STEAMED FISH WITH BLACK BEAN SAUCE
Ingredients
Serves 4 to 6
2 tbsp (30 ml) Chinese fermented black beans, rinsed and patted dry
6 large garlic cloves, peeled
1½ lb (750 g) white-fleshed fish (sea bass, snapper, cod), scaled and gutted
salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
12 slices fresh peeled ginger, 3 left whole, 9 finely julienned
7 green onions, 2 left whole, 2 halved, 3 finely julienned
1 tbsp (15 ml) soy sauce
2 tbsp (30 ml) canola oil
1 handful cilantro, leaves and stems, roughly chopped
¼ tsp (1 ml) chili flakes, plus more, to taste
Instructions
- Coarsely chop fermented black beans and mix with garlic in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Rinse fish with cold running water and pat inside and out with paper towels. Sprinkle salt and white pepper over and inside fish cavity. Place 3 whole slices ginger along with 2 whole green onions inside cavity.
- Spread halved green onions on a heatproof plate large enough to hold the fish and that can fit inside a steamer. Set fish directly on top of green onions to keep fish from making direct contact with the plate.
- Steam fish until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Carefully remove plate and pour off any accumulated juices into a bowl, mix in soy sauce and set aside. Transfer fish to a serving platter.
- In a wok or small skillet, add canola oil, fermented black bean and chopped garlic mixture and cook over medium-high heat until garlic is soft, about 2 minutes. Add chili flakes, remaining julienned ginger, green onions and chopped cilantro and reserved fish-cooking liquid. Mix quickly and spoon mixture over top of fish.