Fried Fish and The One That Got Away...

I picked up a beautiful 2 lb. bluefish on sale and asked for it to be cleaned at my neighbourhood Asian supermarket. Not being familiar with this type of fish, I wasn't sure whether to steam or pan-fry, so I gave my mom a call. "Fry", she says.. so fry it is. It is firm fleshed so it will hold up well when frying. Pan-frying is a very common method of cooking fish in Chinese cuisine and done properly you will be treated to crunchy, crispy skin revealing firm but tender flesh underneath. Simply seasoned with pinches of salt and ground white pepper inside and out, and dusted with cornstarch to coat the fish (this will keep it from sticking to the pan), cooked with green onions and garlic and dressed at the end with soy sauce is all you need for delicious fried fish.

Heat 1 Tbsp. oil in pan or skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 green onion cut into 2-inch pieces and 1 or 2 cloves garlic sliced. Fry for one minute.












Add the fish, and place the onions and garlic on top; cook for five minutes each side. IMPORTANT TIP: Only flip the fish once at the end of five minutes, otherwise, the fish will stick to the pan. You will know when it's ready to flip when you place a spatula underneath the fish and it easily loosens from the pan. Remove the fish onto a serving plate.

Use a splatter screen to prevent flying hot oil!

Drizzle some soy sauce on top and you're ready to serve. 

Try using soy sauce made specifically for seafood. It has a light sweet undertone and savoury notes perfect for fish!

Flashback this past Sunday... we were fishing at Glen Haffy Conservation in Caledon Ontario, where our friend caught probably one of the largest trout ever in that pond- easily a five pounder! He's been fishing there for three decades since he was a kid, and he's never seen anything come out of that pond larger than two pounds. Sadly, the fish net cage it was held in gave way underneath as he pulled it out of the water; the trout was so large that by flipping about his tail must have caught under the flap where it entered and excitedly freed himself to all our astonishments and disappointment. I'm sure my friend was dreaming of all the tasty things he was going to do with it. I guess something so big and gorgeous is not meant to be caught and eaten... 

The lucky one that got away...