Skip to main content

Chinese-Style Steamed Sea Bass with Vegetables

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 2

Ingredients

1 whole sea bass (2 pounds), cleaned
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
4 thin slices peeled fresh ginger, plus 2 teaspoons grated ginger
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
10 sprigs cilantro, plus 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped for garnish
3 1/2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
1 1/2 pounds baby bok choy, white stems cut crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick pieces and leaves discarded
10 small shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and sliced 1/4 inch thick
7 scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal
2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons rice-wine vinegar
1 tablespoon mirin (Japanese sweet rice wine) or packed brown sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Rinse the fish thoroughly under cold running water; remove any debris from the cavity with a spoon; pat dry. Season the cavity with salt and pepper; stuff with the ginger slices, 4 slices garlic, and the cilantro sprigs. Rub the fish with 1 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil. Season with salt and pepper.

    Step 2

    Put the bok choy, mushrooms, two-thirds of the scallions, the remaining garlic, the grated ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Season with pepper, and toss.

    Step 3

    Transfer half of the bok choy mixture to a 9 × 13-inch baking pan; place the fish on top. Top with the remaining bok choy mixture. Whisk together the soy sauce, vinegar, mirin, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; drizzle over the fish. Tightly cover the pan with foil.

    Step 4

    Pour water to a depth of 1/4 inch in another 9 × 13-inch baking pan; bring to a boil on top of the stove. Reduce heat; let simmer. Set the pan with the fish on top; steam until cooked through, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a platter; garnish with the remaining scallions and chopped cilantro. Drizzle with the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
Read More
A warmly spiced Ashkenazi charoset, perfect for your Passover seder—or spooned over yogurt the next morning.
Like lemony risotto and tandoori-style cauliflower.
Turn humble onions into this thrifty yet luxe pasta dinner.
Biscuits and gravy, but make it spring.
Like airy lemon chiffon cake and a Cadbury egg–inspired tart.
Grab your Easter basket and hop in—you’ll want to collect each and every one of these fun and easy Easter recipes.
Keep this easy frittata recipe on hand for quick breakfasts, impressive brunches, and fridge clean-out meals.
This broiled hot honey salmon recipe results in sweet, spicy, glossy fish coated in a homemade hot honey glaze for an easy weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunch.