speedylee: **[Chinese Fish With Ginger Shallot Sauce](https://www.recipetineats.com/chinese-steamed-fish-with-ginger-shallot-sauce/)** by RecipeTin Eats
*Prep Time: 5 mins, Cook Time: 15 mins, Total Time: 20 mins, Servings: 2-4*
**Ingredients**
* 2 x 350 – 400g / 12 – 13 oz bream or snapper fish , gutted, scaled and cleaned (Note 1)
* 2 stems of shallots (scallions / green onions), diagonally julienned to 5cm/2″ length
* 4 x 3cm / 1 x 2″ piece of ginger julienned
* 2 tbsp Japanese cooking sake (Note 2)
* 2 pinches of salt
* 3 tsp soy sauce (Note 3)
* 2 tsp sesame oil
* 4 tbsp oil (vegetable, canola or peanut oil)
* Garnish (optional)
* Red chilli julienned (Note 4)
**Instructions**
1. Cut 2 slashes on each side of the fish. Cut through to the bone.
2. Drizzle 1 tbsp of sake onto each fish.
3. Steam fish using method of choice, or bake (see directions below).
4. Meanwhile, heat oil over medium high heat until hot.
5. Transfer fish onto serving plates. Top with shallots and ginger.
6. Sprinkle with salt, drizzle over soy sauce and sesame oil.
7. Pour oil over fish – enjoy the drama as it bubbles!
8. Sprinkle with red chilli if using and serve with rice and steamed Asian Greens.
*Bamboo steamers in wok (see video)*
10. Place fish on a plate and put plate in bamboo steamer. Repeat with other fish. Stack bamboo steamers and put lid on.
11. Fill wok with water, ensuring it doesn’t touch the bottom of the steamer.
12. Bring water to boil over high heat, then place bamboo steamer on wok.
Steam for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer fish onto serving places.
*Bake*
13. Wrap each fish in foil, place on tray. Bake at 180C/350F for 15 minutes.
14. Open foil and carefully transfer fish onto serving plates.
*Other methods*
15. Steamer fitted inside a large pot, or a microwave steamer.
**Recipe Notes**
1. This can be made with any firm white fish that is not too oily. It can also be made with fish fillets, however, whole fish is so much juicier! Sea bream and snapper are ideal – this is what we use the most. We feel that salmon and trout are too oily for this recipe, however, could be used. 2 x 400g / 13 oz fish is shown in the photos. This yields around 200g / 6.5oz of flesh and is a generous size serving for one person – I was SO FULL when I ate one of these for myself (with rice and steamed pal choi). You can make this with a slightly larger fish – there is enough sauce to make this with one around 450g / 15oz. This will serve 4 people sufficiently if there are sides. If using fish fillets, use firm white fish around 150 – 180g / 5 – 6 oz each. I purchase my fish gutted, scaled and cleaned.
2. Can substitute with Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry. If you cannot consume alcohol, this can be substituted with chicken broth.
3. All purpose soy sauce is what we use (Kikkoman). However, you can use light soy sauce. Dark soy sauce will not be appropriate – the flavour is too intense.
4. This is just for a touch of colour so I use long red chillies that are mild. (General rule of thumb: the smaller the chilli, the hotter it is!)
5. I served this with rice and steamed Pak Choi with Oyster Sauce (I used the sauce from this Restaurant Style Chinese Broccoli with Oyster Sauce).
TheBottomOfTheTop: That is a *lot* of raw ginger for my taste. It’s a cool-looking dish, though.