Sichuan Braised Cod Food

SICHUAN BRAISED COD

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix the 2 tsp corn starch with the 2 Tbsp rice vinegar.
• Add the chicken broth, soy sauce, and ketchup.
• Season the fish with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper.
• Spread the 1/2 cup of corn starch on a wide plate.
• Put the eggs in a bowl wide enough to dip the largest pice of cod.
• Dredge the fish in the corn starch.
• Heat 2 Tbsp of oil in a 12 inch non-stick pan over medium high heat until shimmering.
• Move each piece of cod from the corn starch to the egg to coat, then put into the pan.
• Cook on the first side for 3 minutes, then turning the fish, until brown on all sides and a little firm to the touch (total cooking time will be about 5 minutes) -- it should NOT be cooked all the way through.
• Transfer the fish to a large plate.
• Add the remaining 1 Tbsp of oil to the pan, let it warm up, then add the chiles, the white parts of the scallion, and the ginger. Stir fry for 2 ;minutes, until the scallions become translucent, with some brown spots.
• Stir the corn starch and vinegar mixture, then pour it into the pan and stir. The sauce should come to a boil and thicken.
• Reduce the heat to medium low, return the fish to the pan, and flip it to coat all the pieces uniformly with sauce. Cover the pan, with the lid slightly ajar, and cook for 3-5 minutes, until the fish is cooked fully and starting to flake.
• Taste the sauce and re-season with salt and pepper if necessary.
• Put the fish on a serving plate (or individual plates) and garnish with the scallion greens.

BRAISED COD WITH CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• If using canned chickpeas, rinse and drain them.
• Combine the cooked or canned chickpeas in a saucepan with the garlic, peppers (or pepper flakes), 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1/4 cup of water, bring to a simmer, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Remove and discard the red peppers.
• Add the cumin to the chickpeas and spread half the chickpea mixture in the bottom of a 9" square baking dish.
• Place the fish on top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, cover the fish with the remaining chickpeas, drizzle the remaining olive oil over the top.
• Cover the baking dish and bake for 30 minutes until the fish is just flaky but not falling apart (check after 20 minutes).
• Serve hot, garnished with sprigs of parsley or cilantro and lemon wedges.

BRAISED TROUT IN CHILLI BEAN SAUCE (DOU BAN YU)

Steps:

• Make three even, diagonal cuts into the thickest part of each side of the fish, to allow the sauce to penetrate. Rub it inside and out with a little salt, then rub the Shaoxing wine into its belly cavity. Set aside for 10-15 minutes, then drain off any liquid and pat it dry. Rub a little more salt into the skin on both sides (to prevent sticking).
• Add the 1/2 cup (100ml) oil to a seasoned wok over a high flame. When it is hot, slide in the fish and fry on both sides until it is a little golden (it won't be cooked through). You need to turn the fish carefully and tilt it so the oil comes into contact with all the skin. Pour off the oil into a heatproof container and slide the fish on to a plate.
• Clean the wok if necessary, then reheat it over a high flame. Add the 2-3 tbsp oil and reduce the heat to medium. Add the chilli bean paste and stir-fry until the oil is red and smells delicious. Add the ginger and garlic and stir-fry until you can smell them. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Slide in the fish and cook for five minutes or so, seasoning with soy sauce to taste. Keep spooning the sauce over the fish and tipping the wok so the whole fish is cooked. (If you are using a larger fish, turn it halfway.) Using a wok scoop and fish slice, carefully lift the fish from the sauce and lay it on a serving dish.
• Increase the heat, stir the potato flour mixture and add just enough to thicken the sauce to a rich, clingy consistency (do this in stages to avoid over-thickening). Stir in the spring onion, then switch off the heat. Stir in the sesame oil and ladle the sauce over the waiting fish.

SICHUAN BOILED FISH

Steps:

• Whisk egg white, wine, cornstarch, grated ginger, salt, white pepper (if using), and 1 tsp. ground Sichuan peppercorns in a medium bowl. Thinly slice fish fillets on a diagonal into ¼" slices and place in bowl with marinade. Toss to coat and let sit 30 minutes while you make the broth.
• Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in a large wok or deep-sided skillet over medium-high. Add celery and bean sprouts and stir-fry, stirring constantly, until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Transfer to a large deep bowl.
• Remove seeds from 6 dried chiles and cut crosswise into ¼" pieces. Pour 1 Tbsp. oil into same wok and heat over medium-high. Add coarsely chopped garlic, sliced ginger, sliced dried chiles, 6 whole dried chiles, 1 tsp. whole Sichuan peppercorns and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add bean paste and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Pour in stock and add remaining 1 tsp. ground Sichuan peppercorns. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover wok (use a baking sheet if you don't have a lid), and simmer 15 minutes to infuse broth with flavor.
• Using your hands, lift fish out of marinade, shaking to remove excess, and transfer to hot broth; discard marinade. Cook over medium-low until just opaque, about 2 minutes. Using a spider or slotted spoon, transfer fish to bowl with celery and bean sprouts, arranging on top; carefully pour broth over. Top with scallions and cilantro.
• Wipe out wok, pour in remaining 4 Tbsp. oil, and heat over high until just smoking. Add finely chopped garlic, gochugaru, sesame seeds, remaining 20 chiles, and remaining 1 tsp. whole Sichuan peppercorns and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Immediately pour over top of fish.