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Steamed Salmon, Shanghai Style Recipe

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4.4 from 51 reviews

A delicate and flavorful Shanghai-style steamed salmon recipe that highlights the natural taste of fresh salmon with aromatic ginger, scallions, and traditional Chinese seasonings like Shaoxing wine and soy sauce. This quick and healthy dish uses gentle steaming to keep the salmon moist and tender, perfect for an elegant yet simple meal.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

Salmon and Marinade

  • 12 ounce salmon fillet at room temperature (out of the refrigerator for 30 minutes)
  • 2 teaspoons Shaoxing wine
  • ½ teaspoon salt

Garnishes and Sauces

  • 2 tablespoons julienned ginger
  • 2 scallions, cut on a diagonal into 1-inch (2.5 cm) pieces
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Salmon: Remove the salmon fillet from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to ensure even cooking. If the salmon was previously frozen, make sure it is fully thawed before this step.
  2. Preheat the Steamer: Bring water to a boil in your steaming setup. If you don’t have special steaming equipment, a setup with a pot and a heatproof dish that fits inside works well.
  3. Marinate the Fish: Place the salmon fillet in a heatproof dish. Pour 2 teaspoons of Shaoxing wine over the fish and rub it evenly over the top, bottom, and sides to coat completely. Fold the thinner belly part underneath the fillet to create an even thickness for uniform cooking.
  4. Add Seasonings: Sprinkle ½ teaspoon of salt evenly on top of the salmon. Spread 2 tablespoons of julienned ginger and the diagonally cut scallion pieces over the fish. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of soy sauce around the salmon in the dish.
  5. Steam the Salmon: Once the water in the steamer is boiling vigorously, place the dish with salmon inside the steamer and cover tightly. Steam over high heat for 4 minutes to cook the salmon gently.
  6. Let It Rest: After steaming, turn off the heat but keep the steamer covered for an additional 1 minute. This lets the residual heat finish cooking the salmon perfectly without overcooking.
  7. Serve: Uncover the steamer and serve the salmon hot, garnished with the ginger and scallions for a fragrant and flavorful dish.

Notes

  • Ensuring the salmon is at room temperature before steaming helps achieve even cooking throughout the fillet.
  • Folding the thinner part of the salmon under helps the fillet cook uniformly without drying out thinner sections.
  • If you don’t have Shaoxing wine, dry sherry can be used as a substitute.
  • Steaming is a quick and healthy cooking method that preserves the salmon’s moisture and nutrients.
  • For an added touch of flavor, consider garnishing with a drizzle of hot oil or fresh herbs after steaming.
  • Author: Adeline
  • Prep Time: 35 minutes
  • Cook Time: 5 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Steaming
  • Cuisine: Chinese

Find it online: https://flavorhug.com/steamed-salmon-shanghai-style-recipe/