Deep Fried Fish

Really, no dish is comparable to a simple deep fried fish.  It is incredible that a deep fried fish with very basic ingredients is so yummy.  Perhaps our taste bud is too tired with rich flavor food sometime and appreciate the simple back to basic dish like a plain deep fried fish? :P

It is ashamed to say that i know how to do my first deep fried fish only on January this year (2012) in conjunction of Chinese New Year (CNY).  If it is not because we are abroad for CNY this year, and it is a tradition to have a whole fish as one of the CNY dish that symbolic abundance (年年有余), i guess i would not have try to prepare this dish.  ;P

Ever since then, this simple deep fried fish has become one of the popular dish in my family and my two little lovers just love it.  

Ingredients:

• 1 whole fish (or half) with bone  
• Salt
• 1 tsp chopped garlic
• 1 tsp soy source
• cooking oil for deep frying

Steps:

• Thoroughly clean/wash the fish, sprinkle the fish (both inside & out) with the salt - this help to reduce the odor of the fish
• Rinse the fish, drain well & pat dry with paper towels
• Slightly cut two lines on the middle of the fish body at both side, set aside
• Place a wok over high heat until hot, add the oil, swirling to coat the sides
• Add the garlic, stir fry till the garlic begins to brown, transfer to a bowl & set aside
• Pour oil (at least 1 inches deep) on a wok and bring it over high heat until hot (till small bubbles noticed when inserted a wooded chopstick on the oil)
• Carefully sliding the fish into hot oil, deep-fry till cooked and golden brown.  Turning the fish over in between to ensure both sides are thoroughly cooked
• Remove, drain and transfer to a serving plate
• Pour the hot cooked garlic over the fish, sprinkle the fish with 1 tsp of soy source and serve