I used to frequent a restaurant that served grilled fish, which would be placed over charcoal to keep it warm. It was comforting in winter and still enjoyable in summer with air conditioning. However, since it's now too far away for me to visit whenever I want, and the nearby grilled fish options don't quite measure up, I've decided to research how to grill fish myself and buy fish to grill at home.
How to Grill Fish
When grilling fish, we typically prepare a variety of side dishes, which not only makes the presentation more appealing but also adds to the overall flavor experience.
Ingredients Needed
1 grass carp, an appropriate amount of fragrant celery, half a cauliflower, an appropriate amount of potato, green pepper, onion, garlic, dried chili peppers, scallions, an appropriate amount of cilantro, cumin, Sichuan peppercorns, black pepper, and aged ginger.
Cooking Instructions
1. Clean the fish and make cuts on its back. Rub with salt and cumin. Place aged ginger and scallion sections on top and marinate for half an hour.
2. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, then place scallion sections, aged ginger, and garlic cloves on it. Put the fish on top and brush with dark soy sauce.
3. Preheat the oven to 200°C and bake for about 10 minutes.
4. Break the cauliflower into pieces, slice the green pepper, cut the potatoes into slices, and chop the onions and fragrant celery into segments; set aside.
5. Heat oil in a wok and sauté the dried chili peppers. Then add the onions and stir-fry until fragrant. Add bean paste and stir-fry.
6. Add a little water, then Sichuan peppercorns, black pepper, and cumin. Simmer for about 10 minutes, then add the potatoes and cauliflower and cook for another 5 minutes.
7. Before removing from heat, add the fragrant celery and green pepper to thicken the sauce. Pour the side dishes and sauce over the grilled fish, then return to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes or so.
Tips
Different ovens may vary in cooking time, so adjust accordingly.
How to Make Spicy Grilled Fish
In the guide to grilling fish, the spicy grilled fish popular in Sichuan and Chongqing regions is particularly well-received. It's spicy and delicious, similar to the common Wanzhou-style grilled fish found in these areas.
Ingredients Needed
1 grass carp, 1 onion, 10 grams of minced ginger, 5 stalks of fragrant celery, 2 tablespoons of Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, 4 tablespoons of vegetable oil, 15 grams of dried red chilies, 500 milliliters of broth, 10 grams of ginger slices, 1 tablespoon of cooking wine, 2 stalks of garlic, a small amount of salt.
Cooking Instructions
2. After cleaning and preparing the grass carp, rub it evenly with salt and cooking wine and let it marinate for 20 minutes.
3. Line a baking tray with a layer of onions, then place the marinated fish on top. Sprinkle with minced ginger and drizzle with a tablespoon of oil.
4. Bake in an oven preheated to 220°C for 20 minutes, then remove from the oven.
5. In another wok, heat 3 tablespoons of oil and add the ginger slices, garlic, and dried red chilies while the oil is still cold.
6. Add the Lao Gan Ma chili sauce and stir-fry until the oil turns red, then pour in the broth. Bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 3 minutes.
7. Add the fragrant celery and cook until done. Pour the sauce over the grilled fish and bake for another 6 minutes or so.
How to Make Crispy Grilled Fish
This is a simpler version of grilled fish that is more suitable for home preparation, with fewer ingredients and a straightforward cooking method.
Ingredients Needed
Fish, ginger powder, cooking wine, ginger slices, light soy sauce, honey, five-spice powder, cumin powder, and an appropriate amount of salt.
Cooking Instructions
1. Clean the fish and make cuts on it. Rub with salt, ginger powder, cooking wine, and black pepper, and let it marinate for a while.
2. Place scallion sections and ginger slices inside the fish to help reduce the fishy smell.
3. In a small bowl, mix honey, light soy sauce, sauce, five-spice powder, and cumin powder. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
4. Place the fish in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Take it out, flip it over, brush with the sauce, sprinkle with cumin and five-spice powder, and bake again.
5. Bake until the surface of the fish is golden brown, then take it out of the oven.
Tips for Grilling Fish
At home, we typically don't grill fish directly over a flame like they do in restaurants. Instead, we use an electric oven, and the taste is still excellent. When grilling fish, there are those with side dishes and sauces, similar to most commercial grilled fish options. These have a rich variety of ingredients and flavors. There are also those grilled fish that are simply seasoned with cumin and five-spice powder and grilled dry. This type of fish is even more fragrant, crispy, and delicious.