Dish of Fish with Celery
(click to enlarge)

Fried Fish with Celery


Thailand   -   Pla Phat Dongoong Chai

Serves:
Effort:
Sched:
DoAhead:  
2 w/rice
***
45 min
Most
An outstandingly flavorful fish presentation, and not difficult to make or to arrange on the plate.

12
1
2
2
2
1/2
6
2
1/2
2
2
2
-----
1
1
1
-----
1
1
ar

oz
T

cl
T
t
oz

in

oz
oz
---
T
T
c
---
T
t

Fish Filet (1)
Fish Sauce
Shiitake Mushrooms  
Garlic
Cilantro Stems (2)
Peppercorns
Celery w/leaves (3)
Scallions
Ginger Root
Red Chili (4)
Soybean Sprouts
Shallot
-- Sauce
Fish Sauce
Soy Sauce
Stock
-------------
Oil
Tapioca Starch (5)
Oil to fry Fish

This recipe produces enough vegies for 3 servings of 5+ ounce fillets

Prep   -   (1 hr)
  1. Cut FISH FILETS into serving size or half serving size pieces as desired. Coat with the FISH SAUCE and let marinate in the refrigerator about 30 minutes or more.
  2. Slice SHITAKES into 1/8 inch slices. Soak them in warm water for 20 minutes, then squeeze out water.
  3. Chop GARLIC fine. Chop CILANTRO STEMS fine and crush together with Peppercorns in a mortar. Mix with Garlic.
  4. Slice CELERY 1/4" thick on a sharp diagonal and put to soak in a bowl of cold water. Cut SCALLIONS into 1-1/2" lengths and add to Celery. Peel GINGER where needed, slice crosswise very thin, then into narrow slivers. Add to celery
  5. Cap and core CHILIS. Leave in membranes for some heat, scrape out for no heat. Cut diagonally into thin strips. Pinch roots from SOYBEAN SPROUTS and mix with Chilis.
  6. Cut SHALLOTS in half lengthwise and slice thin crosswise.
  7. Mix together all Sauce items.
Vegies   -   (20 min)
  1. In a wok or sauté pan heat OIL over medium heat and fry Garlic mix, stirring until aromatic but not browned.
  2. Stir in Shallots and fry stirring for a minute.
  3. Stir in Mushrooms. Drain Celery Mix, stir in and fry stirring until well distributed.
  4. Stir in Sauce mix, bring to a simmer and cover until celery is crisp tender,
  5. Stir in Soy Sprout mix, and simmer until Sprouts are crisp tender, then then sprinkle on Tapioca Starch and stir in well. Hold warm while you fry the fish.
Fry Fish & Serve   -   (10 min)
  1. Pan fry the fish with a dusting of rice flour in just enough oil so it doesn't stick to the pan (1/16th inch).
  2. Plate a spread of vegies with fish on top. Accompany with steamed Jasmine rice.
NOTES:
  1. Fish Fillets:

      The pattern recipe calls for "Ocean Fish", but I've made this very successfully with Tilapia, as in the photo example (a 5-1/4 ounce fillet cut in half). Tilapia is a fine fish, but Chefs deride it. Everyone knows its cost is low, so it won't support their price sturcture.
  2. Cilantro Stems

      These should actually be roots, but good luck finding those, so we have to substitute.
  3. Celery:

      Asian celery stalks are thiner and more intensely flavored than American Celery. Use stalks above the first joint and leaves to approximate. The photo example was made with Asian celery.
  4. Red Chilis:

      Around here we all use Red Fresnos, but other medium hot red chilis will work fine. For details see our Thai Chilis page.
  5. Tapioca Starch

      If Cornstarch is used, use a bit less and suspend it in water (tapioca is more forgiving).
  6. U.S. measure: t=teaspoon, T=Tablespoon, c=cup, qt=quart, oz=ounce, #=pound, cl=clove in=inch tt=to taste ar=as required
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