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Thai Steamed Whole Fish with Garlic, Chili and Lime - Pla Neung Manao - ปลานึ่งมะนาว

Steamed Whole Fish with Garlic, Chili and Lime - Pla Neung Manao - ปลานึ่งมะนาว

Ian Benites
Steamed whole fish with an aromatic broth.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Course Main Course

Equipment

  • Steamer

Ingredients
  

Steamed Fish:

  • 1-1.5 kilogram whole white-fleshed fish such as red snapper, striped bass or branzino...scales, fins, and viscera removed (2-3 pounds)
  • 4 stalks lemongrass (half will be reserved for making the broth)
  • 4-5 sprigs cilantro

Broth:

  • 250 grams fresh chicken stock (1 cup)
  • 25 grams palm sugar or white sugar (2 Tbsp)
  • 120 grams fish sauce (1/2 cup)
  • 120 grams lime juice (1/2 cup)
  • 60 grams fresh, roughly chopped garlic (15 cloves)
  • 20 grams finely chopped red or green thai bird chili (about 20 chilies)
  • 35 grams finely chopped cilantro (1/2 cup)
  • 4-5 whole bruised bird chilies (optional)

Garnish:

  • 3 or 4 thinly sliced "wheels" of lime
  • small handfull cilantro sprigs

To Serve:

  • freshly steamed jasmine rice

Instructions
 

Steamed Fish

  • Add a few inches of water to the bottom of your steamer and bring it up to a boil over high heat. Make sure to add enough water so it does not evaporate before the fish has finished cooking.
  • Warm a serving plate that will hold the fish as well as the broth (about 2 cups of broth)
  • Remove the outer leaves from the lemongrass, cut it into two-inch sections, and smash the lemongrass to release the aroma. Reserve half of this lemongrass to make the broth.
    Bruise the lemongrass
  • If your steamer is too small to fit the whole fish, cut it in half. Do not season the fish. The seasoning will be taken care of by the very well seasoned broth.
    Cut the fish in half
  • Place the fish onto one or two plates that will fit inside your steamer. Place the pieces of lemongrass and cilantro under and on top of the fish so that they are in direct contact with the fish. **Here I am using a double-decker steamer but you can also place both halves on the same plate, side by side, if necessary**
    garnish the fish
  • Steam the fish over high heat until it is cooked through. This may take anywhere 10 and 15 minutes depending on the fish. Use a fork and try to move some of the meat near the thickest part of the fish. If the meat easily pulls away from the bones in the center of the fish, the fish is done. Check the fillets that are in direct contact with the plate, these can sometimes take longer to cook than the fillets on top.
    Steam the fish
  • Place the two halves of the fish on the hot plate. Make sure the broth is finished by the time the fish is done cooking.
    Plate the fish

The Broth

  • While the fish is steaming, prepare the broth.
  • Place the reserved smashed lemongrass, along with the rest of the sauce ingredients into a small pot and bring to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 2 or 3 minutes, and stir to dissolve the sugar. Adjust seasoning if necessary. Sauce should be salty and sour.
    Sauce

Finish the dish

  • Make sure the broth is done before the fish is finished cooking. Once your cooked fish is on the plate, make sure the broth is piping hot and pour everything over the fish. Garnish with lime wheels and cilantro.
    Thai Steamed Whole Fish with Garlic, Chili and Lime - Pla Neung Manao - ปลานึ่งมะนาว
  • Serve with freshly steamed jasmine rice.