Banana Nut loaf

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma

Ingredients:

• 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room
   temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 or 3 very ripe bananas, coarsely mashed
   (about 1 1⁄2 cups)
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk or 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1⁄2 tsp. salt
• 3⁄4 cup coarsely chopped nuts (peanuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, etc)

Directions:

1. Preheat an oven to 350°F. Grease and lightly flour a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan.

2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the flat beater, beat together the butter and sugar on medium speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the bananas and eggs and beat until smooth. Add the buttermilk and beat just until combined.

3. In a bowl, stir together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, salt and nuts. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture and beat just until combined. The batter should be slightly lumpy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

4. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. It should be no more than two-thirds full. Bake until the loaf is dark golden brown and dry to the touch and the edges pull away from the sides of the pan, 55 to 60 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Let the bread rest in the pan for 5 minutes, then turn the loaf out onto a wire rack and let cool completely. 

Storage Tip: Wrap the bread tightly in plastic wrap and store at room temperature overnight or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Thai style chow fun noodles (My version of pad see ew)

Ingredients:
5 Gai lan- cut diagonally and thinly
1/2 package of fresh chow fun
2 eggs
5 cloves garlic- minced
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp rice vinegar
5 tbsp soybean paste
1 can chicken broth
1 cup soy sauce
2 tbsp corn starch

For the pork marinade:
1/2 lb of pork loin, cut into very thin bite-size pieces; or ground pork
1 tbsp fish sauce
2 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp dark sesame oil
Toss the pork and all the sauces together until well mixed.  Let marinate for 15-30 minutes before cooking time.

Directions:
1. Separate chow fun noodles by hand with soy sauce to help separate it.
2. Stir fry gai lan until tender and set aside.
3. Stir fry noodles with 2 tbsp soy bean paste and water as needed and set aside.
3. Stir fry garlic until golden. Add pork until cooked and add egg into mixture and toss. Add 3tbsp soy bean paste.
4. Add chicken broth to pork mixture. Add corn starch to thicken sauce.
5. Add vegetables and noodles to sauce.
6. Top with hot sauce and serve.

Stir Fry Veggetarian Egg Noodles

Ingredients:
4 celery sticks- cut diagonally
4 cups bean sprouts
10 shitake mushrooms- sliced
2 bunches of fresh egg noodles
3 tbsp soybean paste
4 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp white pepper

Directions:
1. Boil water. Place noodles and loosen and then take out immediately.
2. Stir fry celery until tender in wok.
2. Add mushrooms and toss.
3. Add pepper and soybean paste.
4. Add noodles to wok and loosen with 3 tbsp of water
5. Add oyster sauce and bean sprouts.  Add more oyster sauce or soy sauce to taste.

Eggplant and Bell Pepper Lasagna

Ingredients:

1 long Japanese eggplant or 3 small Italian eggplants, cut lengthwise into 1/3-inch-thick slices

1 green or red bell pepper, cut into strips

2 cups spaghetti sauce

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

Salt and pepper

9 3-by-6 1/2-inch lasagna noodles

2 cups low-fat cottage cheese

1 large egg

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese and some extra to sprinkle on top.
 
Preparation:
 
1. Preheat the oven to 400°.

2. Grill or pan fry eggplant with 4 tablespoons oil until soft and set aside.
3. Grill or pan fry bell pepper with oil until tender and set aside.

4. In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the noodles, stirring often, until tender, about 5 minutes. Drain the noodles and rinse with cold water.

5. Combine spaghetti sauce with diced tomatos.

6. Combine egg, cottage cheese, parmesan cheese and mozarella cheese.
7. Layer 3 noodles on bottom of baking dish. Layer half of the cottage cheese mixture, half of the eggplant, bell pepper slices. Spoon 1/3 of tomato sauce mixture over and top with 3 more noodles. Layer with the remaining cottage cheese mixture and eggplant and bell pepper, 1/3 of the tomato sauce and the remaining 3 noodles. Spread the remaining tomato sauce on top and place tin foil to cover the lasagna.

6. Bake for 35 minutes. Remove the foil, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and 2 tablespoons parmesan on top and bake until bubbly, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving.

To be made Rice Pudding

When you have leftover rice..

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds
• 3 1/2 cups cooked medium or long-grain rice, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups milk
• 2 1/2 cups heavy cream
• 2/3 cup sugar
• Pinch salt
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
• 1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon ground fennel seeds

Directions

In a bowl, place the raisins and cover with the water. Let sit until plumped, 5 minutes. Drain.

