Recipe: Siakap Stim (Steamed Seabass)

I love ikan siakap (seabass), whether fried or steamed. Usually at home, I'll steam it because it's really easy to do. Frying requires old and turmeric and is generally messy, so I'm lazy to clean the aftermath haha. It's really easy and healthy, and you only need a few ingredients.

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Siakap Stim (Steamed Seabass)

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cooking Time: 8 - 12 mins

Ingredients

1 whole siakap (seabass) - get the fishmonger to remove stomach & remove scales

Garlic - around 2 cloves

Ginger - 2 inches, sliced into long thin strips

Salt + white pepper

Sesame oil

Light soya sauce

Coriander leaves (optional)

Spring onion (optional)

Cooking Method

1. Wash the fish properly and add some diagonal cuts into the fillets. Dry fish
2. Add water to your steamer base and let it boil.
3. Season the fish with salt and white pepper. 
4. Rub a dash of olive oil, sesame oil and light soya sauce onto the fish
5. Place the coriander roots, spring onion roots and half the ginger and garlic into the fish belly. 
6. Place the remaining half of the ginger and garlic, and coriander leaves and spring onion leaves below the fish and on top of the fish.
7. Place your fish plate on top of the steamer strainer; cover and let it steam for 8 - 12 minutes depending on fish size.
8. Carefully take out the fish plate once it's cooked and let it cool for several minutes.
9. Eat while it's hot.

Notes

• To see if the fish is cooked, check the inside of the belly. It should be white. If it's still pale, it needs a longer cooking time.
• To pick the freshest fish, check that the eyes are still clear; the gills are more red than pink; and the body is still quite firm to the touch.
• You may opt to fry the garlic slices prior to adding it to the fish.

Seasoned fish topped with all the herb goodness.

How the fish looks like in the steamer prior to being covered.

Testing to see if it's cooked - see the flesh inside the diagonal cuts made earlier. It should be white.

Check the inside of the stomach (that has been cut prior to cooking) to see if it's cooked.

Final product. Clean, easy and simple.