Steamed Tilapia

Steamed Tilapia. I was surprised the first time I learned that steamed fish from Chinese restaurants are first pouched before steaming with the required ingredients. And at some instances they never actually steam the fish. I later learned that this is done for the following reason. First is to rid off or reduce the unpleasant fishiness and to significantly reduce the cooking time of the fish especially with large fish. My steamed tilapia uses the same poached/steam method, of course there are several method by the Chinese in steaming a fish including pouring hot oil over the steamed fish but that is reserved for future post. Here is a simple method of steaming a fish.

Ingredients:

2 medium size tilapia2 thumb size ginger, cut into strips
1 small bundle spring onion, cut into 2” length
1 small bundle kinchay, Chinese parsley copped
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
toasted sesame seeds (optional)
1 tsp. sesame oil
salt

Cooking procedure:

Remove gills, scales and innards of fish. Trim fins, rinse and drain well. Slit/cut across diagonally at both side of each fish. Dust a thin coating of salt and rub evenly over the fish, including cavity. Poached the fish in a wok of boiling water for 3 to 5 minutes. When done carefully slide the fish in a colander to drain excess water. In a steaming bowl arrange half of the ginger, spring onion and Chinese parsley at the bottom. Now carefully slide over and arrange side by side the poached fish, add the remaining ginger, spring onion and Chinese parsley over the fish. Mix the soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil and toasted sesame seed if using and pour over the fish. Bring water in the steamer to a boil. Now place the steaming bowl with the fish in the steamer and steam over medium to high heat for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from steamer and serve while still hot with a dipping sauce of soy sauce and kalamansi.

See other tilapia recipe:

Fish & Tofu with Tausi
Fish Sisig, Tilapia Sisig
Guinataang Tilapia at Pechay
Pritong Tilapia
Sinanglay na Tilapia