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Asian Braised Fish with Greens

This stovetop method of braising results in moist fish and a flavorful pan sauce to serve over noodles or rice.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    serves 4

Ingredients

1 pound soba or udon noodles or 1 1/2 cups jasmine, brown, or white rice
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons mirin or 2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated peeled ginger root
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
6 scallions
1 head of bok choy (about 1 1/2 pounds)
1 1/2 pounds firm fish fillets, at least 1/2-inch thick
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
Pinch of salt
Sesame seeds (optional)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Cook the noodles or rice (see pages 16 and 176).

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, in a bowl, combine the soy sauce, mirin, vinegar, ginger, garlic, and 3 tablespoons of water. Set aside. Cut the scallions on the diagonal into 1-inch pieces. Cut the bok choy on the diagonal into 1/2-inch slices (about 8 cups). Cut the fish into serving-sized pieces or bite-sized chunks.

    Step 3

    In a large skillet on high heat, stir-fry the scallions in the oil for a minute. Add the bok choy and salt. Stir constantly until the greens are just tender but still crisp, about 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and cover to keep warm.

    Step 4

    Add the soy sauce mixture to the skillet and bring to a simmer. Add the fish fillets, cover, and simmer on low heat until cooked through: for fillets, about 6 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness, and for chunks, about 4 minutes. Carefully turn over the fish about halfway through cooking. The fish is done when the flesh is opaque.

    Step 5

    Serve the fish on a bed of the rice or noodles. Top with the bok choy, the pan sauce, and a sprinkling of sesame seeds.

Cover of the cookbook Moosewood Simple Suppers with a red floral motif.
From Moosewood Restaurant Simple Suppers: Fresh Ideas for the Weeknight Table. Copyright © 2017 by Moosewood Collective. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC. Buy the full book from ThriftBooks or Amazon.
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