Steamed whole tilapia with ginger, chilies and scallions
Scored, seasoned and cooked with a generous amount of scallions and ginger, and just a touch of chilies, steamed whole tilapia is aromatic and tasty. Cooks in 20 minutes flat.
Ingredients
- 1 tilapia about 400 grams, gutted and scales removed
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 stalks scallions
- 1 two-inch knob ginger thinly sliced
- ¼ cup thinly sliced scallions
- 2 bird's eye chilies thinly sliced
Instructions
- Fill the steamer pot with enough water to reach a depth of two inches and start heating it.
- Wipe the tilapia with paper towels and score both sides.
- Rub the salt and pepper on the entire fish including the cavity.
- Tie the scallion stalks into a knot.
- Stuff the cavity of the fish with the knotted scallions and half of the ginger.
- Lay the tilapia in shallow heat-proof bowl.
- Scatter the sliced scallions, remaining ginger and chilies over the fish.
- When the water is boiling briskly, lay the bowl in the steamer basket and cover the steamer.
- Turn the heat to medium and steam the tilapia for 20 minutes.
- Carefully lift the bowl from the steamer basket and serve the steamed whole tilapia immediately.
Notes
Steamer tips
We use three kinds of steamer at home similar to the ones below. The stainless steel set was used here.- The steamer that came with the rice cooker;
- Stainless steel pot and steamer basket set; and
- Bamboo steamer basket(s).