Traditionally on Chinese New Year, a whole fish on the table symbolizes abundance, and leaving the fish intact from the head to the tail represents a good year from beginning to end. For the home cook, though, a whole fish may be a bit intimidating, so Andrew Chiou of Lucky Danger in Washington DC offers this version instead. “Blue catfish is an invasive species and it’s delicious,” he says. The sauce he pairs with it is “not subtle at all.”
yields
Serves 6 to 8
2 tablespoons minced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon dried garlic rehydrated in water*
¼ cup sugar
½ cup sambal
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons fermented sweet rice
Pinch of MSG
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon sesame oil
½ cup Shaoxing wine
16 ounces blue catfish, cut into 1-inch pieces
¼ cup silken tofu, cubed
¼ cup chopped scallions
Ingredients
steps
- Heat wok over high heat and add fresh garlic, dried garlic, sugar, sambal, soy sauce, fermented sweet rice, MSG, salt, sesame oil, and Shaoxing wine. Bring to a boil, then add 2 cups of water. Add catfish and tofu and return to a simmer. Let simmer until liquid reduces back to original amount. Add scallions and toss to combine.
*Dried garlic brings a toasty, smoky flavor. Chiou suggests rehydrating it in equal parts water by volume.
Date Published: 01.13.22
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Recipe By
Andrew Chiou and Tim Ma, Lucky Danger, Washington D.C. -
Contributing City
Washington DC
