Thai Stir Fried Peppered White Fish Recipe

Here’s an easy Thai fish dish for the black pepper lovers of the world. This easy recipe, which can be made in about 5 minutes flat, is great eating, especially when served with a little steamed rice and a plat of cold raw vegetables alongside.

Make sure to use freshly and coarsely cracked pepper for this recipe – finely and long ago ground pepper won’t give you the right taste for this one. If you can’t crack pepper coarsely with your pepper grinder, you can use a mortar and pestle – or you can even put your peppercorns in a bag and then after closing that bag use a rolling pin or cast iron skillet to whack those peppercorns into submission on your counter!

In Thailand, this would typically be made with sea bass, but you can substitute any similar tasting ocean fish as desired.

Stir Fried White Fish with Garlic and Black Pepper

This recipe makes enough for about 4 people, when served with rice and vegetables.

• 1 lb of sea bass fillet, snapper or other firm, mild and sweet ocean white fish, cut into 1 inch strips
• 10 cloves of garlic, smashed flat with the side of a knife, but not chopped
• 2 ½ tsps of coarsely ground black pepper (if you only have finely ground pepper, reduce the amount you use)
• 1 ½ Tbls of fish sauce
• 1 ½ Tbls of soy sauce
• 1 ½ Tbls of oyster sauce
• 1 ½ tsps of sugar
• ½ tsp of MSG
• 3 Tbls of oil for frying

Stir Frying Instructions

1. After cutting the fish, mix together the fish sauce, soy sauce, oyster sauce, MSG and sugar and then rub the fish pieces all over in this mixture to marinate. Marinate for about 10 minutes on the counter.
2. Heat up your oil over medium heat in a heavy skillet or a wok. When hot, add in your garlic cloves and fry, stirring, for about 30 seconds, or until they are fragrant and starting to turn golden.
3. Immediately thereafter, add the pepper to the oil and stir it to mix it evenly, and then slide in your fish slices. Cook the fish, stir frying, but gently, so as not to break the fish pieces and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until cooked through.
4. Serve with steamed jasmine rice and with fresh vegetables on the side for garnish and contrast. Vegetable options can include sliced cucumbers, fresh cilantro sprigs, lettuce and white cabbage.