I do not buy the idea that fish must be steamed with light soy sauce at all times. I personally feel that there are more ways to cook fishes that would still end up tasty.
This 3-Flavoured Fish Head 三味鱼头 is really versatile. You choose how you like it to be cooked. Steam it. Grill it....whatever. You may also choose to cook a fish head, whole fish, part fish or fillet. Whichever way works for you works for the dish.....
By the way, the 3-Flavoured Fish Head 三味鱼头 here is not limited to 3-flavours. This fish head is immersed primarily with flavours from 3 key aromatic ingredients : ginger, garlic and onion. There are other accompanying flavours such as rice wine, lime, chili, etc....
Ingredients (enough for 2 pax) :
- 1/2 or whole fish head of your choice
- 10 cloves garlic (pressed)
- 2 lemons (cut to wedges)(leave 2 thin slices for garnishing)
- 10 cloves garlic (peeled and pressed)
- 1 large yellow onion (peeled and sliced)
- 20 slices ginger (shredded)
- 10 sweet basil leaves (optional)
- 12 tbsp mirin/Japanese rice wine
- 3 limes
- cut chili (for garnishing)
- salt
- 3 tbsp olive oil
(tsp = teaspoon; tbsp = tablespoon)
Method :
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje7vInAhxQw4u8eiDASfRXFUZn6GbwpVCdVY2-XyHU45ZZFaCfsaUxyEo7QGA_-Rc0qnQnvhjps_VYsklvnMaPRVlc7UvWLUQZ9uDcJklreGPe9KGdJeOKxUAYQilCIfLLEkLl7Vu7EyE/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+02.JPG) |
Rub fish head with salt before placing in roaster or steamer. Add ginger, garlic and onions. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfDimnVO1nNRgHJUGzX5YboQLm-J2qEgiYbLMjJt-tB8SUzmYS6rsMLNkl06-4qMsXHBsgnvNcPMQuLaOgx_oaoKFOOQtb6tFPYwBbfUXLbr6rWztAVUY4sgIByi76B_rlfDUAGj0EdI/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+03.JPG) |
Add sweet basil leaves (optional). |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghl2_aRvmjPeA_Oi10LgQm2shzHzTn36jv8aqvcmupeIlBAiNMauf8wpeQsulGyfE7I3wBd8ymAGX-TN5UTZWgyIZJKwQ_pOdyb4GJ51yvaC6nQcj6fQw13M24ivq9JZg4e-QY_D5-zYU/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+04.JPG) |
Add mirin / Japanese rice wine. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyMqIigFHdHY6opFynjQ4qzQHYzogELmslgi3xSVDL9F_LhFzVw6YrF7cC3KZYWZDxo7oOaYphHjt4YAM90-rBror2YFOZcymP6ojNehNqtldbZqkmNZaysValf8_VDFT8fwLaa_xvA58/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+05.JPG) |
Add half portion of cut chili. Keep the other half portion for garnishing. Pre-heat oven to 180 degrees celsius (356 degrees fahrenheit) if you choose to grill/roast in oven. Otherwise, you may choose to steam. It works too. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjnP5qo9iGSsmXvJ3_DiJkspzeBBaI6KOrHkIjIsQTTZEdQIpTNMvetcrK9Zw51IIRCCGKPH0g3TydJnAVZGqiM-ihRhZG1jMW_bc9ZWIIkOn5DF1CzSTgcg5haSwf7SRZrSjJ-CvwEw/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+06.JPG) |
Cover lid of roaster and send to oven/steamer for 25 minutes. Use a sheet of foil to cover if you do not have a lid. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFW5Og3ZipAOeFnbvW-iwnu-jKJRXsMgsZPIAMJEE1mMzuRv1gvrjBOfSsUvXkprO1nRgkH2sRh-aka-H67ifBsQbhX74EbMgDTBY6Q_unra8iCcwmWNIPYeYOAIcbONcl4byYySfr-ic/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+07.JPG) |
Turn off heat of oven/steamer after 25 minutes. Do not open lid. Let fish head simmer for further 10 minutes in room temperature. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgca1G60kWvMTYXG1X_6N1ZhcHwLT81OhE3mNZm5NF5vpUpD0nH5oFrt9tH7Gub8ApgD9x6CV71dQbNr9pm0bJqEIy6ascpzJT5EV9Bp3XwtT2Y073VzQQRD3xTXrMmvc6W3hPME8wTNI0/s640/3-Flavoured+Fish+Head+%25E4%25B8%2589%25E5%2591%25B3%25E9%25B1%25BC%25E5%25A4%25B4+08.JPG) |
Remove cooked basil leaves, garnish and serve hot with steamed rice. |
3-Flavoured Fish Head 三味鱼头 is a very easy dish to prepare and cook. Be creative with the ingredients. Just ensure that the 3 predominant flavours : garlic, ginger and onions would not be overwhelmed or masked by other ingredients and you are good to go.