Asian Infusion: Discovering the Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy Recipe

If you're a Chinese cuisine aficionado, you might have already tasted the popular Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy dish. This spicy and tangy dish is a perfect blend of Chinese and Indian flavours, making it an all-time favourite for many food lovers. This dish is not only easy to prepare but also a treat for your taste buds.

To make this dish, you'll need a few essential ingredients like fish fillets, ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, vinegar, cornflour, and red chilli sauce. Once you have all the ingredients ready, you can start preparing the dish by marinating the fish fillets and deep-frying them. The next step is to prepare the spicy and tangy gravy, which is made with a blend of soy sauce, vinegar, and red chilli sauce. Finally, you can add the fried fish fillets to the gravy and let it cook for a few minutes until the gravy thickens.

Overall, the Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy recipe is a perfect choice for a casual dinner with family and friends. This dish is not only delicious but also easy to make, making it an ideal option for those who want to try something new. So, why not give it a try and surprise your loved ones with this lip-smacking dish?

Key Takeaways

• Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy is a spicy and tangy dish that is a perfect blend of Chinese and Indian flavours.
• The essential ingredients for this dish include fish fillets, ginger-garlic paste, soy sauce, vinegar, cornflour, and red chilli sauce.
• This dish is easy to prepare and is an ideal option for a casual dinner with family and friends.

Essential Ingredients

To make the perfect Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy, it is essential to have the right ingredients. Here are the key ingredients that you will need to prepare this dish.

Choosing the Right Fish

The first and most important ingredient for Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy is fish. While you can use any type of fish, it is recommended to use boneless fish fillets. Basa fish fillets are a popular choice for this recipe. You can also use other types of fish such as bhetki or any other boneless fish fillets. If you are a seafood lover, you can also try using prawns or shrimp for this recipe.

Vegetables and Aromatics

Apart from fish, the dish also requires a variety of vegetables and aromatics to enhance its flavour. The key vegetables used in this recipe are onion, ginger, garlic, capsicum, and green chillies. Spring onions are also used for garnishing the dish. These vegetables add a unique taste and aroma to the dish, making it more delicious.

Sauces and Seasonings

Sauces and seasonings are crucial to the taste of Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy. The dish requires soya sauce, vinegar, salt, pepper, and sugar. These ingredients add a tangy and spicy flavour to the dish. You can also use red chilli sauce, tomato sauce, and dark soy sauce to enhance the taste of the dish.

To summarise, the key ingredients for Chinese Chilli Fish Gravy are fish, vegetables, sauces, and seasonings. You can choose any type of fish, but it is recommended to use boneless fish fillets such as Basa fish fillets. Vegetables such as onion, ginger, garlic, capsicum, and green chillies are used to enhance the flavour of the dish. Sauces such as soya sauce, vinegar, and dark soy sauce, along with seasonings such as salt, pepper, and sugar, add a tangy and spicy flavour to the dish.

Preparation Steps

Marinating the Fish

To make Chinese chilli fish gravy, you will need boneless fish fillets, preferably basa. Wash and drain the fish fillets well, and cut them into small cubes. Marinate the fish cubes with a little salt, ginger garlic paste, pepper powder, chilli powder, and vinegar. Keep the marinated fish aside for 15 minutes.

Making the Batter

In a bowl, mix cornflour, maida, pepper powder, and 1/2 tsp soya sauce with little water to make a smooth batter (not very thick). You can also add an egg to the batter for extra flavour and texture.

Frying the Fish

Heat oil in a pan for deep frying. Dip the marinated fish cubes in the batter and coat them well. Deep fry the fish cubes in hot oil until they turn golden brown. Drain the excess oil on a paper towel.

If you want to add more seafood to your Chinese chilli fish gravy, you can use prawns or calamari along with the fish fillets. Make sure to clean and devein the prawns before marinating them. For calamari, wash and cut them into rings and marinate them along with the fish cubes.

These simple preparation steps will help you make delicious Chinese chilli fish gravy that you can enjoy with rice or noodles.

Cooking the Gravy

Creating the Base

To start making the Chinese chilli fish gravy, you need to prepare the base. Heat oil in a pan and add finely chopped onions and garlic. Saute until the onions become translucent. Then, add tomato sauce, chilli sauce, and soy sauce. Mix well and cook for a few minutes until the raw smell of the sauces disappears.

Next, add water to the pan and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for a few minutes. In the meantime, mix cornflour with water to make a slurry. Add the cornflour slurry to the pan and stir continuously to avoid lumps. The cornflour helps in thickening the gravy and makes it more consistent.

Combining Elements

Once the gravy is thickened, you can add the fish pieces to the pan. You can use any boneless fish of your choice, but seafood like prawns or squids also work well. Make sure the fish pieces are coated well with the gravy. Cover the pan with a lid and let the fish cook in the gravy for 5-7 minutes on low heat.

