Best Sweet Black Pepper Halibut Or Other Fish Steaks Vietnamese Style Recipes

Cá KHO Tộ (VIETNAMESE BRAISED FISH)

Steps:

• Combine the fish with the sugar, chicken bouillon powder, pepper, fish sauce and oil as well as half of the garlic and red shallots. Let it marinate for a minimum of 20 minutes.
• To make the caramel, heat up a claypot on low heat and add the oil and sugar in. Let it brown and stir in the remaining aromatics for 10 seconds.Note: Work VERY quickly with the sugar because it will burn if left on the heat for too long.
• Add the remaining garlic and red shallots to cook for 20 seconds, then pour in the coconut water and turn the heat up to high.
• Add the fish in and let it simmer for 30 seconds, then gently flip it over to coat the sauce on the other side. Pour the remaining marinade over it.
• Let the fish braise on a low-medium heat for 1 hour or until soft with the lid partially on. The sauce should be slightly thick and sticky when it's done. If you plan to add chili, you can put it in now.Tip: Scoop the sauce onto the fish every 15 minutes to make sure every part is covered.
• Garnish with spring onions and serve immediately with hot rice!

CUMIN-SEARED HALIBUT WITH SWEET CORN SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sweet corn sauce: In a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan, add the canola oil, onions, garlic, thyme, bay leaf, salt and pepper. Sweat on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the onions are softened, 7 to 10 minutes. Add the wine, if using, and cook until it evaporates, about 5 minutes.
• Add the corn kernels, reserved cobs and stock. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 10 minutes.
• For the halibut: Meanwhile, in a large plastic bag, combine 5 teaspoons of the canola oil, the cumin, lemon zest and juice, salt and pepper with the halibut fillets and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Discard the corn cobs, thyme and bay leaf from the sauce. Carefully pour the mixture into a blender and puree on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes. The natural starches will activate and thicken the sauce. Pour the sauce through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean saucepan. Simmer over low heat until it reduces by half, about 15 minutes.
• To finish the halibut, in a medium sauté pan, heat the butter and remaining 3 teaspoons canola oil over high heat until the butter melts and the oil is hot (a little smoke indicates it's ready). Place the halibut fillets in the pan skin-side up and cook until a nice crust forms on the bottoms, about 4 minutes. Carefully flip the fillets and cook 3 minutes more. Lower the heat and continue to cook until the internal temperature registers 140 degrees F, about 4 minutes. Let rest, covered with foil, for a few minutes. Serve topped with the sweet corn sauce.

STEAMED SALMON WITH GARLIC AND GINGER

Steps:

• To make the flavoring sauce, in a small bowl, combine the sugar, pepper, oyster sauce, and soy sauce and stir to dissolve the sugar. In a small skillet or saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and sauté for 15 to 20 seconds, or until fragrant. Add the ginger and cook for about 1 minute, or until aromatic and pliant. Pour in the oyster sauce mixture and bring to a boil. Add the chopped scallion, stir to combine, and remove from the heat. Set aside. (The sauce may be prepared up to 4 hours in advance. Let cool, then cover it to prevent it from drying out. Keep at room temperature until ready to use.)
• Select a heatproof plate or nonreactive cake or pie pan 1 inch smaller in diameter than your steamer tray. (Ideally, you will be able to serve the fish from whatever you choose, thus avoiding the need to transfer it to a serving plate.) Set aside a few scallion strips for garnish and scatter the rest on the plate or pan. Arrange the fish on top and pour on the flavoring sauce. Place the plate or pan in the steamer tray.
• Fill the steamer pan half full with water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Place the tray in the steamer, cover, and steam the fish for 8 to 10 minutes, or until a knife inserted at the thickest part easily pierces the flesh all the way to the bottom.
• When the fish is done, turn off the heat. Use pot holders or a Chinese steamer retriever (see Note, opposite) to remove the plate or pan from the steamer (you may find it easier to put the steamer tray on the counter first) and place it on a platter. Or, use 2 wide spatulas to transfer the fish to a warmed serving platter and pour the juices on top. Garnish with the reserved scallion strips and the cilantro and serve immediately.

SWEET BLACK PEPPER HALIBUT OR OTHER FISH STEAKS, VIETNAMESE STYLE

Steps:

• Combine the sugar, nam pla, and 1/4 cup water in a skillet just large enough to hold the fish. Place over medium heat and cook, stirring infrequently, until the sugar melts and the mixture bubbles, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the lemongrass, garlic, and black pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes more.
• Add the scallions, fish, and another 1/4 cup water. Cook over medium-high heat, turning the fish occasionally (if you're using fillets, turn it less often so that it doesn't break up), until the sauce is very thick and the fish cooked through, about 10 minutes. Taste, add salt if necessary, then garnish and serve.