Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks

Chinese dish ready in 16 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Jump to Recipe
Prep
6m
Cook
10m
Total
16m
Servings
2
Difficulty
Easy
Spice
1/5
Cuisine
Chinese

IngredientsWhat you'll need for Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks

Ingredient Amount
sea bass (California bass) 1 (650g)
small green chili peppers 2-3
bird's eye chili 1-2
salt 3-5
light soy sauce 10-15
white sugar 5 as needed
white pepper powder about 1
cornstarch 10-15
cooking oil about 15
ginger 3-5 slices, julienned
scallions 2-3, cut into sections
  • sea bass (California bass)1 (650g)
  • small green chili peppers2-3
  • bird's eye chili1-2
  • salt3-5
  • light soy sauce10-15
  • white sugar5 as needed
  • white pepper powderabout 1
  • cornstarch10-15
  • cooking oilabout 15
  • ginger3-5 slices, julienned
  • scallions2-3, cut into sections

Cooking StepsHow to cook Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks step by step

  1. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 1

    Bought a California sea bass. Have the fishmonger clean off the scales, gills, and innards.

  2. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 2

    Rinse clean at home, and trim off the fins and tail.

  3. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 3

    Trim this part off too.

  4. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 4

    Make a cut about 4cm from the tail toward the head.

  5. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 5

    Split the fish into two halves.

  6. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 6

    It would be nice if the fish seller could do this for you.

  7. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 7

    Chop off the fish head.

  8. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 8

    Wear gloves and be careful with the knife.

  9. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 9

    Now separated into the belly side and the backbone side.

  10. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 10

    Chop the fish head into a few pieces.

  11. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 11

    Cut the belly and backbone pieces into 4cm-wide chunks.

  12. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 12

    Prepare the aromatics: small green and red chilies, and ginger.

  13. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 13

    Julienne the ginger, slice the chilies into rings, and prepare some scallion sections.

  14. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 14

    Season the fish chunks: add 3-5g salt.

  15. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 15

    Add 5g white sugar.

  16. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 16

    Add a pinch of white pepper powder.

  17. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 17

    Add two small spoonfuls of light soy sauce, about 13g.

  18. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 18

    Add two small spoonfuls of cornstarch, about 10g. Mix well and marinate for 10 minutes.

  19. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 19

    Heat a non-stick pan and add oil. Place the fish chunks skin-side down. Pan-fry slowly over low heat until fragrant and golden, about 2-3 minutes.

  20. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 20

    Flip and continue pan-frying over low heat.

  21. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 21

    After about 2 minutes, add the chili rings and julienned ginger.

  22. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 22

    Gently shake the pan — the fish should release easily without sticking.

  23. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 23

    Finally, add the scallion sections and a little more cooking oil.

  24. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 24

    Prepare a slurry of 2g cornstarch mixed with 15g water. Pour it into the pan. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 seconds, then plate and serve.

  25. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 25

    Delicious!

  26. Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks
    Step 26

    Simple and satisfying.

Pan-Fried Sea Bass Chunks

Chinese dish ready in 16 min using easy-level technique. Simple enough for weeknight cooking.

Ingredients

  • 1 (650g) sea bass (California bass)
  • 2-3 small green chili peppers
  • 1-2 bird's eye chili
  • 3-5 salt
  • 10-15 light soy sauce
  • 5 as needed white sugar
  • about 1 white pepper powder
  • 10-15 cornstarch
  • about 15 cooking oil
  • 3-5 slices, julienned ginger
  • 2-3, cut into sections scallions

Instructions

  1. Bought a California sea bass. Have the fishmonger clean off the scales, gills, and innards.

  2. Rinse clean at home, and trim off the fins and tail.

  3. Trim this part off too.

  4. Make a cut about 4cm from the tail toward the head.

  5. Split the fish into two halves.

  6. It would be nice if the fish seller could do this for you.

  7. Chop off the fish head.

  8. Wear gloves and be careful with the knife.

  9. Now separated into the belly side and the backbone side.

  10. Chop the fish head into a few pieces.

  11. Cut the belly and backbone pieces into 4cm-wide chunks.

  12. Prepare the aromatics: small green and red chilies, and ginger.

  13. Julienne the ginger, slice the chilies into rings, and prepare some scallion sections.

  14. Season the fish chunks: add 3-5g salt.

  15. Add 5g white sugar.

  16. Add a pinch of white pepper powder.

  17. Add two small spoonfuls of light soy sauce, about 13g.

  18. Add two small spoonfuls of cornstarch, about 10g. Mix well and marinate for 10 minutes.

  19. Heat a non-stick pan and add oil. Place the fish chunks skin-side down. Pan-fry slowly over low heat until fragrant and golden, about 2-3 minutes.

  20. Flip and continue pan-frying over low heat.

  21. After about 2 minutes, add the chili rings and julienned ginger.

  22. Gently shake the pan — the fish should release easily without sticking.

  23. Finally, add the scallion sections and a little more cooking oil.

  24. Prepare a slurry of 2g cornstarch mixed with 15g water. Pour it into the pan. Cook over medium-high heat for 10 seconds, then plate and serve.

  25. Delicious!

  26. Simple and satisfying.

Recipe Details

Common Questions

How can I make this spicier?

Add chili oil or chili crisp to taste, or include dried red chilies during cooking. A dash of Sichuan peppercorn adds a different kind of heat.