Steaming Tilapia Fillet: A Quick, Easy, And Healthy Recipe

Steamed tilapia is a classic Cantonese dish that is both delicious and easy to make. It is a popular dish in Chinese cuisine and can be found in Chinese restaurants or even at home-cooked meals. The traditional way to cook this dish is by steaming the whole fish, including the head and tail, but it can also be prepared with fillets to avoid dealing with bones. This dish is typically seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions, and can be served with steamed rice and vegetables.

Seasoning: soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions

Steaming is a great way to cook tilapia fillets, and seasoning them with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and green onions adds a delicious Chinese flavour. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to cook and season steamed tilapia fillets:

Ingredients:

• Tilapia fillets
• Soy sauce (preferably Chinese light soy sauce, but Japanese or Hawaiian soy sauce will also work)
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Green onions
• Steamer rack
• Large skillet
• Plate that fits into your steamer
• Lid

Step 1: Prepare the Steamer

Fill a large skillet with about 1/2 inch of water and place a steamer rack inside. Alternatively, you can use a wok, a deep skillet, or a large pot with a lid. If you don't have a steamer rack, you can use an empty tuna can instead.

Step 2: Prepare the Tilapia Fillets

Place the tilapia fillets on a plate that will fit in your steamer. You can use whole tilapia fillets or cut them into smaller pieces, depending on your preference.

Step 3: Add the Seasonings

Pour soy sauce over the tilapia fillets. You can use approximately 3 tablespoons of soy sauce, but you can adjust the amount to your taste. Sprinkle sliced ginger, garlic, and chopped green onion over the fish as well. You can also add other ingredients like cilantro, vegetable oil, or sugar if you want to enhance the flavour further.

Step 4: Steam the Tilapia Fillets

Carefully place the plate of seasoned tilapia fillets into your steamer. Cover with a lid and steam for 10-15 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of your fillets. Smaller, thinner fillets may cook in as little as 4-5 minutes, while larger, thicker fillets will take longer. To check if the fillets are done, use a butter knife to gently pierce the thickest part of the fillet. If the knife falls through easily without resistance, the fish is cooked.

Step 5: Serve

Once the tilapia fillets are cooked, carefully remove them from the steamer and serve immediately. Steamed tilapia is often served with steamed white rice and vegetables on the side. Enjoy your delicious and healthy meal!

Steaming equipment: wok, bamboo steamer, or microwave

You can steam tilapia fillets using a variety of equipment, from a simple wok to a bamboo steamer or even a microwave. Here's a guide to help you choose the right method and equipment for steaming tilapia fillets:

Using a Wok or Skillet

If you have a wok or a large skillet, you can easily steam tilapia fillets. Here's what you need to do:

• Prepare your wok or skillet by adding about an inch of water to the bottom and bringing it to a boil.
• Place a steamer rack, an elevated metal rack, or even an empty tuna can in the wok or skillet. This will hold your plate and keep it above the water level.
• Prepare your tilapia fillets by rinsing them and patting them dry with paper towels.
• Place the fillets on a deep, heat-proof plate that fits inside your steaming setup. You can also add vegetables like broccoli to the steamer basket.
• Add your desired seasonings or sauces to the fillets. This could include soy sauce, ginger, garlic, green onions, or cilantro.
• Carefully place the plate of fish into the steamer, cover with a lid, and adjust the heat to medium.
• Steam the fish for 7-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. Check for doneness using a butter knife; if it falls easily through the thickest part of the fillet, it's done.
• Remove the fish from the steamer and serve immediately.

Using a Bamboo Steamer

A bamboo steamer is a traditional and attractive option for steaming tilapia fillets. Here's how to do it:

• Prepare your bamboo steamer by lining the bottom with parchment paper or spinach leaves for easier cleanup.
• Add water to the bottom of the steamer, ensuring it reaches just below the lowest tier of the steamer. Bring the water to a boil.
• Rinse your tilapia fillets and pat them dry with paper towels.
• Place the fillets on a heat-proof plate that fits inside the steamer basket. You can also add vegetables like bok choy or Napa cabbage to the steamer.
• Pour your desired sauce or seasoning over the fillets. This could be a mixture of rice wine, sugar, salt, and sesame oil, or simply olive oil and lemon juice.
• Cover the steamer and place it over the boiling water. Steam the fish for 10-15 minutes, or until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
• Serve the tilapia fillets hot, garnished with chopped cilantro and lemon wedges, if desired.

