Best 8 Full Steam Ahead Fish Recipes

STEAMED FISH WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Set a large bamboo or metal steamer basket over a skillet of simmering water over medium heat.
• Crush the ginger slices with the flat side of a knife. Place the garlic and half each of the ginger and scallions on a plate that will fit inside the steamer. Score the fish skin a few times with a knife; season with salt and pepper. Place the fish skin-side up on the plate, drizzle with 2 teaspoons sesame oil and sprinkle with the sugar. Put the plate in the steamer. Mix the soy sauce and rice wine and pour over the fish.
• Cover and steam the fish until just cooked through, 6 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness. Carefully remove the hot plate. Add the snow peas to the steamer, season with salt, cover and cook until bright green, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Transfer the fish to a platter, spoon the juices on top and sprinkle with the remaining scallions. Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons sesame oil and the peanut oil in a skillet over high heat. Add the remaining ginger and cook until it begins to brown. Pour the hot oil over the fish.

FULL-STEAM-AHEAD FISH

Steps:

• Make bias cuts about 3/4-inch apart into the fish fillets (Do not cut completely through fish).
• Tuck 1 or 2 whole basil leaves into each cut.
• Rub fillets with garlic and ginger.
• Place peppers and asparagus in a steamer basket.
• Top with fish.
• Place basket into a large, deep saucepan or wok in which 1-inch of water is boiling. Cover; steam 6 to 8 minutes or until fish just flakes easily when tested with a fork. Makes 2 servings.

WHOLE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Score the skin on the fish. Place some ginger and scallions inside the cavity, the rest on the skin. Put fish in a steamer lined with cabbage leaves. Steam for 10 minutes, or until the fish is fully cooked. Pour 1 to 2 tablespoons of soy sauce over fish, followed by hot peanut oil.
• OTHER STUFF: Warm Shaoxing to drink Mao Tai to drink Red and white wine Jasmine tea

STEAMED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Prepare fish: Fit a wire rack in the bottom of a large roasting pan (17 1/2 by 12 inches) and add about 1 inch of water (it should come just below the top of the rack). Place pan over two burners on stove and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, rinse fish well inside and out, scraping off any loose scales, and pat dry. Rest the fish on a shallow platter large enough to hold the fish. Tuck the cilantro, half of the lemongrass, and a third of the ginger inside the cavity. Scatter the remaining lemongrass and ginger along with the lime zest, garlic, and half of the scallion over the top of the fish and around the platter. Squeeze half of 1 lime over the fish and drizzle with fish sauce. (Reserve remaining scallion for garnish.)
• Steam fish: Set the platter on the rack in the pan and cover the pan tightly with parchment-lined foil. Steam over medium-high heat until the fish is cooked throughout, about 10 minutes per inch of thickness (25 minutes for a 2 1/2-inch-thick fish). Test by inserting a sharp knife into the flesh near the backbone; the flesh should be opaque and offer little resistance.
• Serve: Remove the foil and lift the platter from the pan, being careful not to spill the juices. Garnish with scallion and cilantro and serve immediately.

OVEN-STEAMED FISH WITH MIXED-NUT SALSA

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Pick a baking dish that will fit all the fish fillets in an even layer. Scatter the whole parsley sprigs in the dish. Pat the fish dry and season all over with salt and pepper. Lay the fish on top of the parsley sprigs. (The herbs keep the fillets from sticking to the pan and will lightly flavor the fish.) Pour enough boiling water around the fish to cover the bottom of the dish. Seal the dish tightly with foil and bake until the fish is opaque and flakes with a fork, about 10 minutes for thin fillets like sole and up to 20 minutes for dense fillets that are 1-inch thick or more.
• While the fish is cooking, stir together the chopped parsley, nuts, olive oil, vinegar, honey and ½ teaspoon black pepper. (Measure the pepper; it's more than you think.) Season to taste with salt.
• Transfer the cooked fish to plates, and discard the parsley and water. Spoon some salsa over fillets and pass the rest at the table.

SIMPLEST STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Put at least 1 inch of water in the bottom of a steamer, cover and bring to a boil. Lay the fish on the steamer's rack, making sure the rack is elevated above the water, and cover again. Steam 4 to 8 minutes, or until the fish is done. (A good-size halibut steak may take 10 or even 12 minutes.)
• Remove the fish to a warm platter and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Cut into serving portions, sprinkle with coarse salt and serve.

STEAMED WHOLE FISH WITH GINGER AND SESAME

Steps:

• Rinse fish with cold water, pat dry and season inside and out with salt and pepper. Place both fish on a heatproof platter or shallow baking dish. (Dish must be slightly smaller than inside dimensions of steamer.)
• Whisk together sweet wine, soy sauce, ginger, garlic, chile bean paste and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Pour over fish and let marinate, turning once, for 30 minutes.
• Set up steamer with 3 inches of water in the bottom, then set rack 1 inch over water. Bring water to a rapid boil. Place fish, still on platter with marinade, on rack and cover with lid. (If using a bamboo steamer, cover top with a dish towel to retain steam.) Steam fish for 10 to 12 minutes, until just done. Flesh should look opaque, and there should be no pink at the bone when probed gently with a paring knife. Carefully remove platter from steamer.
• Meanwhile, place a skillet or wok over high heat and add vegetable oil. When oil looks hazy, add scallions and toss to coat. Sprinkle lightly with salt and stir-fry until slightly charred, about 2 minutes.
• To serve, scatter scallions over fish and top liberally with cilantro sprigs. (To make a tastier cilantro garnish, dress sprigs lightly with sesame oil and salt.) Using 2 forks, serve top fillet from carcass. Remove and discard skeleton to reveal lower fillet. Give each diner some fish, scallions and cilantro. Spoon pan juices over each serving.

SIMPLEST STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Put at least 1 inch of water in the bottom of a steamer (see Note), cover, and bring to a boil. Put the fish on the steamer's rack-making sure the rack is elevated above the water-cover again, and steam for 4 to 8 minutes, or until the fish is done. You must check often-taking care not to scald yourself when removing the steamer's lid-and stop the cooking the instant a thin-bladed knife meets no resistance when poking the fillet. (A good-sized halibut fillet may require 10 or even 12 minutes.)
• Transfer the fish to a warm platter and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Sprinkle with coarse salt and serve.
• Variation
• Simplest Steamed Fish with Soy: You can drizzle the fish with anything you like in place of the olive oil and lemon. Try, for example, a drizzle of soy sauce and a little minced peeled fresh ginger and/or chopped scallion.