I used Pacific rockfish here, but you could use any relatively firm, white fish. I'd suggest anything from walleye to striped bass to redfish to grouper, snapper, black seabass, catfish, smallmouth bass, halibut -- hell, even carp would be good with this if you chunk it and remove any bones. This doesn't keep, so you pretty much need to eat it when it's ready.
2tablespoonstomato paste mixed with 2 tablespoons water
1teaspoonpotato or corn starch
STIR-FRY
1 1/2poundsskinless fish,cut into into bite-sized pieces
3tablespoonspeanut oil,lard or vegetable oil
8dried hot chiles,use less if you don’t want it spicy, broken in half and seeds shaken out
A 2-inch piece of ginger,peeled and minced
3garlic cloves,sliced thin
3tablespoonschopped chives
2teaspoonssesame oil
Instructions
Mix the ingredients for the marinade together (except for the oil) and then mix in the chunks of fish. Make sure they are all well coated, and set it aside while you chop everything else. Mix together all the ingredients for the sauce and set it aside.
Heat the 3 cups of oil in a wok or deep frying pan until it's about 350°F. If you don't have a thermometer, you'll know the oil is hot enough when a bit of flour flicked into it sizzles instantly. Get a baking sheet or tray handy and line it with paper towels. Fry the fish in two or three batches, separating the pieces of fish the moment they hit the hot oil. Cook until they turn golden brown, about 3 minutes. Remove and let them drain on the paper towels.
When the fish is done, carefully pour off all but about 3 tablespoons of the oil. Add the chiles, ginger and garlic and stir-fry over high heat for 30 seconds. Add the fish and stir fry for a few seconds, then pour over the sauce ingredients -- be sure to stir the sauce before you pour it in because the starch will tend to settle to the bottom. Let this boil furiously for 1 minute, then turn off the heat.
Stir in the chives and sesame oil and serve at once with steamed rice.
Video
Notes
NOTE: This is one of those few Chinese wok dishes that you can double; most stir-fries need to be done in batches or they won't cook right. So that makes this recipe great for a crowd.