How to Cook Chinese Black Sea Bass

In this recipe marinated Black Sea Bass is served with a flavorful sauce with lemon juice, ginger, garlic and toasted sesame seeds. This is a good recipe for cooks who are new to Chinese cooking or just want a recipe for baked fish (instead of steaming or pan-frying, two more traditional Chinese cooking methods).
This healthy, nutritious main dish serves 2.

Prep Time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 whole black sea bass (about 1 pound each), cleaned
• Marinade:
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
• Sauce:
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup chopped scallions (green onions)

Preparation:

1. On each side of the fish, make three diagonal cuts 2 1/2 inches long and 1/2 inch deep.
2. Stir the marinade ingredients in a small bowl, and spoon it over the fish, making sure it seeps into the cuts. Let the fish stand in the marinade, uncovered, at room temperature, for 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Make the sauce: Melt the butter in a small skillet, and saute the sesame seeds until golden, 1 minute. Stir in the ginger and garlic; cook 1 minute. In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, lemon juice, cornstarch and water; stir until smooth. Stir this into the butter mixture, and heat to a simmer, stirring. Cook until slightly thickened, 1 minute. Set aside and keep warm.
5. Arrange the fish in a baking pan, and bake until it flakes easily, about 15 minutes.
6. Stir any accumulated pan juices and the chopped scallions into the sauce. Spoon the sauce over the fish or serve alongside.
2 portions

Recipe excerpted from The New Basics Cookbook by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins (Workman Publishing). Reprinted with permission.