Chinese baked fish (with an amazing Asian fish sauce)

Chinese baked fish is one of the easiest recipes to prepare at home. It is a simple recipe with an Asian twist. All you need are fish fillets of your choice and a few common ingredients from your kitchen pantry.

This Chinese baked fish recipe is an adaptation of traditional Chinese steamed fish. Instead of steaming the whole fish, it is baked in the oven, and substituting it with fish fillets makes it much more enjoyable to consume.

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Let’s start by taking a look at the required ingredients:

Ingredients for Chinese Baked Fish

• Fish fillet. You can use any type of flaky white fish of your choice. Flaky white fish has a mild flavor and flaky texture when cooked. Their mild taste allows them to be paired with various herbs, spices, and cooking methods. Some common fillets I have used before are tilapia, halibut, cod, grouper, sea bass, or snapper.
• The herb and spice. In addition to salt and pepper, I also use common Asian flavors such as ginger, garlic, green onions, and Chinese wine to give it an Asian twist. This will make the fish taste significantly different from Western-style baked fish, which commonly includes lemon juice, parsley, dill, thyme, rosemary, and others.
• Seasoning. Light soy sauce and sesame oil are the main seasoning ingredients, and some Chinese wine (optional).

Steps to prepare Chinese Baked Fish

1. Place the fish fillet in a greased baking dish or on non-stick paper. Drizzle olive oil over the fish fillet and season it with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat the oven to 400°F/200°C. Bake the fish for 15 to 20 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork. The actual cooking time depends on the size of the fish fillet. Flipping the fish fillet is unnecessary, as it is pretty delicate.

3. Cut the ginger into thin slices and the green onion into short sections. Sauté the ginger and green onion in oil until fragrant.

4. Add the light soy sauce, sugar, ground white pepper, and water. Bring it to a boil and let it simmer for 10 minutes until the ginger and green onions release their flavors. 

5. Remove them by straining the soy sauce mixture through a wire mesh strainer. Finally, add the sesame oil and the wine(optional).

6. Gently transfer the fish to a serving plate. Drizzle the fish sauce on the fish. Serve with fresh vegetables such as bok choy, broccoli, asparagus, tomatoes, or any vegetable you choose. Garnish with green onions to serve

Tips for the best Chinese-style simple baked fish

1. Always check the doneness of the fish early to avoid overcooking, which can make the fish tough.
2. Variation: If you prefer a more traditional recipe, skip the fish sauce and season the fish with smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. You can also add fresh herbs like dill and rosemary and finish it with a squeeze of lemon or lime before serving. Another option is to incorporate some curry powder, cumin, and turmeric powder into a dry rub to give the fish an Indian flavor.
3. I use vegetable oil to make the sauce, just like most Asians do. However, you can choose olive oil for its health benefits or melted butter for better flavor.
4. This fish sauce is suitable to serve with any fish. It is also delicious when added to traditional Chinese poached chicken. I suggest storing a large batch in the freezer for future fish recipes.
5. There is no need to cover the baking tray because the fish fillets are relatively thin and will cook quickly. However, if you’re baking a whole fish, I suggest covering the tray with aluminum foil to prevent the oven’s direct heat from overcooking the surface while leaving the inside undercooked. Another common method the Chinese use is to double-wrap the fish with two layers of parchment paper, which works like aluminum foil. The wrapped fish will cook perfectly, with all its juices retained inside the packet.
6. To check if the fish is cooked, use a fork to pierce the thickest part of the fish and gently twist it. If the fish flakes, it is cooked. If not, continue baking for a minute or two. Be careful not to overcook the fish, as it can become tough.
7. I only use fresh fish if I want to steam it, but to bake it is a bit forgiving, so any good quality frozen fish should fit this recipe.

How to serve the baked fish

Fresh vegetables are the perfect accompaniment to baked fish. Consider using simple vegetables, such as blanched asparagus in salt water or French beans sautéed with garlic. It’s also lovely to top with olives, capers, and cherry tomatoes. Serve it with baby bok choy if you prefer to follow the tradition of Chinese cuisine.

How to Store Baked Fish

The baked fish can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. However, the fish sauce should be kept separately. You can freeze the sauce in small portions in small plastic containers for up to two months. When you want to serve, reheat the fish in an oven or air fryer. Then, bring the sauce to a boil and pour it over the fish.

Other related fish recipe

If you enjoyed this Chinese baked fish recipe, I have several more recipes you might like. Here are my recommendations:

• Traditional Chinese steamed fish: Try this steamed whole fish recipe from our sister food blog, Taste of Asian Food.
• Instant Pot honey mustard chicken: A truly simple and delicious meal best served with steamed rice.