Steamed Salmon, Shanghai-Style

Step 1

Before beginning the recipe, leave the fish out at room temperature for 30 minutes. Avoid steaming the fish directly from the refrigerator, which may cause undercooking or uneven cooking. Note that the fish should be fully thawed before coming to room temperature if previously frozen.

Step 2

Preheat the water in your steaming set-up until boiling. For more info on how to set up a steamer without any special equipment, see our post on how to steam food.

Step 3

Place the salmon fillet into a heatproof dish that will fit into your steamer. Pour the Shaoxing wine over the fish, and rub it into the fish—the top, bottom, and sides—so the whole piece is coated. Tuck the thinner belly portion underneath the fillet so it is an even thickness across. This will help it cook more evenly.

Step 4

Sprinkle the salt evenly over the top of the fish, along with the ginger and scallions. Drizzle soy sauce around the fish.

Step 5

Once the water in the steamer is boiling, place the fish in the steamer, cover tightly, and steam over high heat for 4 minutes. Then turn off the heat, but leave the steamer tightly covered for 1 minute to allow the salmon to continue cooking in the residual heat. Uncover and serve!