Finally, add chopped capsicum or bell peppers and green chillies to the pan. These vegetables add a nice crunch and colour to the dish. Cook for another 2-3 minutes until the capsicum is slightly softened but still retains its crunchiness.

Your Chinese chilli fish gravy is ready to be served. It goes well with steamed rice or noodles. Enjoy your delicious seafood dish!

Serving and Pairing

Accompaniments

Chinese chilli fish gravy is a versatile dish that can be paired with a variety of accompaniments. You can serve it with steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles. The dish can also be paired with a side dish such as stir-fried vegetables or a salad.

For a complete meal, consider pairing Chinese chilli fish gravy with a vegetable manchurian or a chicken manchurian. The combination of the spicy fish gravy and the crispy manchurian is sure to tantalize your taste buds.

Presentation Tips

When it comes to presentation, Chinese chilli fish gravy can be served in a variety of ways. You can serve it in a bowl with steamed rice or on a platter with noodles. To add some colour to the dish, consider garnishing it with some chopped spring onions or coriander leaves.

Seafood lovers can also try using prawns or squid instead of fish in the recipe. The prawns or squid can be marinated and cooked in the same way as the fish. This will give the dish a unique flavour and texture.

To share your creation with others, consider taking a picture and posting it on social media platforms like Instagram or Facebook. This will not only show off your culinary skills but also inspire others to try the dish.

Chinese chilli fish gravy is a delicious dish that can be paired with a variety of accompaniments. With a little creativity, you can make the dish your own and impress your guests with your culinary skills.

Additional Tips

Here are a few additional tips that can help you make the perfect Chinese-style chilli fish gravy:

• Preparation time: This recipe takes around 30 to 40 minutes to prepare and cook. It's a quick and easy recipe that you can make for a weekday dinner or a weekend lunch.

• Serves: This recipe serves around 4 people. If you're cooking for more people, you can double the recipe.

• Simple ingredients: The ingredients used in this recipe are simple and easy to find. You'll need fish fillets, corn flour, salt, pepper, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic, onion, capsicum, green chillies, and tomato ketchup. You can also use seafood like prawns or squid instead of fish.

• Tips: Here are some tips that can help you make the perfect Chinese-style chilli fish gravy:

  • Make sure the fish fillets are dry before you marinate them. This will help the corn flour stick to the fish.
  • Marinate the fish fillets for at least 15 minutes. This will help the fish absorb the flavours of the marinade.
  • Fry the fish fillets until they are golden brown. This will give them a crispy texture.
  • Use fresh ginger and garlic for the marinade. This will give the fish a nice flavour.
  • Use green chillies according to your taste. If you want the dish to be less spicy, you can use fewer chillies.
  • Add the capsicum and onion towards the end of the cooking process. This will ensure they retain their crunchiness.
  • Add tomato ketchup to the gravy for a tangy flavour.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the simplest way to make Chinese chilli fish gravy?

The simplest way to make Chinese chilli fish gravy is to marinate the fish in a mixture of salt, ginger garlic paste, pepper powder, chili powder and vinegar for about 15 minutes. Then, fry the fish in hot oil until golden brown. In a separate pan, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in oil until fragrant. Add tomato sauce, soy sauce, red chili sauce, and water. Let it simmer for a few minutes. Finally, add the fried fish to the sauce and let it cook for a few more minutes.

How can I serve chilli fish gravy with rice?

Chilli fish gravy goes well with steamed rice or fried rice. You can also serve it with noodles or bread.

Which recipe is considered the best for Chinese chilli fish gravy?

There are many recipes for Chinese chilli fish gravy, and the best one depends on your personal preference. However, some popular recipes include using a combination of tomato sauce, soy sauce, red chili sauce, and vinegar for the gravy.

Can you suggest a good chilli fish curry recipe?

A good chilli fish curry recipe involves marinating the fish in a mixture of spices and then cooking it in a tomato-based gravy with onions, garlic, and ginger. You can also add vegetables like bell peppers and carrots to the curry for added flavour. Seafood like prawns or squid can also be used in place of fish.

What are the steps to preparing a dry chilli fish dish?

To prepare a dry chilli fish dish, marinate the fish in a mixture of spices and then coat it in cornflour or rice flour. Deep-fry the fish until crispy. In a separate pan, sauté onions, garlic, and ginger in oil until fragrant. Add red chili flakes and soy sauce. Finally, add the fried fish to the pan and toss it with the sauce.

How does Fish Manchurian differ from Chinese chilli fish gravy?

Fish Manchurian is a Chinese-Indian fusion dish that involves marinating fish in a mixture of spices and then coating it in a batter made of cornflour, maida, and egg. The fish is then deep-fried and served with a sweet and sour sauce. Chinese chilli fish gravy, on the other hand, involves marinating the fish in a mixture of spices and then cooking it in a spicy tomato-based gravy.