Steamed Fish

Last week I had happened to visit the store around early afternoon on a Saturday. This seemed to be the peak time for buying fresh fish. Never had such a crowd been gathered in that area while we'd been a the store. The decision was made there and then, a fish would be purchased the following week.

This week then would be the very first time I would have bought a whole fresh fish. After looking around at the different offerings we noted some cheaper, imported fish with a note reading "previously frozen". Those were out of the running. If fish was to be the meal of choice starting with the best available was the clear choice.

Tilapia is a tasty and forgiving fish and thus a tilapia was purchased. The lady behind the counter cleaned it up, wrapped it and the fish was officially in my possession. I snapped a picture while the guy told me to not take pictures and off we went to steam a fish.

Of course, Auntie was the clear choice when looking for advise on the proper cooking method. As advised the fish was cleaned (and yes by the pictures I know it still could have used a little better cleaning, next time!), rubbed with salt, sprinkled with some ginger and placed in the improvised steamer.

Here's what you need and how to do it:

- whole fish, cleaned and re-cleaned :)
- coarse salt for a good rub - inside and out
- about i'd say 1/4 to 1/2 of ginger sliced thinly

Procedure:
Clean the fish thoroughly. Rub it with salt inside and out. Place it in your steamer and sprinkle it with the ginger. If you don't have a steamer feel free to steal my improvised method. Grab your soup pot, place a small dish (dishwasher safe!) on the bottom and fill the bottom of the pot with water as much as you can without it going on your plate. Place the fish on the plate, sprinkle the ginger and set the fire to medium.

After it starts simmering, check around the 10 minute mark. If it does not look quite ready, leave it on the stove checking at 5 minute intervals. Once the flesh looks done remove it carefully (look at the head of my fish that's what happens when you don't remove it carefully hehe).

After it is done you can pour some soy sauce and sprinkle it with some chili peppers and garlic. I prefer to serve the garnishes on the side so everyone can add as much as they would like to have.

There's a delicious and healthy meal that you would like to make at least every once in a while after you try it out. Enjoy!

From Steamed Fish