Steamed Fish in Spicy Chili Oil

Why you’ll love this recipe

• The gentle steaming process preserves the fish’s natural moisture, resulting in a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is incredibly light.
• Sizzling hot oil “blooms” the dried chilies and aromatics instantly, creating a complex, smoky heat that deeply seasons the fish.
• It is an impressively elegant dish that takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, making it ideal for both quick dinners and special guests.

Key Ingredients

• White Fish Fillet: Using a mild, firm white fish like sea bass or cod ensures it holds its shape while absorbing the spicy, savory sauce.
• Dried Red Chilies: These are toasted in the oil to provide a deep, roasted heat and a beautiful vibrant red color to the dish.
• Sichuan Peppercorns: Essential for their signature numbing effect and citrusy aroma, which provides the “Mala” balance to the spicy oil.

✅Quick Tips: Pour the hot oil directly over the garlic and chili flakes at the very end to release their fragrance without burning them.

Key Steps

• #1: The Gentle Steam: Steam the fish with ginger and scallions for 6–8 minutes until it is just opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
• #2: Prep the Aromatic Bed: Top the cooked fish with fresh minced garlic, scallions, and a generous layer of chili peppers.

#3: The Sizzle Finish: Heat neutral oil until smoking and pour it directly over the aromatics to create an instant, fragrant chili oil glaze.

Steamed Fish in Spicy Chili Oil

This 15-minute recipe masters the "flash-sear" technique to lock in moisture while infusing the fish with smoky spice. It’s a clean, light, yet incredibly flavorful dish that brings the heat of professional Asian cooking to your home kitchen.

Author: Aila Lin Cooking Method: Seafood Courses: Main Dishes Recipe Keys: O One-Pot Meals Q Quick & Easy S Steaming

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Prep Time 5 mins Cook Time 10 mins Total Time 15 mins

Ingredients

Scale

1/2x 1x 2x 3x

Pre-rub:

• 0.5 lb -1lb Cod/Halibut
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp thai chili pepper
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 3 tbsp cooking oil

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp vinegar

Instructions

1. Rub the cod or halibut with salt let it sit for 5 minutes.
2. Crush the thai chilli pepper and garlic together and spread generous on top of the fish
3. Steam on high heat for 8-10 minutes.
4. Pour oil and cook until smoky point, splash over the fish and top of with sauce.
5. Enjoy over rice or plain!

Keywords: steamed fish, spicy