Chinese new year is a chance for fresh beginnings. From Feb. 18 onwards, Chinese families will be celebrating for a week with food that symbolizes health and prosperity.
Fish is served whole during this time as it is considered bad luck to cut anything up. So you will have to mind the fish eyes staring back at you.
Here's a simple recipe for a delectable, healthy fish dish which the whole family can enjoy on Chinese New Year's. Don't forget the dumplings and cashew cookies.
STEAMED WHOLE FISH
Ingredients
- 1 to 1 1/2 pound whole bass or pickerel, scaled, cleaned and gutted, gills & fins removed
- salt and pepper
- 4 green onions (scallions), sliced diagonally
- 4 to 6 slivers of ginger
- 1 tablespoon black bean sauce
- 1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine or sherry
- 3 teaspoons peanut oil
Instructions:
- Make 2 or 3 diagonal incisions (from stomach to backbone) on both sides of fish. Rub with salt & pepper. Set aside.
- Combine the scallions and ginger, black bean sauce, cooking wine and oil in a bowl.
- Coat fish with the sauce on one side only and place fish on heavy, heat-resistant plate.
- Add water to the bottom of a wok or roasting pan.
- Place a rack over the water and bring water to boil.
- Place plate of prepared fish onto rack, cover with lid or aluminum foil and cook at full steam for 10 minutes.
- Test to see if it is cooked by inserting fork between fish and backbone. If it flakes off, then the fish is ready.
The copyright of the article Chinese New Year's Fish in Asian Cuisine is owned by June Chua. Permission to republish Chinese New Year's Fish in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