In a skillet over medium heat, toast the almonds until golden and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a large saucepan, combine the rice, milk, cream, sugar and salt. Bring to a simmer, stirring, over medium heat. Reduce the heat slightly to maintain a low simmer and cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until the mixture starts to thicken, about 30 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring occasionally to prevent the rice from sticking, until a spoon is just able to stand up in the pudding, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the raisins, almonds, and remaining ingredients.

Home-made Fish Cake

 

Ingredients:

5 fish filets

2 eggs

1 end bread slice

1 handful string beans

1 handful of cilantro

2 green onions

1 handful of chives

2 cups panko bread crumbs

3 tablespoons of Thai red curry paste

 Preparation:

1. Hand chop the fish filets, string beans, chives, cilantro, green onion into bits. 

2. Mix together fish filets, string beans, cilantro, green onions, chives. 

3. Add egg, red curry paste to mixture.

4. Blend bread slice and add to mixture.

5. Form fish patties by molding in your hand.  

6. Coat the fish patties in panko bread crumbs. 

7. Pan fry fish patties in hot oil. Cook on one side for 4 minutes and flip over to other side and cook for another 3 min. 

8. Serve warm with Thai chili sauce.

Braised Ground Pork

Ingredients:
1/2 lb ground pork
1/3 cup sliced shallot
2 tbsp minced garlic
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup chinese rice wine
4 cups water
1/2 cup dried shallots or dried onions
2 tbsp sugar
2 star anise
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder (If you don't have star anise and ground cinnamon, then substitute with 1 tsp Five spice powder)

Preparation:
1. Heat oil, saute chopped shallot and garlic until fragrant.
2. Add star anise and ground cinnamon, stir well.
3. Add in ground pork and stir quickly to break the meat into small bits.
4. Add soy sauce, sugar and rice wine, once the meat has changed color.
5. Pour 4 cups of water and cover the pan, let it simmer for 15 min.
6. Uncover the pan and simmer for 1hr.
7. You can add mushrooms, lotus, tofu, edamame to the mixture if you like.

I love lotus roots!

Ingredients:
1 pound fresh lotus root
1 tablespoon each soy sauce and white vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sesame oil

Preparation:
1. Peel lotus root, discard both ends, and cut in 1/8-inch-thick slices.
2. Place in cold water to prevent discoloring, but drain before cooking.
3. Bring a pan of water to boiling. Add lotus root and cook for 3 minutes. Lotus root should be crisp-tender.
4. In a plastic bag, mix the soy, vinegar, sugar, salt, and sesame oil.
5. Place drained lotus root in the bag and seal.
6. Refrigerate, turning bag occasionally to distribute marinade, for at least 1 hour or as long as 8 hours.

Homey Chicken Soup

Ingredients:

1. 2 quarts chicken stock*

2. 3 stalks celery

3. 2 large carrots

4. 1 teaspoon honey

5. 1 bay leaf

6. 2 thyme sprigs

7. 1 large garlic clove, crushed

8. salt and ground pepper

9. 1/2 cup Roux

10. 1 cup shredded chicken

11. 1/8 cup minced chives

12. 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar

13. Potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces.

Preparation:

1. Peel celery stalks with a peeler. Cut each stalk into 1 inch long pieces.

2. Cook celery in a pot of boiling salted water until just tender.

3. Cut carrots lengthwise into quarters and then crosswise into bite size pieces.

4. Put carrots into sauce pan, add honey, bay leaf, thyme, garlic, and pinch of salt and pepper, cover with cold water. Bring to a simmer and cook for 4-5 minutes, or until carrots are tender.
5. Boil potatoes until soft when pierced with fork.
6. Bring soup base to a simmer and whisk in the roux a little at a time. Simmer for 30 minutes.
7. Add chicken, carrots, celery, potatoes, and chives to the soup and heat through.

Chicken Stock:
1. 2 quarts canned chicken stock
2. 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
3. 1 cup thinly sliced carrots
4. 1 cup coarsely chopped celery
5. 1 cup coarsely chopped onions
6. 1 cup coarsely chopped leeks
7. Salt

Preparation:
1. Add canned chicken stock to the vegetables and bring to a simmer.
2. Simmer for about 30 minutes, then strain the soup base into another pot and discard the vegetables.

