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Home Fish

Chinese Steamed Fish with Ginger Shallot Sauce

By:Nagi
Published:23 Nov '16Updated:20 Jan '21
45 Comments
Recipe v Video v Dozer v

A Chinese fish recipe that is so simple yet so incredibly delicious, you will be blown away. I love the drama of hot oil being over the fish, making the ginger and shallot topping sizzle! Make this Chinese steamed fish recipe using a steamer OR bake it in foil!

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

I’ve been wanting to share this recipe for ages. It is probably my all time favourite whole fish recipe. I want to say it’s the one I make the most, but because it’s my mother’s recipe and she loves it too, she makes it on request  demand  request. So therefore, I actually very rarely make it myself.

She came around to be my hand model / teach me to make this (properly) and was tapping her nails impatiently as I hurried to take photos. I snapped them in 3 minutes, then we plonked ourselves onto stools and ate these straight off the photo set up I had arranged on my kitchen bench top.

Like mother, like daughter.

And as we got stuck into our respective fish, we were both mumbling “OMG this is so good”. One in a Japanese accent, one in an Aussie accent, both muffled with our mouths full.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

It never ceases to amaze me how such simple recipes can taste so incredible. This Chinese Steamed Fish with Ginger and Shallot Sauce is a classic example. It has so few ingredients and is so fast to make, my mother gets this on the table in 15 minutes.

And while it is best made with whole fish (it’s just so much juicier!), it can even be made with fillets. And you don’t need a bamboo steamer! You can steam it in any steamer or you can bake it. More on that below.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

This is how it goes down.

Firstly, cut two slits on each side of the fish. This helps it cook evenly as well as making the sauce penetrate throughout the flesh.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

For extra flavour, my mother drizzles the fish with a bit of Japanese cooking sake (Chinese cooking wine or dry sherry are alternatives that are just as good). Then if you are using a bamboo steamer, plonk the fish on a plate – makes it much easier to handle – then place the steamer on a wok filled with rapidly simmering water. If cooking 2, as we usually do, then just stack the steamers. Then just steam for 10 minutes.

If, like me, you don’t have a bamboo steamer or other steamer large enough to fit a whole fish, the simple solution is to just bake it in foil. The fish is not quite as juicy simply because it doesn’t get the benefit of the moisture from steaming. But the difference is not very noticeable, especially if using a whole fish. For these photos, we steamed one and baked the other so we could compare them and agreed that the difference was small.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

While the fish is cooking, chop up the ginger and shallots (aka scallions / green onions) and heat up a bit of oil in a small saucepan. Not much is required, just 2 tablespoons per fish.

Once the fish is cooked, transfer it to serving plates. Pile on the ginger and shallots, then sprinkle with salt and drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil.

Now for my favourite part. Even when I was a kid and didn’t actually enjoy this dish that much, I would still dash to the table when my mother poured the hot oil over the top of the fish. It sizzles and bubbles on contact, and partially cooks the ginger and shallots.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

When the oil is poured over the fish, it pools on the plate with the soy sauce, sesame oil and fish juices, forming the sauce. I know it doesn’t sound like an impressive recipe. But truly, that sauce is SO GOOD. Pick up a bit of the juicy fish flesh and squidge it around in the sauce and be amazed how something so simple can be so tasty. 🙂

For a little splash of colour, you could garnish it with some red chillies if you want. Not spicy ones, we used the long red chillies that are very mild.

I know that many people are turned off by the thought of cooking whole fish. But I really hope that this inspires some people to give it a go! It really is easy and if you love Asian food, I really think you will enjoy this. – Nagi x

PS Thought a recipe video would be helpful so you’ll find it below the recipe. ❤️ You will observe that the hands are not my Baby Hands. 😂

PPS Japanese dining etiquette is to always serve fish with the head pointing to the left. In the photo below I have one (illegally!) place diagonal, just to fit into the photo better! If the fish is being shared, the head should be such that it is pointing left in front of the eldest or most honourable person at the table. In Chinese etiquette, I understand that the fish head should be pointing towards the eldest of most honourable person at the table.

A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

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A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! recipetineats.com

Chinese Steamed Fish with Ginger Shallot Sauce

Author: Nagi | RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 20 mins
Dinner
Chinese
4.92 from 12 votes
Servings2 - 4
Tap or hover to scale
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Steamed Chinese Fish with a Ginger and Shallot Sauce! Love the drama as the hot oil is poured over the fresh ginger and shallots, cooking it and creating the gorgeous sauce. This recipe is one of those true treasures that are simple yet taste so incredible, and it's healthy too! The fish can be steamed or baked - refer photos in post or video below recipe.

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

  • Cut 2 slashes on each side of the fish. Cut through to the bone.
  • Drizzle 1 tbsp of sake onto each fish.
  • Steam fish using method of choice, or bake (see directions below).
  • Meanwhile, heat oil over medium high heat until hot.
  • Transfer fish onto serving plates. Top with shallots and ginger.
  • Sprinkle with salt, drizzle over soy sauce and sesame oil.
  • Pour oil over fish - enjoy the drama as it bubbles!
  • Sprinkle with red chilli if using and serve with rice and steamed Asian Greens.

Bamboo steamers in wok (see video)

  • Place fish on a plate and put plate in bamboo steamer. Repeat with other fish. Stack bamboo steamers and put lid on.
  • Fill wok with water, ensuring it doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer. Bring water to boil over high heat, then place bamboo steamer on wok.
  • Steam for 10 minutes. Carefully transfer fish onto serving places.

Bake

  • Wrap each fish in foil, place on tray. Bake at 180C/350F for 15 minutes. Open foil and carefully transfer fish onto serving plates.

Other methods

  • 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).
6. Nutrition assuming 4 servings.
chinese-steamed-fish-nutrition-4-servings

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 126gCalories: 229cal (11%)Carbohydrates: 1.2gProtein: 17.2g (34%)Fat: 16.7g (26%)Saturated Fat: 2.5g (16%)Cholesterol: 44mg (15%)Sodium: 549mg (24%)Potassium: 35mg (1%)Vitamin A: 100IU (2%)Vitamin C: 1.7mg (2%)Calcium: 20mg (2%)Iron: 1.1mg (6%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @RecipeTinEats.

 WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT


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A Chinese Steamed Fish topped with Ginger and Shallots and seasonings, with hot oil poured over it to create a dramatic sizzle and an amazing sauce. So simple, yet so utterly delicious. Steam OR bake the fish! www.recipetineats.com

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Hi, I'm Nagi!

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45 Comments

  1. Mel says

    November 18, 2021 at 12:22 pm

    5 stars
    Tried this recently….simple and very tasty…used most of my own organically grown greens…and my own caught fish…..very satisfying being a ‘Covid’ farmer and fisho.

    Reply
  2. Nurul says

    August 31, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    5 stars
    Made this today and it’s amazing! The whole family loved it. Thank you, Nagi.

    Reply
  3. Ern says

    June 10, 2021 at 9:25 pm

    I had some perfect John Dory fillets and found this when looking for inspiration. It was delish. 10 minutes in foil at 200 C fan-forced did the job.

    Reply
  4. Justine says

    December 6, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness! We used deep sea bream and it was absolutely delicious! Ticks all the boxes; healthy, full of flavour, fresh and really easy! This is a classic and a keeper. Thanks Nagi!

    Reply
  5. Dimps says

    September 25, 2020 at 5:58 pm

    5 stars
    OMG!! Soooo sooooo good. And so simple and quick to put together. Fresh and healthy too. Used sea bass for this one. Another winner Nagi. U r a rockstar in the kitchen. 😘

    Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if you’re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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