Indulge in a culinary journey with our tantalizing gingery mustard greens and tilapia soup, a harmonious blend of flavors that will delight your taste buds. This soup is a symphony of fresh ingredients, featuring tender tilapia fillets, vibrant mustard greens, and a symphony of aromatic spices. The ginger adds a zesty kick, while the mustard greens contribute a slightly bitter note that balances the sweetness of the carrots and onions. As you savor each spoonful, you'll appreciate the delicate balance of flavors, creating a truly unforgettable dining experience.
In addition to the main recipe, we've included two variations to cater to different dietary preferences and taste profiles. For those who prefer a vegetarian option, our meatless gingery mustard greens soup is just as flavorful and satisfying, featuring hearty lentils instead of tilapia. And for those who enjoy a bit of heat, our spicy gingery mustard greens and tilapia soup packs a punch with the addition of chili peppers.
Whichever recipe you choose, you'll be treated to a delicious and nutritious meal that's perfect for a cold winter day or a light and flavorful lunch. So grab your apron, gather your ingredients, and let's embark on a culinary adventure that will leave you craving more.
QUICK STEAMED FLOUNDER WITH GINGER-GARLIC MUSTARD GREENS
This recipe, inspired by a Chinatown dinner, puts the bold tastes of sesame oil, ginger and soy sauce front and center. Here, a steamed piece of flounder sits on a bed of mustard greens, limp, tender and infused with garlic. The greens take the place of choy sum, a relative of bok cho, and give the dish a slightly mustardy flavor. It's a quick, healthy weeknight dinner packed with flavor. Try it tonight.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, quick, main course
Time 15m
Yield 2 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Heat oils in a very large skillet. Add garlic and ginger and sauté until fragrant and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add mustard greens, soy sauce and 3 tablespoons water, and sauté until greens start to wilt, 2 minutes longer.
- Spread greens out in pan. Season flounder with salt and pepper, and place on top of greens. Cover pan, reduce heat to medium, and let fish steam until just cooked through, about 6 minutes. If pan dries out before fish is cooked through, add a little more water, a teaspoon at a time.
- Uncover pan and transfer fish to serving plates. If greens seem wet, turn heat to high to cook off excess moisture. Serve greens on top of fish, drizzled with a little more sesame oil and soy sauce, if desired.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 320, UnsaturatedFat 8 grams, Carbohydrate 4 grams, Fat 14 grams, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 44 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 1017 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
GINGERY MUSTARD GREENS AND TILAPIA SOUP
My Dad and I used to catch small perch at the local harbor for this soup. Amid the sailboats and cabin cruisers, we would lower our poles, the lines baited with thawed frozen peas, to catch the three- to four-inch-long fish, the American equivalent of Vietnamese ca ro. We would bring home about a dozen fish, and my mom would gut them for this classic Viet combination of sweet fish, sharp mustard greens, and ginger. One day, Mom protested that cleaning the fish took too much time, so we stopped catching them, and the soup didn't grace our table for years. On a trip to Vietnam, I saw a fishmonger at Ben Thanh market in Saigon cleaning ca ro, which reminded me of how good this soup is. Back home, I decided to use whole tilapia, which is sometimes identified as ca ro in Viet markets. It worked just like traditional ca ro in this soup, but its larger size made it much easier to prep and cook. Now, this brightly flavored soup is back on my table as an ideal balance for bold, rich foods like Grilled Lemongrass Pork Riblets (page 145). Whole tilapia is sold at Asian and Latin markets.
Yield serves 4 to 6 with 2 or 3 other dishes
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan, combine the water, fish, half of the sliced onion, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt and bring almost to a boil over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to a simmer and use a ladle to skim and discard any scum that rises to the top. Let simmer for 10 minutes, or until the flesh of the fish is opaque. Transfer the body sections to a plate, but leave the head in the broth. Let the broth simmer for another 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, let the body sections cool for a few minutes, then remove the meat and discard the skin and bones. A fork and a soupspoon are handy for this task. It is okay if the flesh does not come off in large pieces.
- When the broth has finished simmering, remove from the heat and pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Discard the solids. Add 1 tablespoon of the fish sauce and cover and set aside if not serving right away.
- In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the remaining onion and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for about 4 minutes, or until fragrant and soft. Add the fish and heat for about 1 minute, or until heated through, gently breaking it up into 1-inch pieces as it heats. Add the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons fish sauce and the 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook for 1 to 2 minutes to allow the fish to absorb the flavors. If you are not serving the soup right away, turn off the heat and cover.
- Just before serving, return the broth to a simmer. Add the mustard greens and cook for about 1 minute, or until they have wilted and turned deep green. Add the ginger and the fish and stir gently to distribute the fish evenly. Taste and add extra salt or fish sauce, if necessary. When the soup is at a simmer, turn off the heat and ladle into a serving bowl. Sprinkle with black pepper and serve immediately.
- The soups in this chapter, as well as many other recipes in this book, include gently cooking onions until they are fragrant and soft. This unhurried step is called phi hành and takes about four minutes to complete over medium heat. The purpose is to coax the sugars from the onions without browning them. You know the onions are ready when you stick your nose over the pan and the harshness of onion has been transformed into a sweet aroma. The onions will have lost their opacity and turned translucent, and they will have lost all their crispness and become limp. Note that phi hành shouldn't be confused with the crispy fried shallots called hành phi.
- Th ere are two schools of canh making: the drop-into-boiling-water school and the sauté-first-then-simmer school. Cooks who follow the former practice argue that their method produces a pristine, clear broth. I prefer to extract extra flavor from some of the ingredients, such as onion, by sautéing them first and then adding the seasonings and water. A brief simmer follows and the soup is done. The broth is not quite as clear as with the drop-into-boiling water method, but the flavors are stronger.
Tips:
- Prep Ahead: To save time, wash and chop the vegetables and herbs in advance. You can also marinate the tilapia fillets overnight for extra flavor.
- Choose the Right Tilapia: Look for fresh or frozen tilapia fillets that are firm and have a mild smell. Avoid fillets that are slimy or have a strong odor.
- Don't Overcook the Tilapia: Tilapia cooks quickly, so be careful not to overcook it. Otherwise, it will become dry and tough.
- Use Fresh Ginger and Mustard Greens: Fresh ginger and mustard greens provide the best flavor for this soup. If you can't find fresh mustard greens, you can substitute baby spinach or kale.
- Adjust the Spice Level: The amount of ginger and mustard greens you use will determine the spice level of the soup. If you prefer a milder soup, use less ginger and mustard greens. If you like it spicy, add more.
Conclusion:
This gingery mustard greens and tilapia soup is a flavorful, healthy, and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal. It's packed with fresh vegetables, lean protein, and a flavorful broth. The ginger and mustard greens add a unique and delicious flavor that is sure to please everyone at the table. So next time you're looking for a quick and easy soup recipe, give this one a try. You won't be disappointed!
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