Fried Chicken adapted from French Laundry chef

Ingredients:

1. One 2 1/2 to 3 pound chicken

For Dredging and Frying:

1. Canola oil for deep- frying

2. 1 cup buttermilk

3. Salt and ground black pepper

Coating:

1. 3 cups all purpose flour

2. 1/8 cup garlic powder

3. 1/8 cup onion powder

4. 2 teaspoon paprika

5. 2 teaspoon cayenne

6. 2 teaspoon salt

7. 1 teaspoon ground pepper

Preparation:

1. Cut the chicken into 10 pieces: 2 legs, 2 thighs, 4 breast quarters, 2 wings. Pat dry with paper towels and let rest at room temperature.
2. If you have 2 large pots (about 6 inches deep) and a lot of oil, you can cook the dark and white meat at the same time. If not, cook dark meat first, then turn up the heat and cook the white meat.
3. Fill up pot with 2 inches of oil and heat to 340 F. The oil should not be more than 1/3 of the way up the sides of the pot.
4. Combine all the coating ingredients in a large bowl.
5. Pour buttermilk into a separate bowl and season with salt and pepper.
6. Just before frying, dip the chicken pieces into the bowl of coating, turning to coat and patting off excess; dip them into buttermilk; then dip into the bowl of coating again. Transfer to plate.

7. Carefully lower the chicken pieces into the hot oil. Fry for 2 minutes, then carefully move the chicken pieces around in the oil and continue to fry thighs and breasts for 11 to 12 minutes, wings for 7 minutes, until the chicken is a deep golden brown, cooked through and very crisp.

8. Place on cooling rack skin-side up and let rest while frying the remaining chicken.
9. Place chicken in 400 F oven to re-heat and continue cooking for 10 minutes if not cooked through.

The simplest and yummiest roast chicken

 
Ingredients:
1. One 2- to 3-pound farm-raised chicken

2. Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3. 2 teaspoons minced thyme

4. Dijon mustard

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
2. Rinse the chicken, then dry it very well with paper towels, inside and out. The less it steams, the drier the heat, the better.
3. Salt and pepper the cavity, then truss the bird. When you truss a bird, the wings and legs stay close to the body; the ends of the drumsticks cover the top of the breast and keep it from drying out. Trussing helps the chicken to cook evenly, and it also makes for a more beautiful roasted bird.
4. Now, salt the chicken, so that it has a nice uniform coating that will result in a crisp, salty, flavorful skin (about 1 tablespoon). Season to taste with pepper.
5. Place the chicken in a sauté pan or roasting pan and, when the oven is up to temperature, put the chicken in the oven. Roast it until it's done, 50 to 60 minutes.
6. Remove it from the oven and add the thyme, if using, to the pan.
7. Baste the chicken with the juices and thyme and let it rest for 15 minutes on a cutting board.
8. Serve with mustard on the side and, if you wish, a simple green salad. 

Veggies with White Wine Sauce

 

Ingredients:
1. 6-8 oz. bok choy, gai choy, gai lan or napa cabbage
2. 8 mushrooms (sliced)
3. 1 inch ginger (peeled and sliced thinly)


White Sauce:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fish sauce or to taste
1/2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tablespoon corn starch
6 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon Shaoxing wine
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

Method:
1. Rinse the vegetables with water and drain the water dry.
2. Mix the white sauce ingredients and set aside.
3. Heat up a wok and add the cooking oil until it’s smoking hot.
4. Add ginger, stir-fry until light brown or aromatic.
5. Add vegetables into the wok and stir quickly.
6. Add mushrooms to veggies.
7. Transfer the white sauce mixture into the wok and continue to stir-fry until the sauce thickens. By then, the vegetables should be perfectly cooked, but not overcooked. Some veggies cook longer then others. Gai choy will take the longest. Bok Choy and Gai lan will take less time. And napa cabbage should take even lesser time.
8. Eat while it's hot!

Dijon Encrusted Fish

 

Ingredients:

1. 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

2. 2 teaspoons finely copped cilantro

3. 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

4. Salt, pepper

5. 2 filets of fish (cod, trout, tilapia, orange roughy)

1. Combine bread crumbs and cilantro. Pre-heat oven to 325 F.

2. Season fish filets with salt and peppar. Brush fish filets with mustard. 

3. Dip fish filets into bread crumb mixture for even coating. 

4. Heat oil in frying pan to medium-high heat. Lower heat to medium when oil just begins to smoke. Put fish filet down in the pain, and cook until crust is golden brown, 1 minute on each side. 

5. Depending on thickness of fish, transfer the frying pan to oven and cook until fish begins to flake, another 5-6 minutes. If fish filets are thin, continue to cook over stove at lower heat.

