Coconut-Poached Fish With Bok Choy
This one pot, Thai-influenced dish couldn’t be easier to assemble, and its beautiful presentation makes it look like you spent a lot longer on dinner than you actually did. The poaching liquid does double duty by gently cooking the fish and wilting the bok choy. If bok choy is unavailable, another sturdy green, like kale or Napa cabbage, can be substituted. Serve with steamed jasmine rice to soak up some of the fragrant coconut milk broth.
- Total:
- Serves: 4 persons
Ingredients
- 4(6-ounce) cod fillets or other flaky white fish
- Kosher salt
- 2tablespoons canola or vegetable oil
- 1large shallot, thinly sliced
- 2garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1(2-inch) piece ginger, peeled and cut into thin matchsticks
- 1fresh Thai or Serrano chile, thinly sliced
- 2(13 1/2-ounce) cans coconut milk
- 1 ½teaspoons fish sauce
- 1teaspoon light brown sugar
- About 7 ounces baby bok choy, ends trimmed and stalks separated
- ¼cup roughly chopped cilantro, both leaves and tender stems
- 2tablespoons thinly sliced scallion greens
- Lime wedges (from 1 lime), for serving
- Flaky salt (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Season fish well with salt. In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add shallot, garlic, ginger and chile, and cook, stirring often until they become translucent, about 2 minutes. Season with salt.Step 2
Add coconut milk, fish sauce and brown sugar, and whisk together until combined and sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to a gentle simmer. Add cod fillets and turn the heat down to low. Cover and cook until cod is just cooked through and opaque, about 6 to 8 minutes. Carefully remove the fish and plate in bowls.Step 3
Add bok choy to the coconut milk broth and turn heat to medium-low. Cook bok choy until leaves are wilted and stems are tender, about 1 to 2 minutes.Step 4
Divide bok choy evenly alongside the fish and ladle the coconut milk broth over each portion. Top with cilantro, scallions and a good squeeze of lime, and serve with remaining wedges on the side. Garnish with flaky salt, if desired.