Fish & seafood

Thai steamed fish with lime and garlic

Whole sea bass steamed until tender and bathed in a sharp, spicy dressing of lime, garlic, chilli and fish sauce.

  • 30 min15 prep · 15 cook
  • MediumDifficulty
  • 220 kcalper serving

Ingredients

2 servings
  • Whole sea bass (about 700 g), cleaned1
  • Lemongrass stalks2
  • garlic6 cloves
  • Bird’s eye chillies3
  • Limes3
  • Fish sauce3 tbsp
  • Sugar1 tbsp
  • Hot fish or chicken stock100 ml
  • Fresh coriander, chopped3 tbsp

Missing something? Ingredients with × can be left out.

Steps

  1. 1

    Make a few deep cuts on both sides of the fish and stuff the belly with the bruised lemongrass.

  2. 2

    Set the fish on a heatproof plate and steam over boiling water until the flesh is opaque at the bone.

  3. 3

    Meanwhile, pound the garlic and chillies, then mix with the lime juice, fish sauce, sugar and hot stock until the sugar dissolves.

  4. 4

    Taste the dressing: it should be sour, salty, hot and a little sweet.

  5. 5

    Pour the dressing over the hot fish, scatter with coriander and serve with jasmine rice.

Tips and questions
How do I steam it without a steamer?
Put the fish on a heatproof plate set on an upturned bowl inside a wide pan or wok with simmering water, and cover tightly.
Can I use fillets instead of a whole fish?
Yes; sea bass or bream fillets steam in 6–8 minutes. Pour the lime dressing over just before serving.

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