Chinese Steamed Fish with Soy Sauce Recipe
If you're looking for a delicious and easy recipe to impress your guests, Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce is the perfect dish to try. This classic Chinese recipe is a healthy and flavourful way to enjoy seafood, and it's surprisingly easy to make at home. With a few essential ingredients and some simple cooking techniques, you can create a restaurant-quality dish that your family and friends will love.
Essentials of Chinese Steamed Fish
Chinese steamed fish is a classic dish that is enjoyed all over the world. To make this dish, you'll need a fresh fish, such as sea bass or snapper, that is cleaned and scaled. You'll also need some aromatics, such as ginger, garlic, and scallions, to add flavour to the fish. Finally, you'll need a soy sauce mixture to pour over the fish before steaming.
Creating the Perfect Soy Sauce Mixture
The soy sauce mixture is the key to making a delicious Chinese steamed fish. To make this mixture, you'll need soy sauce, sugar, water, and Shaoxing wine. You can also add other ingredients, such as sliced chili peppers or sesame oil, to give the sauce some extra flavour. Once you've made the sauce, pour it over the fish and steam until the fish is cooked through.
Key Takeaways
- Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce is a delicious and easy recipe to make at home.
- The key to making a great Chinese steamed fish is to use fresh ingredients and a flavourful soy sauce mixture.
- You can use a variety of seafood, such as sea bass or snapper, to make this dish.
Essentials of Chinese Steamed Fish
Chinese steamed fish is a classic dish that is easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Here are some essential tips to help you make the perfect Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce at home.
Selecting the Right Fish
The key to making a great Chinese steamed fish is to choose a fresh fish. You can use either a whole fish or fish fillet for this recipe. Sea bass, snapper, and tilapia are some of the best fish to use for steaming. If you are using a whole fish, make sure it is scaled, gutted, and cleaned properly.
Preparation Techniques
Before steaming the fish, you need to prepare it properly. Pat the fish dry with paper towels and make a few slashes on both sides of the fish. This will help the fish cook evenly and absorb the flavours of the sauce. You can also marinate the fish with salt and pepper for added flavour.
Steaming Basics
To steam the fish, you will need a steaming rack, a pot or wok, and a lid. Fill the pot or wok with water and bring it to a boil. Place the fish on the steaming rack and put the rack in the pot or wok. Cover the pot or wok with the lid and steam the fish for about 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the fish.
When the fish is cooked, remove it from the pot or wok and transfer it to a serving plate. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the fish and garnish with chopped scallions and cilantro.
If you want to add more variety to your dish, you can also use other seafood such as shrimp or scallops. However, make sure to adjust the cooking time accordingly to ensure that your seafood is cooked properly.
With these essential tips, you can now confidently make your own Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce at home. Enjoy!
Creating the Perfect Soy Sauce Mixture
When it comes to steamed fish, the soy sauce mixture is what brings all the flavours together. A perfect soy sauce mixture is essential for a delicious steamed fish recipe. In this section, we will discuss how to create the perfect soy sauce mixture for your steamed fish recipe.
Sauce Ingredients
To create the perfect soy sauce mixture, you will need the following ingredients:
- Soy sauce
- Light soy sauce
- Salt
- Sugar
- Scallions
- Ginger
- Oil
- Small bowl
- Sesame oil
These ingredients are readily available in most supermarkets. You can also find them in Asian grocery stores.
Combining Flavours
To create the perfect soy sauce mixture, you need to combine the flavours in the right way. Here's how you can do it:
- Finely chop the scallions and ginger and put them in a small bowl.
- Add soy sauce, light soy sauce, salt, sugar, and oil to the bowl.
- Mix the ingredients well until the sugar and salt dissolve.
- Add a few drops of sesame oil to the mixture to give it a nutty flavour.
When it comes to steamed fish, the soy sauce mixture is the star of the show. It is what brings all the flavours together. You can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. If you want a sweeter sauce, add more sugar. If you want a saltier sauce, add more salt. You can also add other aromatics such as garlic or chilli to the mixture.
For seafood lovers, you can use different types of seafood for this recipe. Some of the best seafood to use are prawns, scallops, and squid. These seafood types are perfect for steaming and will go well with the soy sauce mixture.
Cooking Procedure and Tips
Steaming Process
Steaming is the best way to cook fish as it preserves its natural flavour and nutrients. To steam fish, you need a wok or a large pot with a steaming rack. Fill the wok or pot with water to a depth of 5cm and bring it to a boil. Meanwhile, prepare the fish by cleaning and scaling it. You can use any type of fish, but sea bass, tilapia, and snapper are popular choices. If you prefer seafood, you can use prawns or scallops instead.
Once the water is boiling, place the fish on a heatproof plate and add some julienned ginger and scallion on top. Then, place the plate on the steaming rack and cover it with a lid. The steaming time depends on the size and thickness of the fish. Generally, a 500g fish takes about 10-12 minutes to steam. Check the fish after 8 minutes to see if it is cooked. The flesh should be opaque and flaky.
