Sweet and Sour Fish

Sweet and Sour Fish is a classic dish enjoyed worldwide. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the ingredients and steps to create this delightful meal:

Ingredients:

 For the Fish:

     1 pound (450g) firm white fish fillets (Tilapia, Cod, Haddock)

     1/2 teaspoon salt

     1/4 teaspoon black pepper

     1/4 cup all-purpose flour

     2 large eggs, beaten

     1/2 cup cornstarch

 For the Sweet and Sour Sauce:

     1/4 cup white vinegar

     1/2 cup water

     1/2 cup ketchup

     1/4 cup brown sugar

     1 tablespoon soy sauce

     2 tablespoons cornstarch

     1 red bell pepper, julienned

     1 green bell pepper, julienned

     1/2 cup pineapple chunks (fresh or canned, drained)

     1/4 cup chopped onion

Production Steps:

1. Prep the Fish: Pat the fish fillets dry with paper towels. Season them with salt and pepper.

2. Set Up the Coating Station: In three separate bowls, prepare your coating stations. In the first bowl, add the flour. In the second bowl, whisk the eggs. In the third bowl, combine the cornstarch.

3. Coating the Fish: Dredge each fish fillet in the flour, then dip it in the beaten eggs, and finally, coat it generously with the cornstarch. Shake off any excess coating.

4. Fry the Fish: Heat enough oil (around 3-4 cups) in a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot (around 350°F/175°C), carefully add the fish fillets and fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the fish and drain on paper towels.

5. Prepare the Sauce: While the fish cooks, in a separate saucepan, combine the vinegar, water, ketchup, brown sugar, and soy sauce. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

6. Thicken the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of water to make a slurry. Slowly add the slurry to the simmering sauce while whisking constantly. Cook for 1-2 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.

7. Add Vegetables and Pineapple: Add the bell peppers, onion, and pineapple chunks to the thickened sauce. Cook for an additional minute, or until the vegetables are softened slightly.

8. Assemble the Dish: Plate the fried fish fillets. Top them generously with the sweet and sour sauce and vegetables.

Tips:

 Feel free to adjust the amount of vinegar and sugar in the sauce to your preferred level of sweetness and tanginess.

 For a thicker sauce, add another tablespoon of cornstarch slurry.

 You can substitute other vegetables like broccoli or carrots for the bell peppers.

 Serve your Sweet and Sour Fish with steamed rice or fried rice for a complete meal.

Enjoy this delightful sweet and sour fish recipe!