Chinese Jellied Fish Recipe

Serves/Makes: 4 – 6

Ingredients:

• 1 whole (about 1 1/2 pound) sea bass (pike or whiting), cleaned and with the head and tail removed
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine, or pale dry sherry
• 4 slices peeled fresh ginger root about 1 inch in diameter and 1/8-inch thick
• 1 scallion, including green top, cut into 2-inch pieces
• Fresh Chinese parsley sprigs (cilantro) or substitute flat-leaf Italian parsley

How to cook Chinese Jellied Fish:

• Wash the sea bass under cold running water and pat it dry with paper towels. To flavor and partially cure the fish, sprinkle it with salt, inside and out, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
• Pour enough boiling water into the lower part of a steamer to come within an inch of the cooking rack (or use a steamer substitute). Lay the fish on a deep heatproof platter 1/2-inch smaller than the diameter of the pot.
• Pour the wine over the fish, scatter the ginger and scallions on top. Bring the water in the steamer to a rolling boil, place the fish on the rack and cover the pot. Keeping the water at a continuous boil, steam the fish for 15 minutes, or until it is quite firm to the touch.
• Remove the platter of fish from the steamer, discard the scallions and ginger, and, with a slotted spoon, transfer the fish to a cutting board or a large plate. Reserve the juices in the platter.
• With a small, sharp knife, skin the fish by making a small slit at the base of the tail and peeling off the skin from tail to head. Carefully turn the fish over and skin the other side similarly.
• Cut the top layer of the fish crosswise into 1-inch sections without cutting through the backbone. Detach them from the bone with the spatula and place the pieces of fish in a soup plate about 6 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep.
• Lift out the backbone of the fish in one piece, discard it and divide the bottom layer of fish into similar portions.
• Pour the reserved juices over the fish and refrigerate for 4 hours, or until it jells.
• Garnish the jellied sea bass with fresh Chinese parsley.

Note:
The Chinese name for the Jellied Fish dish is Tung Yu.

This recipe for Chinese Jellied Fish serves/makes: 4 – 6

Main Ingredient: Bass
Preparation Method: Aspic/Chilled
Cuisine: Chinese