SWEET CHILI AND CILANTRO FISH

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One-skillet recipe of fish flavored with Thai sweet-chili sauce and cilantro ready in under 20 minutes!

Fish is the staple protein in my household and I swear by its benefits over other sources of lean protein. I am also a big fan of Thai spices and condiments. One of my favorite Thai condiments is the Sweet chili sauce. The beautiful melange of sweet, hot, and tangy simply blows me off. This prompted me to combine my two loves that gave birth to this amazingly delicious Sweet Chili and Cilantro Fish.

This is a super quick recipe that is great for busy weeknights. Just pair it with a bowl of fluffy jasmine rice and you have a better than takeout dinner right at home. Anybody can make this simple recipe and it requires very few ingredients that are readily available in our pantries. The Thai sweet chili sauce that I have used is homemade, you can use the store-bought sauce if you wish.

ABOUT THE RECIPE

The Sweet Chili and Cilantro fish is as simple as the name suggests but is sure to create an explosion of flavors in your mouth. You can use any white fish fillet to make this recipe. All you have to do is lightly sear the fish fillets and cook them in a simmering sweet chili sauce with cilantro and some other spices.

Let us take a look at what you need to make this recipe.

INGREDIENTS

The list of ingredients for this recipe is quite simple. Here is what you need:

• White fish fillet
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• Light soy sauce
• Scallions
• Minced Garlic
• Minced Garlic
• Lemon juice
• Rice wine vinegar
• Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Paprika
• Chopped Cilantro

HOW TO MAKE THE SWEET CHILI AND CILANTRO FISH?

The step by step recipe for making this dish are as follows:

1. Marinate the fish with salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice.
2. Finely chop the scallions and mince the ginger and garlic.
3. Prepare the sauce by mixing Thai sweet chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, light soy sauce, freshly ground black pepper, and some water in a small bowl.
4. In a non-stick skillet, heat olive oil. Sear the fish fillet each side for about a minute and remove on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
5. In the same skillet, fry the garlic till fragrant. Add the scallions and minced ginger. Fry for a minute and add the sauce mixture.
6. When the sauce starts to simmer add the seared fish fillets and chopped cilantro. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
7. Serve the Sweet chili and cilantro fish on a bed of fluffy jasmine rice.

VARIATIONS

White fish is so versatile that it beautifully blends with almost all types of spices and flavors. While I have kept things simple in this recipe, you can surely add your own touch. As I always say, the possibilities are endless, so keep on experimenting. Here are some ideas for modifying the recipe:

• You can bake or grill the fish instead of frying to make this a healthier recipe.
• You can replicate this recipe with shrimps.
• You may add vegetables like asparagus, mushroom, or broccoli to this dish.
• Add some toasted sesame oil at the end for a distinct Oriental flavor.

WHAT IS SWEET CHILI SAUCE?

The Thai sweet chili sauce is also known as Nam Chim Kai in Thailand. The specialty of this sauce lies in the fact that it can not only be used in Asian stir-fries or other delicacies but also serves well as a dipping sauce. You can enjoy it with almost all appetizers like rolls, dumplings, chicken wings, wontons, crab cakes, or cheese toasts. 

This sauce is so popular that it is now available in every grocery store but the sauce is so easy to make that once you make it at home, you will never buy it again. Also, the homemade version has less salt, no preservatives, or fatty ingredients. The added benefit is you can control how hot or sweet you want it. I will share the recipe for Thai Sweet Chili sauce with you soon.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I bake the fish instead of searing?

Yes, you may bake the fish at 350F for about 8 or 10 minutes or until they are cooked through. The baked fish can then be simmered in the sauce for a couple of minutes. Alternatively, you may also grill the fish for this recipe.

Can I use any kind of fish for this recipe?

You can use any white fish like tilapia, swai, halibut, basa, rockfish, etc. for this recipe. You can also use salmon to make this but with salmon, it is best to bake the fish.

Can I use any other sauce instead of the Thai sweet chili sauce?

Although not the same taste, you can mix a tablespoon of sriracha with two teaspoons of brown sugar for a sweet and spicy substitute of a tablespoon of sweet chili sauce. The other option is to soak bird eye chilies (Thai red chilies) in vinegar overnight and then make a smooth paste of those chilies with some garlic and honey.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS

Serve the lemongrass fish on a bed of jasmine or basmati rice. You can also enjoy it with Burnt Garlic Rice, Scallion Rice, or Egg Fried Rice. It will go well with quinoa too. You can also convert it into a full meal by serving it with stir-fried or steamed vegetables, or salads.

STORING SUGGESTIONS

Store in an airtight container and consume within 3 days. I would not recommend storing cooked fish any longer because the flavor gets lost making it taste very bland.

Print

SWEET CHILI AND CILANTRO FISH

Yield: 2

Author: The GradChef

Prep time: 5 MCook time: 10 MTotal time: 15 M

One-skillet recipe of fish flavored with Thai sweet chili sauce and cilantro ready in under 20 minutes!

Ingredients:

• 2 fillets of any white fish
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 1/2 tbsp minced ginger
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 3 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce
• 1 tbsp light soy sauce
• 1 tbsp Rice wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• Chopped cilantro leaves
• 1 tsp paprika
• salt as per taste
• black pepper as per taste

Instructions:

1. Wash and pat dry the fish fillets. Marinate the fish with salt, pepper, paprika, and lemon juice.
2. Prepare the sauce by mixing the Thai sweet chili sauce, rice wine vinegar, light soy sauce, freshly ground black pepper, and some water in a small bowl.
3. In a non-stick skillet, heat olive oil. Sear the fish fillet till golden each side for about a minute and remove on a paper towel to drain the excess oil.
4. In the same skillet, fry the garlic till fragrant. Add the scallions and minced ginger. Fry for a minute and add the sauce mixture.
5. When the sauce starts to simmer add the seared fish fillets and chopped cilantro. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
6. Garnish with cilantro and lemon slices.

Notes:

• You may use any white fish.
• You may bake or grill the fish instead of pan-searing.

Recommended Products:

Thai Sweet Chili Sauce

Rice Wine Vinegar

Light Soy sauce

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

https://www.thegradchef.com/2020/08/sweet-chili-and-cilantro-fish.html

fish, thai, sweet chili, cilantro, quick, healthy, tasty, asian

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