Steaming Tilapia: A Beginner's Guide To Delicious Fish

Steamed tilapia is a classic Cantonese dish that is both delicious and easy to make. It is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine, often served as one of the final courses in a banquet or wedding. The traditional way to steam fish is with a wok, steaming rack, and lid, or a wok and bamboo steamer. However, you can also use a large pot or deep skillet with a lid if you don't have access to a wok. The key to successful steaming is to ensure that the water is at a slow boil, generating enough steam without evaporating too quickly. For a flavourful dish, you can season the tilapia with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions.

Preparing the steamer

Firstly, decide on your steaming vessel. The traditional way to steam fish is with a wok, a steaming rack, and a lid. You can also use a bamboo steamer with a wok. If you don't have a wok or steamer, don't worry! You can use a large pot or deep skillet with a lid. For this method, you'll need a steaming rack or an empty tuna can to elevate your plate.

Once you've chosen your vessel, fill the bottom with water. You'll want to add at least 1 inch of water, or enough to generate a good amount of steam without evaporating too quickly. Bring the water to a boil.

Now it's time to prepare your tilapia fillets. Rinse the fillets and carefully lay them on a heat-proof plate that will fit into your steaming setup. If you're using whole tilapia, make sure your vessel is large enough to accommodate the fish.

Place the plate of tilapia into the steamer, ensuring the rack is elevated above the water. Cover the steamer with a lid. Adjust the heat to medium, maintaining a slow boil that generates steam without causing the water to evaporate too quickly.

Steaming time will depend on the size and thickness of your tilapia. For fillets, steam for 7-15 minutes. For whole tilapia, steaming may take upwards of 10-12 minutes. To check for doneness, use a butter knife to gently pierce the thickest part of the fish. If the knife falls through easily without resistance, your tilapia is cooked.

Once your tilapia is cooked, carefully remove the plate from the steamer, being mindful not to burn yourself. Drain any excess liquid from the plate and serve your steamed tilapia immediately.

Seasoning the fish

Soy Sauce, Ginger, and Green Onions:

This combination of ingredients is a classic choice for seasoning steamed tilapia. You'll need:

• Soy sauce (preferably Chinese light soy sauce, but Japanese or Hawaiian soy sauce will also work)
• Ginger (about 1 teaspoon, or a knob the size of your thumb)
• Green onions/scallions

Slice the ginger and green onions thinly. You can place the seasonings directly on the tilapia fillets before steaming, or you can heat oil in a skillet with the green onions first to create fragrant hot oil that you then pour over the steamed fish.

Additional Seasoning Options:

While the above combination is traditional, you can also experiment with other ingredients to enhance the flavour of your steamed tilapia:

• Garlic: Slice or chop a clove of garlic and sprinkle it over the fish before steaming.
• Lemon: Drizzle lemon juice over the steamed fish, or add lemon slices to the steamer for a subtle citrus aroma.
• Salt: Sprinkle coarse salt over the steamed fish just before serving.
• Olive Oil: Drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the fish after steaming for added richness.
• Cilantro: Roughly chop some cilantro and add it to the steamer with the fish, or sprinkle it on top of the cooked dish.
• Spices: For an Asian twist, add julienned ginger, finely chopped cilantro or spring onions, or soy sauce mixed with water.

Feel free to mix and match these seasonings to create a unique flavour profile that suits your taste preferences.

Cooking time

The cooking time for steamed tilapia depends on the type of tilapia you are cooking. If you are steaming a whole tilapia, this will take longer than if you are steaming tilapia fillets.

If you are steaming tilapia fillets, the cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the fillets. Small, thin fillets will cook in around 4-5 minutes. Thicker, larger fillets will take longer, with some sources suggesting around 7-10 minutes, and others suggesting up to 15 minutes.

To check if your steamed tilapia is cooked, you can use a butter knife to gently pierce the thickest part of the fillet. If the knife falls through the fish easily without resistance, it is cooked. It is best to check the fish earlier and continue steaming for an additional 1-2 minutes if needed, as overcooked fish can become tough or rubbery.

If you are steaming a whole tilapia, this will take longer than fillets. One source recommends checking for doneness using a butter knife, as above. Another source recommends steaming a whole tilapia for 10 minutes or until flaky.

Serving suggestions

Steamed tilapia is a classic Cantonese dish and is often served as one of the final courses in a Chinese banquet or wedding. It is also a common dish for home-cooked meals.

If you are serving steamed tilapia at a banquet, you may want to consider steaming the whole fish, head and tail included. This is the traditional way to serve the dish and is said to be impressive. However, this method will require your guests to pick out the bones from the fish.

For a home-cooked meal, it is more common to use fish fillets, which are easier to eat and faster to cook. You can serve the steamed tilapia with another protein, such as fried chicken or char siu ribs, and some vegetables, like Chinese vegetables or broccoli beef. Don't forget the rice!

If you want to add a sauce to your steamed tilapia, you can heat oil in a skillet with green onions. This fragrant hot oil can then be poured over the fish to add extra flavour. Alternatively, you can sprinkle the fish with olive oil, lemon juice, and coarse salt before serving.

Steamer alternatives

While a steamer is the traditional way to steam fish and other foods, there are several alternatives you can use to achieve the same result. Here are some steamer alternatives you can use to cook delicious steamed tilapia:

Wok and Steaming Rack

A wok with a steaming rack and lid is a traditional way to steam fish and other foods. If you don't have a steaming rack, you can use an empty tuna can in about 1-2 inches of water as a substitute. A wok provides a large cooking surface, making it ideal for steaming a whole fish or large fillet.

Large Pot or Deep Skillet

If you don't have a wok, you can use a large pot or deep skillet with a lid. Simply place a steaming rack or an elevated wire cooling rack at the bottom, add some water, and you have a steaming setup ready for your tilapia.

Rice Cooker with Stacking Steamer Inserts

Some rice cookers come with stacking steamer inserts that can be used for steaming tilapia. This is a convenient option if you already own a rice cooker with this feature.

Microwave

Steaming tilapia in the microwave is another option, especially if you're looking for a quick and easy method. Place your fish in a microwave-safe bowl, add a few tablespoons of water, cover the bowl tightly with microwave-safe plastic wrap, and microwave for 4-6 minutes.

Aluminum Foil and a Heatproof Plate

This creative hack only requires a large pot, a heatproof plate, and some aluminum foil. Roll up three sheets of aluminum foil into baseball-sized balls and place them at the bottom of the pot. Add about an inch of water, rest the plate on top of the foil balls, add your tilapia, cover the pot, and start steaming.

Disposable Aluminum Pie Pan

You can also use a disposable aluminum pie pan as a steamer basket substitute. Poke several holes in the bottom of the pan, place it upside down in a pot with some water, and put your tilapia on top of the inverted pan. The edges of the pan will keep the food from touching the water, ensuring it cooks with steam.

Electric Steamers

If you're looking for a more convenient option, electric steamers are also available. These typically have stackable trays and a heating element that turns water into steam. While they take up counter or storage space, they are easy to use and can cook a variety of foods, including tilapia.

Frequently asked questions