Signature Braised Yellow Croaker

Signature Braised Yellow Croaker

Ingredients

• 1 yellow croaker
• half scallions
• 5 slices, julienned ginger
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 cooking wine
• 2 sugar
• 1 salt
• 2 light soy sauce
• 1 dark soy sauce
• half vinegar
• 1/3 white pepper powder

Instructions

1. Clean the yellow croaker and make score cuts. Pat the fish completely dry with paper towels (this is essential). Heat the wok first, then add cold oil (important!). Add one spoon of salt to the oil (mandatory). When the oil is about 70% hot, add the fish and pan-fry until golden on both sides, then remove. Follow these steps precisely to ensure the fish doesn't stick or fall apart.
2. Start a new wok with a small amount of oil. Once hot, add the scallions, ginger, and garlic (add one dried chili if you like spice, but no more — too much will overpower the fish's delicate flavor). Stir-fry until fragrant, then add the fried fish. Immediately splash in light soy sauce, add dark soy sauce, then pour in hot water to cover the fish.
3. Add cooking wine, sugar, and white pepper in order. Simmer over medium heat. After 10 minutes, add salt (use less than usual since this is sea fish and salt was already added during frying) and vinegar.
4. After another 10 minutes, turn up the heat to reduce the sauce.
5. The signature braised yellow croaker is ready! Absolutely delicious with rice!