the soy sauce mixture and cook 2 minutes.
• Remove the fish from the steamer. Top with the green parts of the scallion and the cilantro. Drizzle the soy sauce mixture over the fish and serve immediately

HADDOCK STEAMED WITH VEGGIES

Steps:

• Bring water in a steamer to a boil, lower heat to a simmer. Layer ingredients in the steamer; cabbage, break the slice up a little, the slice of onion, broken into rings; sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cheese over evenly, add the slice of tomato. Season the fish with salt and pepper and place the fish fillets evenly over the tomato and top with the other tablespoon of cheese.
• Steam for approximately 10 minutes or until the cabbage is tender crisp and the fish is flaky. Try to retain the layers to remove to plate.

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 CANTONESE-STYLE FISH

Steps:

• Pat the fish fillets dry with kitchen paper if needed, and season. Put on a heatproof plate and scatter over the shredded ginger.
• Pour water into a wok or deep pan to a depth of 2.5-5cm (1-2in) and insert a steaming rack. If you don't have a steaming rack, use an upturned heatproof dish to make a trivet. Put the pan on a high heat and bring the water to the boil.
• Put the plate of fish on the steaming rack or heatproof dish. Cover with a lid and gently steam for 10-12 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flaky.
• Remove the fish from the wok and divide between 4 plates. Drizzle over the light and dark soy sauces and scatter over the spring onions.
• Heat the oil in a small pan until smoking hot and carefully pour over each piece of fish. It will sizzle a little. Scatter over the coriander and serve immediately.