Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

It's the season of Meatless Fridays again...

In the spirit of Lent, I will try posting fish and vegetable recipes for everyone more each week. =)

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Sweet and Sour Fish Fillet

Ingredients:

1/2 kg fish fillet (I used the vacuum sealed sole fillet though fresh ones are still better)

salt and pepper

egg (beaten) and cornstarch for breading the fish

oil for frying

For the sauce: (Approximated)

1/4cup butter

1/4cup vinegar (I prefer using the red cane type from Del Monte but some say white vinegar is better)

1/4cup ketchup

3T brown sugar

1/2cup pineapple juice

salt and pepper

For the garnish:

green papaya, sliced into thin strips

ginger, sliced into thin strips

carrots (I made flower shapes)

red bell pepper, sliced

onion, sliced

garlic, sliced

How I did it:

Clean the fish and pat it dry. Cut it into strips and season with salt and pepper. Dunk it into the beaten egg and roll over the cornstarch to cover. 

Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the fish fillet until golden brown. Set aside.

In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat (be careful not to burn it) then add the vinegar, ketchup and sugar. Stir until sugar is melted. Add the pineapple juice then season with salt and pepper. (You may adjust the amount of ingredients according to your taste.) Set aside.

On the same pan, saute the onions and garlic with a small amount of butter (or oil). Add the ginger and bell pepper. Stir in the carrots and papaya until cooked but still crisp (stir-fry would be a better term =) ).

Pour in the sauce, mix and simmer for about 2 minutes. You may add in the fried fish to let it absorb the sauce a bit or you may pour the sauce over the fried fish fillet.

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Some like their fish fillet still crisp so they pour the sauce over just before serving. I like mine however, drenched in the sauce and that you can taste the sauce absorbed by the fish --- so I add the fish in the end, while I let the sauce simmer. 

For busy moms (and dads), you may do a short-cut and just buy ready-mix sauces like the one from Del Monte. I use it when I am in a hurry - saves a lot of time since you just need to add some water. 

Xoxo,