Classic Steamed Fish With Pork Mushroom And Noodles Recipes

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Gather all the ingredients.
• Soak dried mushrooms. Put the dried mushrooms in a bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover and soak 20 minutes until soft. Meanwhile, you can prepare other ingredients. Once hydrated, strain the liquid into another bowl, squeezing any excess liquid from the mushrooms (this is Shiitake Dashi, and you can use this umami-rich broth in other cooking). Cut off the stems (discard them) and slice the mushrooms.
• Slice the tomato, cut green onions into matchsticks, and peel ginger and cut into fine matchsticks.
• Rinse the fish inside and out under running cold water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Using a sharp knife, make three diagonal slits on both sides of the fish.
• Arrange the tomato on the base of a heatproof platter that will fit inside a wok. Lay the fish on top.
• Mix together the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil and rice wine in a small bowl and season with pepper.
• Pour the sauce over the fish and sprinkle over the mushrooms and ginger. Cover with saran wrap and leave to marinate in the fridge for about 20 minutes.

CANTONESE STEAMED FISH

Steps:

• Cut the scallions into 2-inch lengths, and cut the pieces in half lengthwise. Julienne them thinly. Thinly slice about 15g of ginger, and julienne them. Give the cilantro a rough chop. Set the aromatics aside.
• Combine the light soy sauce, salt, sugar and hot water in a small bowl and mix until the sugar and salt are dissolved. Set aside.
• Prepare your steaming set-up, and fill with 1-2 inches of water. Bring to a boil.
• Rinse your fish fillet, and carefully lay it on an oblong heat-proof plate that will fit into your wok or steaming setup. Carefully place it in the steamer, and adjust the heat to medium. The water should be at a slow boil that generates a good amount of steam, but not so high that the water evaporates too quickly.
• Cover and steam for 7-10 minutes depending upon the size and thickness of your fish fillet. If you have extremely small, thin fillets (half an inch), cook for 4-5 minutes. Check for doneness using a butter knife. If it falls easily through the thickest part of the fillet to the bottom of the plate, the fish is done.
• Turn off the heat, and carefully drain any liquid on the plate. Spread about ⅓ of the scallions, ginger, and cilantro on the steamed fish (alternatively, you can wait to do this AFTER adding the sauce).
• To make the sauce, heat a wok or small saucepan to medium high heat, and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. Add the remaining ⅔ of the ginger, and fry for 1 minute. Add the white parts of the scallions and cook for 30 seconds.Then add rest of the scallions and cilantro. The mixture should be sizzling.
• Add the soy sauce mixture. Bring the mixture to a bubble, and cook until the scallions and cilantro are just wilted, about 30 seconds.
• Pour this mixture over the fish. If you prefer to add the raw aromatics after adding the sauce, you can do so now, and heat an additional 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil to pour over the raw aromatics. Serve immediately!

CLASSIC STEAMED FISH WITH PORK, MUSHROOM, AND NOODLES

Steps:

• To make the filling, heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and ginger and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Add the pork and mushrooms and use chopsticks or a spatula to break the meat into small pieces so that it will be well distributed later. Cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes, or just until the pork is no longer pink, then remove from the heat. Add the fish sauce, noodles, and scallions and stir for about 1 minute, or until the noodles are soft and transparent. Season to taste with pepper and set aside. (The filling may be prepared up to 4 hours in advance. Let cool, cover, and refrigerate; bring to room temperature before using.)
• Rinse the fish well, removing any membranes and blood that the fishmonger may have overlooked. Generously rub the fish inside and out with salt, then rinse thoroughly under cold running water. Pat the fish dry with paper towels. Lay the fish flat on your work surface and, with a sharp knife, score it crosswise at 3 or 4 places, spacing the slits about 1 inch apart. (See Note for scoring tips.)
• Set aside a few white scallion strips for garnish and tuck the remainder into the score marks. Select a heatproof plate or nonreactive cake or pie pan 1 inch smaller in diameter than your steamer tray. (Ideally, you will be able to serve the fish from whatever you choose, thus avoiding the need to transfer it to a serving plate.) Lay the fish on the plate or pan, bending it as needed. Stuff half of the filling in the cavity and arrange the rest over the fish. Put the tomato wedges on top and place the plate in the steamer tray.
• Fill the steamer pan half full with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Place the tray in the steamer, cover, and steam the fish for 18 to 22 minutes, or until a knife inserted at the thickest part easily pierces the flesh all the way to the bone.
• When the fish is done, turn off the heat. Use pot holders or a Chinese steamer retriever (see Note) to remove the plate or pan from the steamer (you may find it easier to put the steamer tray on the counter first). Since the dish is hot, I like to slide it onto a platter and carry it to the table. If you want to transfer the fish to a warmed serving platter, use 2 wide spatulas, and remember to pour the delicious juices onto the platter, too. Garnish with the reserved scallion strips and the cilantro. Serve immediately.
• For beautiful score marks, hold the knife at a 45-degree angle to the backbone, with the blade pointed toward the head. Make the first cut about 1 inch below the collar and continue from there. Stop 2 inches from the tail or it may break off during cooking. Each cut should be about three-fourths of the way to the bone.
• A Chinese steamer retriever is an ingenious three-armed gadget that expands to grip onto the lip of a bowl or plate used for steaming, making removal from a hot steamer tray a snap. Constructed of thin aluminum and plastic, it looks wimpy but isn't. Put your thumb through the ring and move the plastic part like a syringe. The arms open and close to reach around an item and grasp it tight. This inexpensive gadget is sold at Chinese housewares and restaurant-supply shops. Remember, though, it only works on dishes with a lip.
• Once you have delivered the fish to the table, take the lead to serve your guests. Use a serving spoon to dig into and lift pieces of flesh gracefully from the bone. Th e score marks are good guides. Make sure garnishes and juices are included with each portion. Once the top side has been eaten, gently peel the central bone away from the flesh. This may be done by holding the neck with chopsticks and peeling it back from head to tail, or vice versa. Toward the end, use the serving spoon to support the removal of the bone in one piece. Set the bone to one side of the platter. Carefully push the short bones edging the fish away from the flesh and continue the feast.
• It is customary to eat both the skin and the flesh of a whole fish. The fish cheeks are saved for special guests. And the eyes are for connoisseurs.

PORK CHOPS WITH CREAMY MUSTARD NOODLES

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions. , Meanwhile, combine the salt, pepper, garlic powder, thyme and oregano; rub over pork chops. In a large skillet, brown chops in oil. Add broth and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes or until a thermometer reads 160°, turning once. Remove chops and keep warm., Stir the cream cheese, butter and mustards into the skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened. Drain noodles; add to skillet and toss to coat. Serve with pork chops. Garnish with parsley.