Steamed grey mullet with stir-fried baby bok choy
Grey mullet is plumpest when the autumn wind blows: steamed whole with shiitake and ginger, finished with sizzling oil and soy, and served with simply stir-fried baby bok choy.
- 30 min
- Serves 2
- Steam
- Easy
Why it suits you: Sensitive types react easily, with a stuffy nose or itchy skin when the seasons turn, and Hanlu's dry air and big temperature swings set off sneezing. Grey mullet is at its best in autumn and winter: tender, strengthening the spleen, boosting qi and whetting the appetite. Steamed with little oil, with no shellfish or nuts, and served with baby bok choy, it's a reassuring dinner.
Method
Prep 15 min · Cook 15 min- 1Clean the fish, scraping away the black lining inside the belly, then rinse and pat dry. Soak the shiitake until soft and shred; shred the spring onions.
- 2Lay two spring onion whites on a plate, place the fish on top and cover with the shiitake and half the ginger. Steam over boiling water on a high heat for 8–10 minutes.
- 3Pour off the liquid on the plate and top the fish with the remaining ginger and spring onion. Heat 1 tbsp oil until smoking, pour it over the fish, then spoon over the soy sauce.
- 4Heat the remaining oil, fry the chopped garlic until fragrant, add the bok choy and stir-fry over a high heat until cooked; season with a pinch of salt.
Cautions
- This recipe has no shellfish or nuts, but avoid it if you're allergic to fish; soy sauce contains soy and wheat, so use a pinch of salt and hot oil instead if needed.
Chef's tips
- Scrape away the black belly lining thoroughly to avoid a muddy taste. Steaming time depends on thickness — the fish is done when a chopstick slides easily into the thickest part.
The TCM view
Grey mullet is sweet and neutral, entering the spleen and stomach, strengthening the spleen, boosting qi and whetting the appetite — the Kaibao Bencao says it 'opens the appetite, benefits the five organs and, eaten regularly, builds strength'. Shiitake boosts qi; ginger warms the middle and counters fish toxins; spring onion frees the yang; baby bok choy clears heat, eases irritability and frees the bowels.
