Asian•comfort

Chinese Fish Soup (魚頭爐)

Looking for a recipe to bring back the warmth and stir the soul? Try this Chinese Fish Soup! It's got wonderful bold and homey flavours!

Ingredients

Quantities are shown as originally provided.

1 bass grouper fish head ((we ask the fish monger to clean and cut it up for us))
1/2 kg (1 lb) fish ((we use bass groper))
1 packet (400 g / 1lb) pickled mustard greens
1/2 kg (1 lb) taro ((we buy it from the local Asian grocery))
fried tofu
5 slices ginger
8 spring onion heads
potato starch
2 tbsp salt ((or to taste))
1 tbsp sugar ((or to taste))
1 tbsp chicken powder
3 L water
rice noodles ((optional))

1
Prepare the fish by giving it a wash and using a knife to lightly scrape off any excess scales. If you ask your fish monger, they will happily do most of the scraping for you.
2
Cut the fish into chunks and lightly coat them in potato starch.
3
Fry the coated fish pieces in oil over a medium heat until they are golden.
4
Cut the taro into chunks or thick slices and fry in oil over a medium heat until golden.
5
Wash the pickled mustard greens then chop them into smaller pieces. If you’d prefer a crunch then keep the pieces larger.
6
Lightly oil a wok and pan fry the pickled mustard greens for 3 minutes then put it in a pot.
7
Heat up a pan with oil and add the ginger and spring onions until fragrant. Toss the fried fish in.
8
Pour the the fish, ginger, spring onions into the pot with the pickled mustard greens. Add water and season with salt, sugar and chicken powder.
9
Let the broth simmer for 30 minutes. You can add the taro and fried tofu in during this stage for a thicker broth as the taro melts into the soup or you can leave it until just before serving to add it in.
10
To enjoy this dish, have it as is or with rice noodles!