Chicken with Momofuku Octo Vinaigrette Recipe

 

Ingredients:
3 pounds of chicken (If you buy a whole chicken, cut it up into breasts, thighs, wings, legs; or you can buy chicken wings, legs, thighs separately)
2 tablespoons finely chopped garlic
2 tablespoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh chili pepper
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar or rice vinegar
1/4 cup light soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola, vegetable or grapeseed oil
1/4 teaspoon Asian sesame oil
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup cilantro


1. Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking pan with tin foil (or
spray the pan with cooking spray).

2. Place the chicken parts on the tin foil in single layer. Place pan on highest shelf. Bake wings, legs for 25 minutes, thighs for 35 min, breasts for 45 min.

3. While chicken is baking, make the vinaigrette. Combine together the
remaining ingredients.

4. Toss the chicken wings in the vinaigrette to coat.

Baked Chinese New Year Cake

Happy Chinese New Year! Gung hay fat chow!

 

INGREDIENTS

• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups glutinous rice flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 2 1/2 cups white or brown sugar
  
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for coating the baking dish
• 1 teaspoon coconut extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
  

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with butter; set aside.
2. Place eggs in a large bowl and lightly beat to break up yolks. Add remaining ingredients and whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Pour mixture into the prepared dish and bake for 25 minutes. 
3. Sprinkle with toasted coconut (optional), rotate the dish, and bake until the edges are just starting to brown and the top is just set (a bubble may form, but it will flatten as the cake cools), about 20 to 25 minutes more.
4. Remove from the oven and let cool for 30 minutes before serving. Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

Yummy Pancakes

 

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• Dash of salt
• 1 cup buttermilk (or substitute 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup plain yogurt)
• 1 egg
• 3 tablespoons melted butter

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

2. Using large fork, mix in the buttermilk, egg, melted butter until well combined and smooth. 

3. Heat non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. 

4. Pour dollops of pancake batter onto hot griddle until a size that you want. 

5. When pancake is golden brown, flip to cook other side. 

6. Top with maple syrup, blueberries or strawberries, chocolate syrup, whipped cream. Yummmm...

Fish Ball Noodle soup

 

Something warm for cold, rainy days

Ingredients:

1 can chicken stock

1 bundle dried yellow noodles

5 fish balls

1 fried tofu fish cake

3 mini sausage links (optional)

5 leaves of napa cabbage

1. Cook noodle per package instruction. Set aside.

2. Heat chicken stock. Turn the heat to high, when boiling, add in napa cabbage, tofu fish cake, fried fish balls and mini sausages. Let it cook for a minute or two.

4. In a bowl, place in the noodle. Scoop the soup on top with ingredients to serve hot.  Eat with Sriracha hot sauce or chili hot sauce for extra oomph!

Our favorite beef pho soup restaurant

The pho broth is made from real beef bones and meat. yummm

Spaghetti Sauce and Meatballs

 

Adapted from Rachel Ray

Meatballs:

• 1 1/4 pounds ground sirloin ( I bought top sirloin steaks and used my VitaMix blender to ground it up!)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs (I used frozen hard crusty bread and blended it in my VitaMix)
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• Salt and pepper

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

2. Mix beef and Worcestershire, egg, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic, salt and pepper. Roll meat into 1 1/2 inch medium-sized meatballs and place on nonstick cookie sheet or a cookie sheet greased with extra-virgin olive oil.
3. Bake balls 10 to 12 minutes, until no longer pink.

Sauce:

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed or chopped
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 cup can beef stock
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup sliced zucchini or spinach
• 1 tablespoon corn starch (I added to thicken sauce, unless you like it soupy)
• Grated cheese, such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Romano, for garnish

1. Heat a deep skillet or medium pot over moderate heat.
2. Add oil, crushed pepper, garlic and finely chopped onion.
3. Saute 5 to 7 minutes, until onion bits are soft.
4. Add beef stock, crushed tomatoes, zucchini and herbs. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.

Slow cooked Chicken Gumbo

Ingredients:

1 whole chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut into frying pieces and de-skinned
Salt and cayenne pepper
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped green bell peppers
1 cup chopped celery
2 cup okra (frozen or fresh)
10 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
1 link of kielbasa sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices

Preparation:
1. Season the chicken generously with salt and sprinkle with cayenne pepper.
2. Combine the oil and flour in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stirring slowly and constantly, make a roux the color of chocolate. (For about 20-30 min)

3. Add the onions, bell peppers, and celery, and cook, stirring, until they are soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
4. Add the chicken broth. Stir to blend, and bring to a gentle boil.
5. Add the chicken. Add the bay leaves and thyme, and cook at a gentle boil for 1 hour.
6. Add the susage and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is very tender, an hour longer.

