Red Braised Belt Fish Recipe

The belt fish is first marinated and pan-fried to a golden crisp, then simmered in a rich, savory brown sauce. Let’s dive into this incredibly flavorful Red Braised Belt Fish recipe!

Red Braised Belt Fish Recipe

Serving: 2 to 4
Prep time: 20 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes

For the belt fish:
2 pounds belt fish, or other types of fish
6 slices ginger
2 tablespoons scallions
2 tablespoons white rice wine
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch

For the sauce:
1 cup chicken stock, or water
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1/2 tablespoon Chinkiang vinegar, or other types of vinegar
1 tablespoon sugar

For the red braised:
4 tablespoons oil
1 teaspoon ginger, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons scallions, minced
1 large red chili pepper, or mini sweet peppers

Red Braised Belt Fish Instructions

To prepare:

• Slice each piece of belt fish crosswise about 1/4 inch apart, without cutting all the way through. Do the same on both sides.
• In a bowl, transfer the belt fish inside. Add the ginger, scallions, white rice wine, salt, and white pepper. Mix well. Marinate for 10 minutes.
• Then, discard the liquid, ginger, and scallions. Add the cornstarch and mix well. (The cornstarch helps to keep the moisture inside the fish. The oil also wouldn’t splatter as much.)
• In a bowl, mix together the chicken stock (or water), soy sauce, dark soy sauce, oyster sauce, Chinkiang vinegar, and sugar.

To cook the belt fish:

• In a pan over medium-high heat, pour in the oil and add the belt fish. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes in total.
• Remove most of the oil in the pan. Add the ginger and garlic, and cook until aromatic for about 30 seconds.
• Pour the sauce inside. Turn to medium-low heat, cover mmer for about 4 minutes.
• Uncover turn to high heat to reduce the sauce for 3 minutes. Lastly, garnish with scallions and red chili peppers. Serve and enjoy!

Did you know?

I have always believed that being a good person will elevate many aspects of life, including happiness, health, wisdom, and even cooking skills. When your mind is at the right stage, many things will naturally follow. Let’s all try to be kind to one another. Happy cooking and enjoy!