Sweet and Sour Pompano Fish

Pompano is a tender yet firm fish that is especially delicious when fried and served with a flavorful sweet and sour sauce.  It’s also a convenient choice for smaller households, as Korean markets often sell pompano individually.

For a lighter option, you can air-fry the fish instead of deep-frying it, then spoon the sweet and sour sauce over the top.

Ingredients:

Fish ingredients:

1 whole pompano fish, cleaned

Oil, for frying

Aromatics:

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 small piece of fresh ginger, shredded

Use any combination of the following Vegetables — 2 cups total:

Tomatoes

Green onions

Red bell pepper

Pineapple

Cabbage

Sweet & Sour Sauce

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon vinegar

Slurry:

⅓ cup water or stock

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:

Preparing the fish:

Rinse the pompano and pat it dry.  Make two shallow diagonal cuts on each side of the fish.  This helps it cook evenly and allows the flavors to penetrate.

Frying the fish:

Heat enough oil in a large pan to fry the fish.  Carefully add the pompano and fry both sides until golden brown and cooked through.  Transfer to a serving plate.

Preparing the aromatics:

Carefully remove most of the oil from the pan, leaving about 1 tablespoon.  Add minced garlic and shredded ginger.  Sauté until fragrant.

Cooking the vegetables:

Add the vegetables and stir-fry for about 2 minutes, keeping them slightly crisp.

Making the sauce:

Stir together the fish sauce, sugar, and vinegar, then add the mixture to the pan.  Bring to a gentle boil.

Thickening the sauce:

Mix the cornstarch with water or stock until smooth. Slowly pour the slurry into the pan, stirring constantly. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly.

Serving:

Pour the sweet and sour vegetable sauce generously over the fried pompano.  Serve immediately with steamed rice.

 

Air-frying Option:

Air-fry the prepared pompano until golden and cooked through, then serve it with the sweet and sour sauce.