3-Flavoured Fish Head 三味鱼头

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....

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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 :

Rub fish head with salt before placing in roaster or steamer. Add ginger, garlic and onions.

Add sweet basil leaves (optional).

Add mirin / Japanese rice wine.

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.

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.

Turn off heat of oven/steamer after 25 minutes. Do not open lid. Let fish head simmer for further 10 minutes in room temperature.

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.