Finishing Touches
While the fish is steaming, you can prepare the soy sauce mixture. In a small bowl, mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and water. You can adjust the amount of soy sauce and sugar to your taste. When the fish is cooked, remove it from the steamer and discard the ginger and scallion. Pour the soy sauce mixture over the fish and garnish it with cilantro leaves.
Serve the steamed fish with steamed rice and stir-fried vegetables. The rice should be cooked separately and can be flavoured with some garlic or ginger. You can also serve the fish with some chilli sauce or sambal if you like it spicy. Enjoy your healthy and delicious Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce!
Serving and Presentation
Accompaniments
When serving Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce, there are a variety of accompaniments that can be used to enhance the flavours of the dish. One popular option is to serve the fish with steamed white rice or noodles, which can help to balance out the saltiness of the soy sauce. You can also add some fresh ingredients such as chopped scallions or cilantro to add some colour and freshness to the dish.
If you want to serve the dish as part of a larger meal, you can consider pairing it with other Chinese dishes such as stir-fried vegetables or braised tofu. Seafood can also be a great addition to the meal, and shrimp or scallops can be used to complement the flavours of the fish.
Plating Techniques
When it comes to presentation, there are a few plating techniques that can be used to make the dish look more visually appealing. One option is to serve the fish whole, with the soy sauce poured over the top and some fresh herbs or sliced vegetables arranged around the edge of the plate. Alternatively, you can fillet the fish and arrange the pieces on a bed of steamed rice, with the soy sauce drizzled over the top.
To add some texture to the dish, you can also consider adding some crispy elements such as fried garlic or shallots, which can provide a nice contrast to the soft and tender fish. Finally, make sure to serve the dish hot and fresh, as this will help to bring out the best flavours and aromas.
Overall, Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce is a versatile and delicious dish that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Whether you serve it with rice, noodles, or other accompaniments, the key is to let the flavours of the fish and soy sauce shine through.
Nutritional Information and Variations
Health Benefits
Steamed fish with soy sauce is a healthy dish that is low in calories and high in protein. The dish is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining good heart health. The dish is perfect for those who are on a diet or want to eat healthily.
The health benefits of the dish can be enhanced by using fresh fish that is of the right size and thickness. You can get fresh fish from your local fishmonger or supermarket. The type of fish that you use can also affect the nutritional value of the dish. Sea bream, sea bass, salmon, cod, flounder, grouper, perch, snapper, and catfish are all great options for this recipe.
Recipe Variations
There are many variations of the Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce recipe. You can use different ingredients to give the dish a unique taste. For example, you can add garlic, ginger, and chilli to the soy sauce to make it more flavourful. You can also use light soy sauce instead of dark soy sauce to make the dish lighter.
If you want to use seafood in the recipe, you can use prawns, scallops, or squid. These seafood options will complement the soy sauce and give the dish a unique taste. Seafood is a great addition to the dish as it is high in protein and low in calories.
To make the dish more filling, you can serve it with steamed rice or noodles. You can also add vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, or carrots to the dish to make it more nutritious.
Overall, the Chinese steamed fish with soy sauce recipe is a healthy and delicious dish that can be easily customized to suit your taste preferences.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the secret to getting that perfect tender texture in a Chinese steamed fish?
The secret to achieving a perfect tender texture in your steamed fish is to not overcook it. Be sure to cook the fish just until it's opaque and cooked through. Overcooking can cause the fish to become tough and rubbery.
Can you recommend any specific type of fish that works best for steaming with soy sauce?
A variety of fish can be used for steaming with soy sauce, but some of the most popular options include sea bass, snapper, and tilapia. These fish have a mild flavour that pairs well with the savoury soy sauce.
How do you properly incorporate ginger and spring onion into the steaming process?
Ginger and spring onion are commonly used in Chinese steamed fish recipes to add flavour and aroma. To properly incorporate these ingredients, slice them into thin strips and place them on top of the fish before steaming. The steam will infuse the fish with their flavour.
What are some tips for making a healthy yet flavourful steamed fish dish?
To make a healthy yet flavourful steamed fish dish, use fresh, high-quality fish and flavour it with ingredients like soy sauce, ginger, and spring onion. Avoid using too much oil or salt, and consider adding vegetables like bok choy or broccoli to the steamer for added nutrition.
What's the difference between Cantonese steamed fish and the regular soy sauce steamed fish?
Cantonese steamed fish is a specific type of Chinese steamed fish that is typically served with a sauce made of soy sauce, ginger, and spring onion. Regular soy sauce steamed fish, on the other hand, is simply steamed fish that is flavoured with soy sauce.
Could you suggest a simple way to add a garlicky twist to a steamed fish fillet?
To add a garlicky twist to your steamed fish fillet, finely chop a clove or two of garlic and sprinkle it over the fish before steaming. Alternatively, you can add a few cloves of whole garlic to the steamer along with the fish. This will infuse the fish with a delicious garlicky flavour.