Crispy fried snapper with sweet and sour sauce

Name: Crispy fried snapper with sweet and sour sauce
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4-6 as part of a shared banquet
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1.2 kg whole snapper; 2 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying; ¼ cup plain flour; ½ tsp sea salt; 2 tbsp vegetable oil, for wok frying; 2 tbsp finely chopped ginger; 3 spring onions, cut into 4cm lengths; ½ red capsicum, diced into large cubes, about 1.5 cm; ½ green capsicum, diced into large cubes, about 1.5 cm; 1 tbsp Shaoxing wine; ½ cup fresh chicken stock; 2 tbsp light soy sauce; 4 tbsp caster sugar; 4 tbsp Chinese red vinegar (available from Asian supermarkets); 2 tbsp tomato sauce; ½ cup roughly chopped fresh pineapple (see tip at bottom); ½ tsp sesame oil; small handful coriander leaves

Neil Perry

February 9, 2016

Crispy whole snapper? Have a good dinner (and year).William Meppem

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:4-6 as part of a shared banquet

Don't put the party hats away just yet, it's Chinese New Year. And what better way to celebrate than with festive fish? The Chinese word for fish sounds like the word for abundance. Serve the fish whole, with the head and tail intact, to represent a good beginning and a good end to the coming year.

Ingredients

1.2 kg whole snapper
2 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying
¼ cup plain flour
½ tsp sea salt
2 tbsp vegetable oil, for wok frying
2 tbsp finely chopped ginger
3 spring onions, cut into 4cm lengths
½ red capsicum, diced into large cubes, about 1.5 cm
½ green capsicum, diced into large cubes, about 1.5 cm
1 tbsp Shaoxing wine
½ cup fresh chicken stock
2 tbsp light soy sauce
4 tbsp caster sugar
4 tbsp Chinese red vinegar (available from Asian supermarkets)
2 tbsp tomato sauce
½ cup roughly chopped fresh pineapple (see tip at bottom)
½ tsp sesame oil
small handful coriander leaves

Method

Make sure the fish is well scaled and wipe down with a paper towel. Cut fish through to the bone from head to tail at 3cm intervals on both sides.
Put oil in a large wok or a saucepan big enough to fry the whole fish. Heat oil to 180°C or until a cube of bread turns golden in 30 seconds.
Dust fish in a mixture of flour and salt, then shake off any excess. Carefully slide the whole fish into the wok and fry for about 5 minutes, then turn the fish over and repeat on the other side. The fish should be golden on the outside and the flesh just cooked through to the bone.
Remove the fish from the pan and drain on a paper towel. Remove excess oil from the wok and wipe clean.
Heat wok again with 2 tbsp vegetable oil until just smoking and stir-fry ginger, spring onions (whites only) and capsicum until fragrant. Deglaze wok with Shaoxing wine, then add stock, soy sauce, sugar, vinegar and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil and simmer until thickened slightly. Add the pineapple and the green ends of the spring onions and cook for 30 seconds.
Transfer the fish to a serving dish and spoon the sauce over the top. Sprinkle with sesame oil and coriander leaves, then serve immediately.
HOT TIP
- Use fresh, ripe pineapple for the sweet and sour sauce.
Photography William Meppem; Jennifer Soo Styling Hannah Meppem Food preparation Dominic Smith