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Asian-Style Steamed Fish

Asian-Style Steamed Fish

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Top view of Asian-Style Steamed Fish for National Nutrition Week 2026. (banner image)
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Neelanjana Mondal
Written by
Neelanjana Mondal
Copy Writer

National Nutrition Week 2026 Special: Try This Healthy And High-Protein
Asian-Style Steamed Fish

30 mins
Cooking Time
Intermediate
Difficulty
12
Ingredients
Seafood
Diet
National Nutrition Week 2026 is a good reminder that how you cook your food is almost as important as what you cook, and this Asian-style steamed fish makes that point better than most recipes can. Steaming is one of the healthiest cooking methods, with no added fat beyond a drizzle of oil at the end, no high heat to break down delicate proteins, and no nutrient loss from prolonged boiling or aggressive frying. For a conversation around food and nutrition, it's hard to find a simpler place to start than a piece of fish cooked in nothing but its own vapour. This preparation is a classic Cantonese technique featuring a mild white fish steamed alongside julienned ginger, topped with a light soy-based sauce, and finished with raw spring onions and a drizzle of sizzling hot oil poured over just before serving. That final step, hot oil hitting raw scallions, gives the dish its signature aroma and a faint sizzle at the table, without ever needing the fish itself to touch a hot pan. All the while following what National Nutrition Week 2026 harps on – a balanced diet. This cooking technique originates in the southern coastal regions of China, usually done with a whole fish steamed and served at the family dining table, though fillets make it much easier for weeknight dinners for anyone less comfortable working around bones and skin. For the Indian kitchen, this recipe works particularly well with pomfret, bhetki (Indian barramundi), rohu, or katla.

Ingredients

UNITSIngredients
450-700 gmPomfret, bhetki, rohu, or katla fillets (For the fish)
½-¾ tspSalt
¼-⅓ tspBlack pepper
2-inch pieceGinger (peeled and julienned)
5-6Spring onions, cut into 2-inch segments and thinly sliced
2 tbspShaoxing wine (or dry sherry, optional) For the sauce
¼ cupLow-sodium soy sauce
½ tspGranulated sugar
2 tbspNeutral oil (peanut or similar) For finishing
2 tbspSesame oil
1-2Chilli peppers (thinly sliced, optional)
a handfulCoriander sprigs (optional)

Follow
Directions

Description - Step 1

Step 1: Prepping the fish and aromatics

Cut the spring onion segments into thin, lengthwise strips and set them in a bowl of cold water; they'll curl slightly as they soak. Pat the fish fillets dry and season both sides with salt and pepper. Scatter half the julienned ginger onto a plate or shallow dish (slightly smaller than your steamer), and lay the fish fillets on top of the ginger.

Step 1
Step 1: Prepping the fish and aromatics
10 Minutes
Step 2
Step 2: Steaming the fish
10-12 minutes
Step 3
Step 3: Making the sauce
3 Minutes
Step 4
Step 4: Finishing with hot oil
5 Minutes

FAQs

Pomfret and bhetki (Indian barramundi) are closest to the mild, delicate white fish this dish was traditionally made with, while rohu and katla offer a slightly firmer texture that also works well.