Sweet And Sour Belt Fish Recipe

step 1

• STEP 1.1 wash and clean 500 gm belt fish, remove the internal organs and wash the fish thoroughly.

step 2

• STEP 2.2 using a clean stainless steel scrubber scrub the fish to remove the metallic skin. Rinse the fish under running water. Then remove the fin.

step 3

• STEP 3.3 cut the fish into manageable size pieces, as per choice, and dab them pieces dry with kitchen paper towel.

step 4

• STEP 4.1 place 500 gm prepared pieces of belt fish (or any fish of choice) in a mixing bowl.

step 5

• STEP 5.2 using a cleaver, smash 4 cloves garlic, 2 inches ginger, 2 stalks of scallion. This helps to release the flavours. Add these to the bowl with the fish. Add 1 tbsp sichuan peppercorns, 1 ½ tbsp cooking wine, ½ tbsp oyster sauce and ¼ tsp salt. Mix it together well.

step 6

• STEP 6.3 cover with a plastic wrap and let the fish marinate for 1 hour.

step 7

• STEP 7.4 to make the sauce, in a mixing bowl add ¼ cup sugar, 2 ½ tbsp soy sauce, 2 ½ tbsp ketchup, 2 tbsp white vinegar, 3 preserved plums (optional) ½ cup water and stir to dissolve the sugar. Keep it aside.

step 8

• STEP 8.5 to deep fry the fish, in a pan add 1 ½ cup of oil and heat it to 360 degrees fahrenheit.

step 9

• STEP 9.6 turn the heat to medium or medium-low and add the pieces of marinated fish one at a time to the hot oil. Remove the aromatics from each piece before frying.

step 10

• STEP 10.7 fry for 3 to 5 minutes on each side till evenly golden brown.

step 11

• STEP 11.8 take the fish out of the oil and set them aside.

step 12

• STEP 12.9 heat a wok and add 1 tbsp oil. Swirl to cover the surface of the wok with oil.

step 13

• STEP 13.10 add 4 cloves garlic, 4 slices ginger, 3 pieces dry red chilli and stir fry till fragrant.

step 14

• STEP 14.11 then add the sauce mixture and the fried fish.

step 15

• STEP 15.12 adjust the fish so that they are all in the sauce.

step 16

• STEP 16.13 bring the sauce to a boil and then turn the heat to low.

step 17

• STEP 17.14 cover the wok and let it simmer for 5 minutes. Then flip all the pieces of fish over to let the otherside soak in the sauce.

step 18

• STEP 18.15 cover and continue to simmer for another 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.

step 19

• STEP 19.16 serve the fish in a bowl and pour the sauce over it along with the whole garlic and chilies from the wok.