Skip navigation and jump to content.
polenta_2.jpg

the goods

 

you will need:

4 inch piece of lemongrass

2 inch knob of fresh ginger

4 cloves garlic

2 birsdeye  / thai chillies

1 shallot

6 coriander roots (optional)

juice 1 lime (more to serve)

peanut oil

500g / 1 lb tilapia fillets

2 tspn nam pla (fish sauce)

1/2 tspn sesame oil

2 tspn tamari soy sauce

2 tspn ponza sauce

1 head of iceberg lettuce

fresh coriander / cilantro

 

you will need:

  • skillet
  • blender / food processor / immersion blender
  • serving bowl

time: 15 minutes active



 

 

 

 

Tilapia San Choi Bao

Quick, light, tasty, spicy, fun and cheap. I love a dish which shares the same adjectives used to describe myself!

Seriously, I had forgotten that San Choi Bao is as fun to cook as it is to eat.

My dear Brookie waved her immersion blender around the kitchen twice whilst I was visiting her last week and before I could pour the wine, dinner was cooked.

Using a light, white fish fillet instead of meat makes this super light. But feel free to use chicken or pork in this recipe.

If you can stretch the effort, find a bunch of shiso leaves from a Japanese grocer. Line each lettuce cup with shiso and a tumble of hot fish. Succulent, mouthwatering and very, very more-ish. Not to mention utterly guilt free!

Chop the ginger, shallots, lemongrass, garlic cloves and chilles . Toss them into a blender with the lime juice and 1 tspn oil. Blitz into a paste. Some small, dried shrimp and peanuts would add some oomph at this point, but you won't miss them.

Pre heat  1 tblspn of oil in a skillet. Add the spice paste and allow to bloom

Blend the fish fillets until coarsely ground / minced 

Add the fish to the skillet and stir around with a wooden spoon so that nothing is scorching.

Add the various sauces. Cook until the fish is just done, remove from the heat and serve immediately with a bowl full of crispy, cool, crunchy lettuce leaves

Fresh lime wedges, sprigs of coriander / cilantro, chopped water chestnuts and extra diced chillies can all be added.


 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

\