Make this Thai steamed fish WITHOUT a steamer | Thai Steamed Fish with Lime & Garlic

fish sauce

🥗Healthier: soy sauce

💰Cheaper: salt

Soy sauce provides umami flavor, while salt can enhance taste without added calories.

whole fish

🥗Healthier: tofu

💰Cheaper: tilapia

Tofu offers a plant-based option, while tilapia is a more affordable fish alternative.

Prepare the sauce by using a mortar and pestle to pound garlic and coriander root into a rough paste, adding a pinch of salt to help break it down.

Lightly bruise red and green Birds Eye Chili peppers, keeping them chunky instead of making a paste, and add them to the bowl with the garlic and coriander.

Mix in fish sauce, chicken stock, sugar, and lime juice to the bowl, creating a balanced sauce.

Prepare a trivet with lemongrass by smashing it with a knife and spreading it out in the bottom of a bowl that will be used to serve the fish.

Season the whole fish with salt and place it on top of the lemongrass trivet in the bowl.

Set up a wok or large pan with water, creating a steaming setup by coiling foil and placing it in the water, then putting the fish on top of the foil.

Cover and steam the fish for 5 minutes without the sauce.

After 5 minutes, add the prepared sauce over the fish, cover, and steam for an additional 3-4 minutes until the fish is cooked through.

Check if the fish is cooked by inserting a metal skewer into the fish and touching it to your lip; if warm, it's done, otherwise steam for a couple more minutes.

Carefully lift the fish out, garnish with lime slices, fresh coriander, and chili slices before serving.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens