Steamed Flounder with Black Mushrooms and Ham Recipe

Serves 2

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup soy sauce
  • 3 tbsp dry sherry
  • 3 tbsp minced ginger, plus 8 thin slices
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 8 dried Chinese mushrooms, soaked in boiling water for 1 hour
  • 2 lbs whole flounder (with bones)
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp rice wine
  • 2 tsp Chinese toasted sesame oil
  • 8 thin slices yunan or smithfield ham
  • Sauce:
  • 1/3 cup chicken stock
  • 3 tbsp rice wine
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Chinese toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cornstarch

    • Instructions:

    1. In a pan fitted with 2 1/2 cups water.
    2. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 1 minute.
    3. Meanwhile, drain mushrooms, squeeze dry and remove stems.
    4. With a Chinese cleaver or large knife score fish at 1-inch intervals on both sides, making 8 slashes in all, 4 on each side.
    5. In a small bowl combine salt, rice wine and sesame oil, stirring to combine flavors.
    6. Rub all over fish, working some into slashes as well.
    7. Insert one slice each of ginger and ham and one mushroom into each incision.
    8. Place fish on a heat-proof plate small enough to fit in steamer, leaving some steaming holes uncovered.
    9. Cover and steam for 8 to 10 minutes.
    10. To prepare sauce, in a saucepan combine sauce ingredients, except cornstarch, and bring to a simmer.
    11. Whisk cornstarch with 1 teaspoon water to a slurry.
    12. Whisk into sauce mixture, stirring until thickened.
    13. Transfer steamed fish to a warmed serving platter and pour sauce over.
    14. Serve immediately.