Sea Bass with Crushed Soybeans and Chilli Sauce | Healthy Diet

Sea Bass with Crushed Soybeans and Chilli Sauce

Are you looking for a crowd pleaser this weekend? Give this sea bass recipe a go to celebrate Chinese New Year!

See the recipe below.

Healthy Diet

By Healthy Diet

Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp salted soybeans
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1 bird’s-eye chilli
  • a large handful of coriander
  • 1 x 350–500g sea bass, scaled, gutted and de-gilled (ask your fishmonger to do this for you)
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oilFor the sauce
  • 1 tsp chilli bean sauce
  • 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
  • 1 tbsp Shaoxing rice wine
  • 100ml chicken or vegetable stock, or hot water a dash of dark soy sauce

Method

  1. Lightly crush the soybeans in a small bowl with the back of a teaspoon. Finely chop the garlic and chilli. Roughly chop the coriander
  2. Wash the fish, pat dry and place on a large plate or platter suitable for steaming.
  3. Mix the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl.
  4. Build a ‘wok clock’ by placing the crushed soybeans at 12 o’clock, then arrange the garlic, chilli, sauce bowl and chopped coriander clockwise around the plate. This will make it easier to find the ingredients, in the right order, when you need to add them.
  5. Set a large wok or steaming pan up with a steamer stand and fill with boiling water to a third of the way up the sides. Place the fish plate into the wok or pan, cover with a lid and steam for 7–12 minutes, until cooked (see Tip). Remove and set aside, covering the fish with foil so it stays warm and moist.
  6. Drain and dry the wok, add the vegetable oil and heat until smoking. Add the soybeans and stir-fry for 30 seconds, then add the garlic, chillies and sauce. Bring to a vigorous boil, then add half the coriander and continue to cook for 1 minute until the sauce has thickened and reduced by at least a third.
  7. Pour the sauce over the steamed fish and garnish with the remaining coriander to serve.

SWAPSIES: Salted soybeans are fermented soybeans preserved in brine and can be found in most Chinese supermarkets. They add a nice texture to this sauce, however if you cannot find them, the dish works just as well without.

TIP: To check whether your fish is fully cooked, pull the dorsal fin (the one on the back) lightly. If it falls off without any force, the fish will be cooked through to the bone. Remove from the pan and set aside.

This sea bass with crushed soybeans and chilli sauce was provided by Jeremy Pang.

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