7. Add okra and cook for 10 minutes.

8. Adjust seasoning to taste. Simply add more chicken broth or water to adjust thickness.

Seared Ahi Tuna appetizer

Ingredients:

1 sashimi grade Ahi Tuna filet
1 tablespoon of Five spice
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1/4 cup cilantro
1 avocado
18 wonton skins
1/2 cup oil
1/3 cup light soy sauce
1/4 cup wasabi paste

Preparation:

1. Heat oil. Place wonton skins in hot oil until golden colored and crispy. Remove wontons and place on paper towel to dry.

2. Rinse Ahi tuna filet and pat dry. Mix Five spice, salt, peppar into bowl. Coat tuna with spice mixture evenly. Heat skillet. Sear tuna on both sides for 3-4 minutes until you see both sides have cooked evenly. (View from the edge of the tuna filet)

3. Prepare avocados into slices and evenly chop cilantro. Slice tuna into 1/4 inch slices.
Place tuna onto plate. Drizzle soy sauce, wasabi past, and cilantro over tuna. Line plate with avocado and wonton skins.

Black Bean sauce Trout

Adapted from Bon Apetit

Ingredients:
2 slices of trout or catfish filets
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Black Bean Sauce Ingredients:

1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Asian fermented black beans, rinsed well, drained
1/4 cup rice vinegar
3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons (packed) thinly sliced ginger
1 tablespoon chopped peeled fresh ginger
3 garlic cloves, chopped


Preparation:

1. Blend Black Bean Sauce ingredients in processor until finely chopped. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
2. Sprinkle trout with enough flour to coat on all sides.
3. Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Gently slide 1 trout filet into skillet and fry until golden and almost cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate with paper towel to absorb oil. Repeat frying with second filet.
4. Plate fish filets and pour Black Bean-Soy Sauce over . Garnish platter with cilantro and green onions. Serve immediately.

Bok Choy with Garlic and Mushrooms

Adapted from Rasamalaysia

Ingredients:
1 bunch of bok choy
2 handfuls of mushrooms (white or brown cap)- sliced
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon water
1/4 teaspoon cooking oil
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 dashes of white pepper powder

Garlic Oil:
2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
1 teaspoon oil

Method:
1. Prepare the garlic oil first by heating up your wok and stir fry the minced garlic until they turn light brown. Dish out and set aside.
2. Heat up a pot of water and bring it to boil. Add two small drops of cooking oil into the water. Drop your vegetables into the boiling water and quickly blanch them for about 20-30 seconds (depends on the quantity).
[Adding oil keeps the green-ness of the veggies.]
3. As soon as they turn slightly wilted, transfer them out and drain the excess water off the vegetables. Arrange the vegetables on a plate.
4. In a wok, heat up the cooking oil, and then add the oyster sauce, water, sugar, and white pepper powder.
5. Add mushrooms to sauce and cook for 2 min.
6. As soon as the sauce heats up and blends well, transfer and drench it over the blanched vegetables.
7.Top the vegetables with the garlic oil and serve immediately.

Cantonese style steamed fish

Adapted from Rasamalaysia

Ingredients:
2 Fish fillets
2 inches ginger (peeled and cut into thin strips)
1 stalk scallion (cut into 2-inch length, and then cut into thin silken threads)
Some cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1 tablespoon shaoxing wine or rice wine
Steamed Fish Soy Sauce Mixture:
4 tablespoons light soy sauce
2 tablespoons shaoxing wine or rice wine
2 tablespoons water
1/4 teaspoon sesame oil
3 dashes white pepper powder
2 tablespoons rock sugar (grind into powder form) or to taste
Method:
1. Clean the fish filets and pat dry.
2. Blend the soy sauce mixture in a small bowl and set aside.
3. Lay the fish on a plate and drizzle 1 tablespoon shaoxing (or rice) wine on top of the fish. Top the fish with 1/2 of the cut ginger strips.
4. Heat up a wok with enough water for steaming. Wait for the water to boil. As soon as it boils, place your fish inside the wok, propped up with a small inverted bowl or a couple of wooden blocks (meant for steaming). Cover your wok tightly and set your kitchen alarm for 8 minutes.
 5. As soon as the fish is done steaming, transfer it out from the wok. Discard the fish water and ginger strips. 6. Lay the remaining ginger strips on top of the fish.
7. Heat up a pan over high heat and add 2 tablespoons of cooking oil, swirl around until it’s hot. Pour the hot oil over the steamed fish. Put the pan back onto the stove, add the soy sauce mixture and stir well. As soon as the sauce bubbles up and boils, pour the soy sauce over the fish.
8. Top with scallions and cilantro leaves and serve the steamed fish immediately with white rice.