Oriental Poached Fish Recipes

SIMPLE POACHED WHITE FISH

Steps:

• Add the leeks, bay leaf, lemon peel, peppercorns, and salt to a small pot. Pour in 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Cover and simmer over medium-low heat for 20-30 minutes.
• Reduce the heat to low and add in the fish. Add more water if the fish is not covered by at least two-thirds. Cover, bring to a boil, and turn off the heat. Leave to steam on top of the stove for about 7-10 minutes or until the fish is opaque. Carefully remove the fish with a slotted spoon and, if desired, drizzle with a little olive oil. Serve with Basic White Rice and steamed vegetables.

ASIAN POACHED COD

Steps:

• Arrange cod into the bottom of a saucepan.
• Mix water, soy sauce, green onions, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, red pepper flakes, and Chinese five-spice powder together in a bowl; pour over the cod.
• Place saucepan over high heat and bring liquid to a boil; reduce heat to low and cook at a simmer until cod flakes easily with a fork, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove cod from liquid with a slotted spoon.

CHINESE STEAMED WHOLE FISH

Steps:

• Remove any scales from your fish using a serrated steak knife. The areas to look for are the belly and the edges of the fish including the top, near the dorsal fins, and the head. There is nothing worse than having to pick out scales while you're having dinner.
• Cut off any fins with kitchen shears. They are pretty tough, so be careful with this step. Leave the tail and head in tact for presentation.
• Look at the cavity, and you should see the backbone. You may also see a membrane that you should pierce and cut, revealing a blood line near the bone. Run your finger or a spoon across it to clean it thoroughly.
• Check the head and gills. You should not see any gills left, and if there are, remove them with the kitchen shears and rinse the area clean. Older Chinese folks who like dining on the fish head will appreciate this step.
• Give the fish a final rinse, shake off the excess water (no need to pat it dry) and transfer to a heat-proof plate for steaming. No salt, seasoning, or wine should be used on the fish before steaming. Repeat. Nothing on the fresh fish before steaming!
• For steaming, I used an elongated heat-proof plate. To accommodate that, I needed to MacGyver a steaming apparatus that would fit said plate. It's simple enough. I used a wok and metal steam rack. If you need more height to keep the plate above the water in the wok, set a rack on top of a metal can with both ends removed. It's a handy and cheap addition to your kitchen arsenal!
• Steam for 9 minutes and turn off the heat. Use a butter knife to peek at the meat and confirm the fish is cooked through. The meat should be opaque down to the bone, but the bone should be slightly translucent and not fully cooked (remember, you will not be eating the bone. Trust me on this one!).
• Next, carefully pour off all of the liquid accumulated on the plate from steaming and spread half of the ginger, the green portions of the scallion, and the cilantro over the fish.
• Mix the water, salt, sugar, light soy sauce or seasoned soy sauce, and fresh ground white pepper in a small bowl or measuring cup. Heat 2 tablespoons oil and the other half of the ginger in a saucepan until the ginger begins to sizzle and add in the sauce mixture. Heat the mixture until simmering.
• Once simmering, add the rest of the oil and white portions of the scallion and stir until the liquid begins to simmer and sizzle once again. Spoon the entire mixture evenly over the fish and serve hot!

ASIAN GINGER POACHED SALMON

Steps:

• Combine dressing ingredients in a medium size mixing bowl, whisk thoroughly and let stand until ready to use.
• In an 8-inch saucepan, fill 3/4 with water. Bring to a boil. Place 14 inches of plastic wrap on a flat surface. Add 1/2 cup each of yellow, red and orange peppers on plastic wrap. Add 1/4 cup of julienne slices of ginger on top of peppers. Put 1 tarragon sprig on top of ginger. Coat salmon fillet (front and back) with Sylvia?s Secret Herb Seasoning and place on top of veggies. Add 1 tablespoon of white wine and juice from 1/2 fresh lemon. Place tarragon sprig on top of salmon fillet and fold in plastic, tightly. Place plastic wrap in boiling water and let it poach for 15 minutes. Take your favorite choice of green leaf salad mix and place on plate. Place cooked salmon on salad mix. Spoon Asian salad dressing on top of salmon fillet. Add red onion, remaining peppers, sesame seeds and ginger, to garnish.

EASY THAI POACHED FISH

Steps:

• Put first 7 ingredients in blender and process to a puree (use some of the broth if necessary).
• Add this puree to the rest of the broth in a wide heavy based pan (you will be poaching fish in this pan), bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer 5 minutes.
• Taste now for seasoning, adding salt/soy if necessary.
• Optional Extra Step: Sear fish pieces in a separate very hot saute pan in some butter or oil--no more than 30 seconds each side (This adds color and flavor, but isn't strictly necessary).
• Add fish pieces to simmering (it should be bubbling when you add fish) liquid and poach on slightly lowered heat, turning once, about 5 to 8 minutes total (depends on type and thickness of fish and if you have seared it).
• Do not overcook!
• Remove fish and serve in a platter, with sauce poured over the fish.
• Sprinkle with garnishes.

POACHED FISH WITH GINGER & SESAME BROTH

Steps:

• Pour the stock into a deep sauté pan or wok with the vinegar, then add the ginger and garlic. Cover and cook for 5 mins to allow the flavours to mingle.
• Add the soya beans, broccoli and the fleshy part of the Chinese leaves, then place the spring onions and fish on top. Cover and cook for 4-5 mins more until the fish just flakes. Carefully lift the fish off, discard the ginger, and stir in the remaining Chinese leaf and the sesame oil. Ladle into bowls, top with the fish and sprinkle with the seeds.

ORIENTAL POACHED FISH

Steps:

• Combine poaching liquid ingredients with water to bring the mixture within 1 1/2 inches from top of fish poacher, Dutch oven or lidded pan. Bring to a boil and boil for 5 minutes.
• Add fish to poaching liquid. Cover pan; immediately turn off heat. Let fish cook, undisturbed for 10 minutes.
• Stir together soy sauce, sugar, sherry, vinegar, pepper and chicken stock in mixing bowl. Set aside.
• Transfer fish to warmed platter. Discard poaching liquid.
• Heat peanut oil in a wok or large nonstick skillet over high heat. When a wisp of smoke appears, add ginger and scallions. Cook, stirring and shaking for 1 minute; add sauce. Once sauce boils, pour contents of pan over fish. Serve at once.