Black Bean Fish Recipe: A Quick and Easy Meal for Weeknight Dinners

If you're looking for a tasty and healthy fish recipe, look no further than black bean fish. This dish combines the rich flavor of black bean sauce with the delicate taste of fish to create a meal that is both satisfying and nutritious. Whether you're cooking for yourself or for a group, this recipe is sure to be a hit.

To make black bean fish, you'll need a few essential ingredients, including black bean sauce, fish fillets, and a few seasonings. The fish is typically stir-fried with the sauce and other ingredients until it is cooked through, then served hot over rice or with your favorite side dishes. One of the great things about this recipe is that it is incredibly versatile, so you can experiment with different types of fish and seasonings until you find the perfect combination.

When cooking and serving black bean fish, there are a few key things to keep in mind. First, be sure to choose high-quality ingredients, including fresh fish and a good-quality black bean sauce. Second, take care not to overcook the fish, as it can become tough and dry if left on the heat for too long. Finally, be sure to serve the dish hot and garnish it with your favorite herbs and spices to add extra flavor and visual appeal.

Key Takeaways

• Black bean fish is a delicious and healthy recipe that combines the rich flavor of black bean sauce with the delicate taste of fish.
• To make black bean fish, you'll need a few essential ingredients, including black bean sauce, fish fillets, and a few seasonings.
• When cooking and serving black bean fish, be sure to choose high-quality ingredients, avoid overcooking the fish, and garnish the dish with your favorite herbs and spices.

Black Bean Fish Recipe Essentials

If you're a fan of Chinese cuisine, you might have come across the popular dish of fish with black bean sauce. This dish is a perfect balance of savoury and sweet flavours, making it a favourite amongst many. Here are some essential tips to help you make the perfect black bean fish recipe at home.

Choosing the Right Fish

When it comes to choosing the right fish for your black bean recipe, you have many options. Cod, tilapia, ling, sea bass, halibut, catfish, grouper, trout, sole fish, and haddock are all great choices. Choose a fish that is fresh and has firm flesh, which will hold up well during cooking.

Preparing the Black Bean Sauce

The key ingredient in this recipe is the black bean sauce. You can make your own black bean sauce by fermenting black beans or use pre-made black bean garlic sauce or Chinese black bean sauce. Whichever option you choose, make sure to taste the sauce before adding it to the fish. You can adjust the seasoning by adding more light soy sauce, sugar, or salt, depending on your taste.

Marinating Techniques

Marinating the fish is an essential step in this recipe. It helps to infuse the fish with the flavours of the black bean sauce and other ingredients. You can marinate the fish with ginger, garlic, spring onion, scallion, onions, light soy sauce, sesame oil, oil, salt, black pepper, sugar, or white sugar. Marinate the fish for at least 30 minutes before cooking to allow the flavours to penetrate the fish.

Cooking and Serving

Steaming the Fish

To prepare the steamed fish with black bean sauce, start by rinsing the white fish fillets and patting them dry with a paper towel. Then, season the fillets with salt and pepper and place them on a heatproof plate. Set up your steamer rack over a wok or a pot filled with boiling water and place the plate of fish on the rack. Cover the steamer with a lid and steam the fish for about 8 minutes or until it is cooked through. Use oven mitts to carefully remove the plate from the steamer and set it aside while you prepare the sauce.

Stir-Frying Vegetables

While the fish is steaming, you can prepare the vegetables for the stir-fry. Heat some peanut oil in a wok over high heat and add sliced bell peppers, green beans, and dried red chilies. Stir-fry the vegetables for a few minutes until they are tender but still crisp. Then, add the black bean sauce, fish sauce, and a pinch of sugar to the wok and stir everything together until the sauce is fragrant and the vegetables are coated in it.

Plating and Garnishing

To serve the steamed fish with black bean sauce, spoon the sauce and vegetables over the fish fillets and sprinkle some chopped scallions on top. You can also serve it with steamed rice or fried rice as a side dish. This dish is a perfect weeknight dinner that is both savoury and salty with a delicious umami flavour. It is also a great source of protein with only a few calories per serving.

Tips:

• If you don't have a steamer, you can also bake the fish in the oven at 180°C for about 15 minutes or until it is cooked through.
• You can use any type of white fish fillets for this recipe, such as cod, haddock, or tilapia.
• If you want to make the dish spicier, you can add more dried red chilies or fresh chili peppers to the stir-fry.
• Make sure to dissolve the corn starch in water before adding it to the sauce to avoid lumps.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you prepare a simple steamed fish with black bean sauce?

To prepare a simple steamed fish with black bean sauce, you will need a fresh fish, black bean sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions. First, clean and scale the fish and place it on a heatproof plate. Then, mix the black bean sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions in a bowl and pour it over the fish. Steam the fish for about 10-15 minutes until fully cooked. Serve hot with rice.

What are the key ingredients for a Chinese-style black bean fish dish?

The key ingredients for a Chinese-style black bean fish dish include fresh fish, black bean sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, scallions, and sometimes chili peppers. You can also add other vegetables such as bell peppers, onions, and carrots to the dish.

Can you suggest a good fried fish with black bean sauce recipe?

Yes, a good fried fish with black bean sauce recipe involves coating the fish in cornstarch and frying it until crispy. Then, stir-fry the black bean sauce with garlic and ginger and pour it over the fried fish. Garnish with scallions and serve hot with rice.

What's the best way to use canned black beans in a fish recipe?

Canned black beans can be used in a fish recipe by mashing them and mixing them with other ingredients such as garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and scallions to make a black bean sauce. Then, pour the sauce over the fish and steam or bake until fully cooked.

Is there a recipe for a whole fish cooked with black bean sauce?

Yes, a recipe for a whole fish cooked with black bean sauce involves cleaning and scaling a whole fish and placing it on a heatproof plate. Then, mix the black bean sauce, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and scallions in a bowl and pour it over the fish. Steam the fish for about 20-25 minutes until fully cooked. Garnish with cilantro and serve hot with rice.

How do you make fermented black bean sauce for fish?

To make fermented black bean sauce for fish, you will need fermented black beans, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and sugar. First, rinse the fermented black beans and mash them with a fork. Then, stir-fry the mashed beans with garlic and ginger in a pan until fragrant. Add soy sauce and sugar and cook until the sauce thickens. Use the sauce to cook the fish.