Salmon steaks w/ black bean sauce

6 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
3tablespoonsSalted fermented black beans
3Garlic cloves; chopped
1teaspoonMinced peeled ginger
2tablespoonsSoy sauce
2tablespoonsDry vermouth
½teaspoonSugar
6Green onions
6slicesFresh peeled ginger (quarter-sized), shredded
6Salmon steaks (1\" thick) blotted dry
2teaspoonsSalt
4tablespoonsPeanut or corn oil
White pepper to taste
Handful of fresh coriander (leaves)

Directions

BLACK BEAN SAUCE

SOAK BLACK BEANS in lukewarm water for 5 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water; drain. Combine black beans with garlic, ginger, soy sauce, dry vermouth and sugar; gently mash together. Cut 3 green onions into 2-inch-long sections and cut 3 into 2-inch-long slivers.

Put green onion sections and half the shredded ginger on bottom of a shallow heatproof plate (like a glass Pyrex pie plate). Sprinkle salmon with salt. Place salmon steaks in a single layer on top of green onions. You may need to use 2 plates with a 2-tier steamer unit. Scatter remaining shredded ginger. Top each steak with ½ tablespoon of the black-bean mixture and half the green onion slivers equally over the steaks.

Fill a wok or steamer with enough boiling water to come within 1 inch of the bottom of bamboo steamer. When the water comes to a boil, put the fish with its plate into the bamboo steamer. Cover. Steam over medium-high heat for 10 minutes. When done, remove cover away from your face and carefully lift out the plate. In a small pan heat the peanut or corn oil until hot and almost smoking. Sprinkle salmon with white pepper and scatter the remaining fresh green onion slivers on top. Carefully pour the hot oil over the fish steaks. It should sizzle. Garnish with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with steamed rice.