Ingredients for Homestyle Braised Perch: Freshwater Perch 1 (420g net weight), Pork Belly 90g, Tofu 200g, Coriander 3g, Vegetable Oil 30g, Hot Water 600g, Star Anise 1 piece, Green Onion 15g, Ginger 10g, Garlic 4 cloves, Dry Red Chili 2, Soy Sauce 30g, Rice Vinegar 15g, Dark Soy Sauce 5g, Soybean Paste 25g, Cooking Wine 15g, Salt 3g, Chicken Flavor Powder 3g, White Pepper 3g.
Method Steps for Homestyle Braised Perch:
1. Clean the perch, weighing 420g net, cut into 2cm wide sections on the back without cutting through the belly; slice the pork belly, cut tofu into large pieces, and cut coriander into inch-long segments; prepare the stir-fry ingredients together: star anise, green onions, ginger, garlic, and dry red chili.
2. [Seasoning Sauce] Mix in a bowl evenly: soy sauce, dark soy sauce, rice vinegar, cooking wine, soybean paste, salt, chicken flavor powder, white pepper.
3. Pour oil into the pot, add star anise, green onions, ginger, garlic, dry red chili, and pork belly slices, stir-fry until the oil is released.
4. Add [Seasoning Sauce] and stir-fry for coloring.
5. Pour in hot water.
6. Add fish and tofu to the pot, cover, and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
7. Serve and plate.
8. Sprinkle with coriander for garnish.
9. The soup is thick, the meat is tender, and the tofu is fragrant.
Cooking Tips for Homestyle Braised Perch: 1. Freshwater fish such as carp, grass carp, and perch can be used; if the fish is too large, it can be chopped into large pieces for braising, and the soup can be adjusted according to the weight of the fish; 2. The fish does not need to be marinated or fried, it is directly braised in the soup, so the stir-frying step is crucial, adding pork belly can enhance the aroma and make the taste more rich and moist; 3. Hot water should be used for braising the fish, which can further stimulate the aroma of the seasonings and save cooking time; 4. Seasonings can be adjusted according to taste, different brands of soy sauce and dark soy sauce have different levels of saltiness and color, add accordingly.
There are tricks to making delicious dishes, and each of my dishes has its own little secret. You can search for ‘Zhejiang Cuisine’ to directly view my recipes!
