Do you prefer your fish steamed, fried or raw?
@lordwarwizard (35747)
Singapore
April 20, 2007 11:04am CST
I got a call from a friend an hour ago. The first thing he asked me was "Guess what?" My automatic response was "Shut up, bye bye". Well, I thought "guess what" and "shut up" make a nice pair. :P
Anyway, he didn't let me hang up and went on to bore me with this "fishy business" he was involved in. Apparently, one of his aunties came over for dinner and she basically ruined his appetite. That auntie was an old-fashioned lady and my friend's mum had to cook up some authentic Chinese cuisine for her. On this count, it wasn't really an issue since they normally have Chinese food at home too.
But it all started with the fish. I understand that his mum cooked it with some curry paste. I wouldn't complain if I was there since curry is my all-time favorite. But as soon as that auntie saw that fish, she *sniffed* it and wrinkled her nose at it. She then began a lecture on how only *fresh* fish should be eaten, and that fish that is fresh enough should be served raw. Another acceptable alternative would be to steam it. It seems that any other way of cooking spoils the fish - according to her.
My friend was unhappy of course. To him, a fish is a fish and who says a fish can't be cooked in curry paste? I have to agree with him too - anything that is curry is nice haha. Then again, I am not too fussy an eater. Fried fish tastes good too. ^^
What about you? What is your preference regarding fish? Do you prefer them steamed? Fried? Raw? In curry? Or... ? Or do you not take fish? Do share your thoughts. ;-)
52 people like this
159 responses
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
20 Apr 07
I would prefer to have steam fish, I know something about chinese cooking,I learn it from my friend, I will put the fish onto a bamboo steamer and then steam it for 20 -30 minutes, and then I will add some shallot shreds on to the steamed fish and I will get an authentic taste of fish just like what i can eat in the chinese resturant. The taste is fresh and the texture of the fish is very good. I think it is healthier than fried fish which will need alot of oil when cooking,isn; it?
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
20 Apr 07
Hi easy, can you tell me what's bamboo steamer? do you need to marinate the fish with anything first before you steam it, such as salt? Your recipe looks really simple, what I need to do is just to get some shallot shreds? Yeah, I think it's healthier to have steam fish.
4 people like this
@qouniq (1966)
• Malaysia
21 Apr 07
Kaka, you don't need a bamboo steamer to steam the fish. Bamboo steamer is a traditional way to steam food used by Chinese community. You can use any steamer to steam your fish. You only need the thing which I listed below, as I did use them for steaming my fish:
1 shallot, 2 garlic } chopped
1 inch ginger sliced
5 pcs dried shitake mushroom } soak and slice
3 table spoon of oyster sauce } add some water to make it less thick
Some black pepper powder
Preparation method
Fried the shallot, garlic and ginger in other pan with some cooking oil. When it's become golden in color just remove it from heat and put a side.
Heat the steamer
Place your fish in a steel plate and drop the fried things on the fish after that pour the oyster sauce on the fish. Pour the sliced dried shitake mushroom on top.
sprinkle your black pepper powder before steaming the fish.
Steam the fish for a bout 15 to 20 minutes or until it is cook (when you can see the meat become a bit white)
Happy steaming.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
*Some* fish taste nice while steamed. The rest... I like them fried haha. But that's me. :P
3 people like this
@erminiasanjose (1588)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
It all depends upon the kind of fish. There are some which should be eaten raw really, some should be steamed, and others may be broiled, fried, cooked with soup, etc. But even those which should better be eaten raw may be cooked any way. I like fish however it is prepared.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Yup, I do agree. I think different fish should be cooked differently.
3 people like this
@Anniedup (3651)
• Richards Bay, South Africa
21 Apr 07
I like my fish well done or well steamed, no under done, medium rare or rare thank you. Although my husband likes Herring roll mops, it is fish that are pickled in vinegar.
In my eyes it is still raw fish so I'll skip thank you.
Another nice way is to wet newspaper and cover fresh caught fish in it with several layers, make a hole in the sand put it in there, cover it with the sand and put hot coals on top, leave for 1 hour and eat your fingers off, or alternatively take the rolled up fish and put it between the coals 30 to 35 minutes . Make sure the newspaper is well soaked in water.
Thanks for a nice fishy topic!:))
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
LOL, you don't get those options, I think. Only for meat steaks. :P
This coal thing.. interesting.. never came across it before..
4 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
Yucks, baby, curry fish??? My top favorite is the fish cooked with sweet and sour sauce. I seldom ate fried fish. Too dull and boring. Steamed fish, fish with oyster sauce, fish cooked in a pot especially if there is tofu, and fish with soy sauce are among my favorites too. But curry fish? "roll eyes"
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Oh I hate sweet and sour thing in general (though the traditional sweet and sour fish/pork is fine). I mean, why mess up the taste? Besides, my take is only desserts should be sweet. Fish is definitely not my idea of a dessert.
4 people like this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I do not like the idea of raw fish, at all. A lot of times fresh fish will have worms in them.. yuck!
I like a lightly breaded fried pan fish
I like fish baked.
I like fish broiled.
I like it blackened and grilled.
It really depends on the kind of fish I suppose.
I like Ceviche which is a raw fish salad, but, the fish is not really raw as it has cooked in the acid combination of the limes and hot peppers in the salad.
