Ingredients
1 whole barramundi (1 to 2 kilograms) scaled and gutted
5 stalks lemongrass (bottom halves only) smashed and cut into chunks
1 cup chicken stock or fish stock (fresh or canned)
2 tablespoons finely chopped palm sugar
8 tablespoons lime juice
6 tablespoons fish sauce
2 heads garlic coarsely chopped
Thai bird’s eye chilies (to taste) finely chopped
20 to 25 sprigs cilantro chopped
1 to 2 stalks Chinese celery cut into 1-inch pieces
Instructions
1-Make three diagonal cuts on each side of the fish down to the bone to help it cook evenly.
2-Stuff the smashed lemongrass chunks into the fish cavity for that herbal aroma.
3-Steam the fish over boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes, based on its size, until it’s firm and opaque.
4-In a saucepan, bring the chicken or fish stock to a boil, add the palm sugar, and stir until it dissolves. Pour into a bowl and set aside.
5-Mix the chopped garlic, chilies, cilantro, fish sauce, and lime juice into the warm broth. Taste and tweak the sourness with lime juice or sweetness with palm sugar as needed.
6-Transfer the steamed fish to a platter with edges, then create a bed with the Chinese celery pieces and place the fish on top.
7-Spoon the sauce over the fish, making sure the garlic and chilies cover it well.
8-Serve hot with steamed rice to round out the meal.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
🐠 Choose fresh barramundi or suitable substitutes like tilapia, red snapper, or grouper.
🔪 Scoring the fish helps it cook evenly and absorb flavors.
⏳ Monitor steaming time carefully to avoid overcooking; test doneness by checking flesh firmness and opacity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Steaming
- Cuisine: Thai
- Diet: Gluten-Free, Low-Calorie
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg