Chinese Steamed Cod

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Chinese Steamed Cod

Steamed cod fish with ginger and scallion is one of the most popular dish in China and the easiest seafood dish that everyone knows how to cook. The uses of only few ingredients helps bring out the sweetness of the cod fish while steaming preserves nutrients in fish to the utmost extent.

 

Ingredients:

a serving of cod fillet
a touch of salt
2 tablespoons cooking wine
a handful of thinly sliced ginger strips
1 small hot chili pepper, sliced (optional)
a handful of shredded scallion
1 tablespoon seasoned soy sauce for seafood
1/8 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons oil

 

Direction:

Step 1:    Marinate the cod fillet with salt and cooking wine for 10 minutes.  Combine the soy sauce, salt, sugar and water into a small bowl and mix well. Set that aside. Slice the garlic, green onion, and red hot pepper(optional).   Top the cod fillet with ginger and chili pepper.

            

 

Step 2:    prepare your steamer setup, which these days you can purchase easily online or at the store. What also works is a wok or large saucepan or pot with a cover and a small round metal elevated rack you can put the plate on. In a pinch, I’ve even used a cleaned empty tuna can for the plate to sit on, and it works just fine. You can also purchase a metal steamer which is a great tool to have for all your steaming needs.

After the water starts to boil, carefully place your plate with the fish on the rack. Cover and steam for about 10 minutes. You can check it for doneness by using a butter knife. If it easily cuts through to the bottom of the plate, your fish is done!

 

Step 3:    Remove from steamer, dress with the bowl of mixed seasoned soy sauce for seafood.

 

 

Step 4:    Heat oil in a cast iron pan until reaching smoke point, carefully pour the hot oil onto the fish.
Serve and enjoy while hot!

Notes
Adjust steaming time baed on the thickness of your fillet, if 1-inch or thicker, steam for 10 minutes or so, if less than 1-inch, reduce the time by 2-3 minutes.
To check if the fish has been cooked, gently poke the fillet in the middle with a fork, if flakes easily, it is done. Otherwise, add 1-2 more minutes to cooking time.