In Chinese cuisine, plum sauce often accompanies meats and fish for deliciously sweet and savory contrast. Tonight’s spin on the classic is made with thick soy sauce, butter, and fresh plum, chopped into small pieces so it breaks down a bit as the sauce cooks. It makes for a simple, elegant way to elevate our pan-seared catfish and side of jasmine rice, mixed together with peas, carrots, and aromatic garlic chives. (Chefs, English pea pods can show some blemishes, but the peas inside are still just as tasty!)
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 2 Catfish Fillets
- 1/2 c Jasmine Rice
- 4 oz English Peas
- 3 Carrots
- 2 Garlic
- 1 Plum
- 1/2 Garlic Chives
- 2 tbsp Butter
- 1 tbsp Thick Soy Sauce
- 2 tbsp Mirin
Instructions
Instructions
Cook the rice:
In a small pot, combine the rice, a big pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water. Heat to boiling on high. Once boiling, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook 12 to 14 minutes, or until the water has been absorbed and the rice is tender. Turn off the heat and fluff the cooked rice with a fork. Set aside in a warm place.
Cook the vegetables:
In a large pan (nonstick, if you have one), heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the carrots; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, 1 to 2 minutes, or until slightly softened. Add the peas and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly softened. Add ¼ cup of water and cook, stirring occasionally, 2 to 3 minutes, or until the vegetables have softened and the water has cooked off. Turn off the heat and stir in half the garlic chives; season with salt and pepper to taste.
Finish the rice:
To the pot of cooked rice, add the cooked vegetables and half the mirin. Stir to combine; season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside in a warm place. Rinse and wipe out the pan used to cook the vegetables.
Cook the catfish:
Pat the catfish fillets dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper on both sides. In the same pan, heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil on medium-high until hot. Add the seasoned fillets and cook 3 to 5 minutes on the first side, or until lightly browned. Flip and cook 2 to 3 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through. Leaving any browned bits (or fond) in the pan, transfer to a plate. Drain off and discard any excess oil from the pan.
Make the sauce & plate your dish:
Add the plum to the pan of reserved fond. Cook on medium-high, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until slightly softened. Add the thick soy sauce and 1 tablespoon of water. Cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until thoroughly combined. Add the butter and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until melted and thoroughly combined. Turn off the heat and stir in the remaining garlic chives and remaining mirin. Divide the finished rice between 2 dishes. Top with the cooked catfish fillets. Garnish the catfish fillets with the sauce. Enjoy!