Using a Microwave

If you don't have a wok, skillet, or bamboo steamer, you can still steam tilapia fillets in the microwave. Here's a simple method:

• Dry your tilapia fillets thoroughly with paper towels.
• Place the fillets in a single layer in a microwave-safe dish, such as a glass baking dish.
• In a bowl, whisk together your desired seasonings or sauces, such as soy sauce, sesame oil, rice cooking wine, ginger, sugar, and garlic powder.
• Pour the sauce evenly over the fillets, ensuring both sides are coated. Sprinkle with cilantro and green onions, if desired.
• Tightly cover the dish with two layers of cling wrap to create a strong seal.
• Microwave on high for 4-6 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. For thinner fillets like tilapia, reduce the cooking time to 4 minutes.
• Carefully remove the dish from the microwave and serve the tilapia fillets immediately.

Steaming time: 10-15 minutes

How to Cook Steamed Tilapia Fillet

Ingredients:

• Tilapia fillets
• Soy sauce
• Ginger
• Garlic
• Green onions
• Olive oil
• Lemon
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sesame oil
• Rice wine
• Sugar
• Cilantro

Method:

Firstly, prepare your steamer. You can use a metal tiered steamer, a wok, a deep skillet, or a pot with a lid. Place a small round metal rack or an empty tuna can at the bottom for the plate to sit on and fill with 1-2 inches of water. Bring the water to a boil.

Next, rinse your tilapia fillets and pat them dry with paper towels. Place the fillets on a deep, heat-proof plate that will fit inside your steamer. Pour soy sauce over the fish and sprinkle with ginger, garlic, and green onions.

Now, carefully place the plate of fish into your steamer, cover with a lid, and steam for 10-15 minutes or until the fish is cooked through. Check for doneness by gently piercing the thickest part of the fillet with a butter knife. If it falls easily through to the bottom of the plate, the fish is done.

Finally, serve the steamed tilapia fillets immediately with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Sprinkle with coarse salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!

Fish preparation: pat dry, coat with sauce, and garnish

Firstly, pat the tilapia fillets dry with paper towels. This step is important as it ensures that the flavours of the sauce do not become diluted from excess water on the fish.

Next, coat the fish with sauce. In a bowl, whisk together the sauce ingredients until well combined. The sauce ingredients include soy sauce, ginger, garlic, green onions, and cilantro. You can also add vegetable oil, sesame oil, rice cooking wine, sugar, and white or black pepper. Pour the sauce evenly over the fish, ensuring that both sides of the fillets are coated.

Finally, garnish the fish with the remaining cilantro and green onions. You can also add lemon wedges, chopped ginger, or spring onions for an extra Asian flair.

Serving suggestions: rice, vegetables, and lemon wedges

Rice

Rice is a great side dish to steamed tilapia fillet. It can be cooked in a pot on the stove, in the oven, or in the microwave. Here is a simple method for cooking rice on the stove:

• Place 1 cup of rice and 1.5 cups of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat with no lid.
• Turn the heat down to low, cover with a lid, and leave for 13 minutes.
• With the lid still on, remove the saucepan from the stove and let it stand for 10 minutes.
• Fluff the rice with a rice paddle, rubber spatula, or fork, and marvel at your perfect fluffy rice!

Vegetables

There are many ways to cook vegetables, including roasting, grilling, steaming, boiling, stir-frying, and air-frying. Here are some tips for cooking delicious vegetables:

• Avoid boiling vegetables, as it can wash away their flavour. Instead, try roasting, grilling, or air-frying them.
• If you want softer vegetables, you can steam or boil them first and then roast them in the oven to add a nice thin crust.
• When roasting vegetables, use a large baking sheet to avoid overcrowding, which can lead to steaming instead of crisping.
• Season your vegetables generously with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, chilli powder, or any other spices you like.
• Drizzle vegetables with olive oil before roasting or air-frying.
• Try grilling lemon halves wrapped in cheesecloth to serve with your vegetables for a classic yet elegant touch.

Lemon Wedges

Lemon wedges are a classic garnish for seafood dishes and can add a fresh burst of flavour. Here are some tips for serving lemon wedges with your steamed tilapia fillet:

• Cut a nice, even wedge or "cheek" from the side of the lemon, avoiding the very centre, to get rid of any seeds.
• Grilling the lemon wedge can add a sophisticated touch to your dish.
• If you want to avoid the appearance of a simple wedge, you can mince parsley and sprinkle it over the lemon to create a powder.

Frequently asked questions