Steamed Catfish Recipes

SIMPLEST STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Put at least 1 inch of water in the bottom of a steamer, cover and bring to a boil. Lay the fish on the steamer's rack, making sure the rack is elevated above the water, and cover again. Steam 4 to 8 minutes, or until the fish is done. (A good-size halibut steak may take 10 or even 12 minutes.)
• Remove the fish to a warm platter and drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Cut into serving portions, sprinkle with coarse salt and serve.

CHINESE STEAMED FISH RECIPE

Steps:

• Equipment: shallow pan to hold fish & large pot or wok for steaming. If you don't have a fancy steamer or steamer insert, take a shallow-ish bowl and invert to use as a stand. Or...3 shot glasses inverted.
• Clean & Stuff: Clean your fish, pat dry. Season generously inside and out with salt and pepper. Take half of (A) and stuff inside the fish. If you are using fillets, skip this.
• Make your bed: Take the other half of (A) and lay it in a shallow pan. If using fillets, just use all of (A) for the bed. Lay the fish on top of the bed. If fish is too long, cut in half. Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine on top of the fish.
• Steam: Add 2" of water to your large pot, cover and boil. When it is boiling, uncover and wipe the inside of the cover clean of any condensation (all this condensation will drip back down on your fish, diluting the flavor) Put your fish pan inside, propped up with a small inverted bowl.
• Steam the fish on medium (see below for cooking times).- Whole fish 1 lb: check at 12 minutes, add 2 minutes for every 1/2 lb- Fillets 1" and thicker: check at 10 minutes, add 2 minutes for every 1/2" more thickness-Fillets less than 1": check at 7 minutes- Super thin fillets: check at 5 minutes
• Check to see if its done at the times indicated. Poke your chopstick at the flesh near the top fin. If flesh flakes easily near the top fin, then its done. If flesh sticks together still, then add 1-2 more minutes to cooking time. For fillets, just gently poke at the flesh in the middle. Timing really depends on the thickness of your fish. Also check to make sure you haven't run out of steaming water.
• Aromatics: Towards the end of the steaming process, you'll want to start preparing the aromatics that garnish the finished dish. Take a microwave-safe bowl, add (B) and microwave for 30 seconds. Set aside. When fish is done steaming, carefully lift the fish out onto a serving platter, discarding all of the cooked cilantro/ginger/scallions and the fish juice in the pan. Pour the hot (B) over fish.
• Now we'll work with (C): In a separate pan or wok, heat up cooking oil until you see smoke. Add the ginger and scallions, fry for 10 seconds to "pop" the flavors. Pour this cooking oil + herbs over the fish. You'll hear a very satisfying sizzle!

CHINESE-STYLE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Arrange 1/2 of the green onions on the bottom of the steaming bowl (it is important to steam in a container in order to retain the steam and juices around the fish). Place 1/2 of the mushrooms and Napa cabbage sections on top of the onions. Place fish on top of the vegetables. Sprinkle ginger, garlic, and red pepper flakes over fish. Top with the remaining green onions, mushrooms, and napa cabbage. Drizzle soy sauce and water over everything.
• Place steam bowl in a steamer over 1 inch of boiling water, and cover. Steam for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fish flakes easily. Garnish with cilantro, if desired.

STEAMED FISH WITH GINGER

Steps:

• Pat halibut dry with paper towels. Rub both sides of fillet with salt. Scatter the ginger over the top of the fish and place onto a heatproof ceramic dish.
• Place into a bamboo steamer set over several inches of gently boiling water, and cover. Gently steam for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Pour accumulated water out of the dish and sprinkle the fillet with green onion. Drizzle both soy sauces over the surface of the fish.
• Heat peanut and sesame oils in a small skillet over medium-high heat until they begin to smoke. When the oil is hot, carefully pour on top of the halibut fillet. The very hot oil will cause the green onions and water on top of the fish to pop and spatter all over; be careful. Garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve immediately.

STEAMED FISH, MEDITERRANEAN STYLE

Steps:

• Cook the garlic in oil in a large skillet until golden. Discard the garlic. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until tender but not browned. Add the parsley, tomatoes, water, oregano and salt. Simmer uncovered until some of the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Cut the fish into serving pieces and arrange over the vegetables. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

WHITE FISH FILLETS WITH GINGER AND SOY

Steps:

• In a 12 inch sauté pan (or a skillet with high sides), heat the vegetable oil. Add the ginger and cook until sizzling, about 30 seconds.
• Add the fish filets, soy sauce, water, scallions, cilantro, and rice vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover the pan, and remove it from the heat.
• Let the pan sit for 10 minutes (15 minutes for larger fish pieces). Place the fish in shallow bowls, divide the broth among the bowl, and garnish with shredded scallions.

STEAMED LEMON CATFISH WITH VEGETABLES AND RICE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt the butter and saute the rice until golden brown. Stir in the water and seasoning packet, heat until boiling. Cover, reduce the heat, and simmer 10 minutes.
• Add the frozen vegetables and heat till boiling, stirring occasionally.
• Place the fish fillets on top of the veggie-rice mixture. Sprinkle with the lemon-pepper seasoning, lemon juice, and parsley.
• Reduce the heat and cover; let steam about 10 minutes or until the fish flakes when forked and the vegetables are tender.

STEAMED CATFISH

Steps:

• Put fillets in a shallow dish. Place cut ginger and green onion stalks on top. Place in a steamer for 15 mins. or until fish flakes apart easily. Just before fish is ready, place in a small pot the oil on stove and heat until hot. When fish comes out of steamer, drain fish broth in a small bowl. Remove ginger and green onions and replacing fresh ginger and green onions. Pour oil over fish immediately followed by the soy sauce. Serve over rice and with some vegetables.

STEAMED CATFISH IN BANANA LEAVES

Steps:

• Unfold banana leaves. Cut off and reserve tough center rib that runs along bottom edge of each leaf with kitchen shears. Cut ribs into 12-inch strips (you'll need 8) for tying packets. Gently cut leaves into 8 (10-inch) squares with shears, being careful not to split them (you may want to cut a few extra in case some split while folding). Gently wash banana leaf squares in a large pan of water, then pat dry.
• Heat oil in wok over moderate heat until warm, about 30 seconds, then cook curry paste, stirring constantly, until very fragrant and a shade darker, 1 to 2 minutes. Add stock and fish sauce and bring to a boil over high heat, stirring. Add fish and rice powder and stir-fry until outside of fish just turns white, 1 to 2 minutes, then transfer mixture to a bowl.
• Put a banana leaf square on a work surface, then put 1/3 cup fish curry in center of square and sprinkle with some of sliced Kaffir lime leaves. Fold 2 sides of banana leaf over fish to enclose it (be careful not to split leaf), then fold in opposite sides to form a packet. Tie packet with a strip of banana leaf rib and transfer to heatproof plate. Assemble 7 more packets in same manner, arranging in 1 layer on plate.
• Bring 1 inch water to a boil in wok fitted with steamer rack. Transfer plate with packets to steamer rack carefully and steam, covered with lid, 5 minutes. Serve packets warm or at room temperature.