Go Back
ginger sauteed with soy sauce and poured over steamed white fish filet

Steamed Soy Sauce Ginger Basa Filet

Katherine Park
An easy and inexpensive dish to throw together when you have leftover ginger and green onions from other dishes that you have to use up.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 8 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Active Time 8 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Chinese, Local Hawaii Food
Servings 2 servings

Equipment

  • 1 large pan at least 10" wide
  • 1 steaming rack
  • 1 large plate 8" to 9" wide
  • 1 chef's knife
  • 1 large cutting board
  • 1 5" saute pan

Ingredients
  

  • 2 basa filets, defrosted about 12 to 14 ounces total
  • ½ bunch cilantro (optional) chopped
  • ½ tbsp canola oil or vegetable oil
  • ⅛ cup low sodium soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger peeled and chopped into matchsticks
  • ½ bunch green onions (about 2 to 3 bulbs) cut into 2" lengths and then into strips lengthwise

Instructions
 

  • Put the steaming rack in the center of the large pan and fill with water so the water is about 1 to 1 ½ inches tall. Heat water on high with the cover on until boiling.
    large fry pan with steaming rack, water, and plate set up for steaming fish
  • Place defrosted basa filets on the plate. Put the plate onto the steaming rack when the water is boiling. Cover and steam fish for about 8 minutes until a fork or butter knife easily goes through the thickest part of the fish.
    basa filet in plate on steaming rack
  • Carefully take the plate off the steaming rack and drain the liquid in the plate. Put the plate on a trivet or pot holder or place the fish on a new plate. Spread cilantro (optional) over the top of the fish.
  • Heat the small saute pan on medium high heat. Add canola oil, ginger, and green onions and saute for 1 minute until fragrant to create a sauce. Pour the sauce over the fish and cilantro (optional). If you want, put some raw green onions and cilantro over the top. Nothing wrong with extra green herbs!
    cooked ginger matchsticks, green onion strips, in shoyu and canola oil for steamed fish filets
  • Serve with steamed rice and steamed or blanched vegetables.
    steamed basa filet with shoyu ginger sauce

Notes

Tips and Tricks
What if I forgot to defrost the basa filets?
I have been there and have had no problems using basa filets right out of the freezer. Steam the fish for 12 to 15 minutes when using frozen filets.
Can I swap ingredients?
You can use 1 Tbsp regular soy sauce and ⅛ cup water instead of low sodium soy sauce. When you cook the ginger, wait to add the green onions until the sauce cooks for about 2 minutes so the sauce reduces and is not too watery. Then cook the green onions for about 1 minute.
Can I use other types of fish?
Cod, halibut, and tilapia filets will work well. Ulua, papio, and kampachi are also tasty if you are in Hawaii and have access to these. 🙂
Keyword 30 minutes or less recipe, affordable eats, basa filet, easy recipe, white fish filet