5 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Well, CLEAN and FRESH fish then. :P
And yes, breaded fried is nice too. ;-)
2 people like this
@ethanmama (1745)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
I would say it depends on the fish. I don't eat sashimi or other raw fish. Steamed fish is good with very fresh fish since it's not going to smell "fishy". That way you can really taste the sweet flesh of the fish. However, if the fish is not fresh anymore, it's best to fry it. I haven't tasted fish in curry though.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Ever tried wasabi with the raw fish?
2 people like this
@edgar1868 (204)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
The best fresh fish that goes well with "wasabi" is Salmon and Tuna.
1 person likes this
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Hey wizard, now im from Louisiana,and im a cajan,so in those words i will tell you, I ain't bout to eat no raw fish not me!LOl.....Thank goodness i have learned better english since then....but as far as raw fish ,no way....I can eat it fried, baked,steamed if its cooked good and i mean good,and maybe cooked with curry paste,whatever that is,but no raw fish here...I love fried fish,and i can eat fish in a stew..That auntie would have went round and round with me,I would have had to un invite her,..Thats like pulling one off the line and eating it Yuk...I would have cut that fish up,salted and peppered it ,rolled it in corn meal and fried it in hot oil,fried some hush puppies,and fried some potatoes,and thats hoe they would have had to eat it here at my house...
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
But have you tried raw fish? I wouldn't say I love the raw taste the most - since I rather have it fried or in curry - but have you at least tried it? :P
2 people like this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
20 Apr 07
Guess what?? lol I would have wrinkled my nose at it too. But its because i don't like curry. I like my fish cooked. Any fish I eat has to be cooked. I don't like the taste of raw fish. it tastes FISHY!! lol. I can eat it most any way as long as its cooked all the way through. I can eat sushi but only with cooked fish. I love California rolls. Please cook my fish. Thanks
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Maybe you need to try the REALLY FRESH ones... then it won't appear *fishy*. :P
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
You are right. I missed out grilled. This version is not that common in Singapore and I only eat it seldom.
1 person likes this
@trinidadvelasco (11401)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
We are the exact opposites, sacmom. I always have fish each day. I love fish more than animal meat.
3 people like this
@mariyamaka (931)
• India
20 Apr 07
i ate fried and curry both.. but RAW???? never heard of it!!! how can yoy eat it raw??? and heard of steam but never eaten! in india fish is cooked in many different manner! everyone has different styl but its always spicy!your aunty sounds really fusssy..
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
In Japan for instance, raw fish is quite popular. When I take sushi, some come with raw fish.
4 people like this
@dcroome2005 (1210)
• United States
20 Apr 07
I can't stand fish. I don't like the taste. Matter of fact, the only seafood that I like is shrimp. My parents tried to get me to like it all through childhood- ICK, EWE, YUCK, GROSS.... My husband has tried to cook it in the last 3 years and ewwwwww still. I can't stand it. He tried Talopi just the other night and I still couldn't do it. The only fish I can personally it is Mrs Paul's fried fish sticks with lots of tarter sauce. I guess I am not a fishy person.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
I never like prawns much unless they are fried like as in tempura form.
Maybe you just haven't found the "right" kind of fish with the "right" kind of taste. :P
2 people like this
@shadowcat_018 (835)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
i like fish steamed and fried... and i will dip it in soy sauce with calamansi, garlic, onion and red chili pepper...yum-yum! ;)
4 people like this
@raphael_volts (1131)
• India
22 Apr 07
I like steamed fish, I generally make fish salad of it... I like fish curry as well but the what I don't like is eating it raw, not even the idea.
Anyways
Take Care
May GOD Bless YOU
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
22 Apr 07
FISH SALAD? Now that's weird.
(Well, anything with salad is weird anyway. :P)
2 people like this
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
22 Apr 07
I find fish taste when cooked on the bar b q with lots of lemon pepper , it adds a nice taste to the fish , but if we can't do this then the next best would be fried on the stove .
I am not a big fish eater but my husband fishes for a living and since he can get the fist for a good price , once in awhile it makes for a nice treat and for something different when it seems that we are eating the same thing all the time .
I have never tried it in curry before , might be something interesting to try just to see what flavor it adds to the fish :)
3 people like this
@mommyaiai (295)
• United States
22 Apr 07
In the philippines we usually cook the fish with a vinegar.You will just put a vinegar,salt,lemon and a little oil and water let it boil or simmer until it is done.We also fry the fish.we like fish.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
23 Apr 07
Interesting. I don't think we use vinegar that much here in Singapore.
3 people like this
@steney (1418)
• Philippines
23 Apr 07
I love fish in all ways- fried, steamed, with coconut milk and veggies, stewed, or even with curry, etc. but rarely raw. I tried eating raw fish in sushi form only twice in this lifetime and I didn't really enjoy it. There are certain diseases people can get from it. I think to each his own, right? We have individual tongues and tastes so we have to respect each other's preference.
3 people like this
@colega17 (312)
• Romania
21 Apr 07
I prefer the fried fish . . . I think it is tastes better than steamed , in curry etc . You also mentioned the raw fish . . . that I can't say how it tastes because I haven't tried it . . . but I guess it doesn't tastes to good . I don't like raw meat in general so I stick with my opinion . . . fried fish it is the best . . . :)
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
21 Apr 07
Practically all fried thingies be nice. ^^
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
23 Apr 07
Agree tartar sauce is nice.. but fattening. :P
2 people like this
