Fish Paste

Ingredient Name: Fish paste

Traditional Chinese Name: 魚片 (yú piàn)

What is this?
  • A common Chinese ingredient composed of ground fish (usually 鯉魚 (wan yú) in breed), green onions and salt
  • Often used in dim sum, fried dishes, hot pot, soups and stews

How do I prepare it?

  • Often usable as purchased

Where can I buy this?

  • Available in Hong Kong wet marts (at fish, tofu or seafood vendors) – customized amount
  • Can be purchased in supermarkets as prepackaged amounts

What is the cost?

  • Amount pictured above cost $20 HKD

Any benefits?

  • Excellent source of non-fat protein
  • Extremely flavorful when added to soups of stews

Any precautions?

  • Ensure it is thoroughly cooked before consumption (ie: in boiling soup or high heat)

Any additional information?

  • Store in  refrigerated environment for up to 3 months

Grass Carp Fish

Grass Carp Fish

Ingredient Name:

Grass Carp Fish or White Amur

Traditional Chinese Name:

鯉魚 (wan yú)

Fish are considered cooling in nature.

For more on building your basic Chinese Soup pantry, visit us on YouTube

 

 

Fish are one of the best protein to use in soups, but I think underrated!  The grass carp is also one of the most common fish types in the Cantonese soup base, commonly found in all supermarkets and also the fish of choice in restaurant soups.  It’s because it’s readily available and not too expensive.  I think the meat is a big rough when steamed, which makes it amazing in soups!  The other amazing thing about fish of this size is that they are packed full of collagen when used in soups, especially the heads and tails.  Although, there are mercury warnings with large fish, so it’s definitely a balance!

How do I prepare it?

When you purchase the fish at the fish vendor (or already prepackaged), see if you can get them to cut up into smaller pieces.  I typically request quartered heads, meaning, right down the middle in half and then half again.  This will allow the frying to be easier and it fits better into soup pots.

For all types of fish in soup, I will always clean, scrub (in running water) and pat dry with paper towels.  I also try to pick up as much blood as possible.  And then, I will also always pan-fry in oil, ginger, and fresh scallions.  This will help eliminate the fishy taste and smell and allow all the ingredients to come through.

Where can I buy it and the cost?

      • You can buy fresh grass carp from most Asian supermarkets and definitely all wet marts in Hong Kong that have a fish vendor.  

      • The cost of a grass carp head, very large one, is $12 CAD so super affordable
      • A large grass carp head serves about 8 in a 4L pot

Any benefits?

      • Fish are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which act as a natural blood thinner and anti-inflammatory
      • They are also a good source of protein without the high saturated fats
      • If you use more of the bones, such as the head or tail, they have a good amount of collagen

Any precautions?

  • There are fears of increased mercury in large fish, although the carp isn’t too large and not considered a high risk mercury fish (unlike mahi mahi or canned tuna)
  • Be sure to use a soup bag if you’re using smaller fish (or fish bones) or use a scooper to separate the soup as you serve

Tips for using fish!

  •  Pan-fry in ginger and oil (add scallions if you’d like) the first before you add it to the soup.  This will make it more fragrant and eliminate the fishy smell and taste.
  • Keep a soup bag handy!!  For smaller fish, you can use a soup bag to keep all the bones, meat, and skin together as the fish melt into the soup.
  • Salt fish very lightly if you’d like.  I usually don’t salt at all!  It turned out amazing and people can add salt afterwards as they like. 

Looking to build your basic Chinese Soup Pantry?

Check it out in my video to learn more!

 

EXPLORE MORE

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Tea Name: Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea Traditional Chinese Name: 红枣甘草羅漢果薑茶 (hóng zǎo gān cǎo luó hàn guǒ jiāng chá) Nature:  Warming Taste: Sweet and slightly bitter For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.The tea is warming!  It's got...

Is your fish too fishy for soups? How to use fish in Chinese soups

Is your FISH too fishy for your soup?  HERE's How to use Fish in CHINESe SOUPS Thank you for your questions!  These make great topics for me to explore further and share my love of making soups and the best way to do it!  So if you have any comments or questions, or...

Sweet and sour snow fungus and cucumber salad

Tea Name: Sweet and sour snow fungus and cucumber salad (with garlic and red dates and goji berries) in a tart delightful mirin vinegrette dressing Nature:  Slightly warming (due to the garlic, red dates, and vinegar) Taste: Sweet and sour For more videos, you can...

Warming Chinese herbal tea for cold days (post run hydration)

Tea Name: Warming red dates, longans, and red and black wolfberries Chinese herbal tea (which I use for post cold day runs).  In fact, I also add this into a thermal flask for the car post colder rides (which is like mid September in Toronto!).  Where's Hong Kong...

Dried Black Goji Berries

Ingredient Name: Wolfberry (also known as goji berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, red medlar or matrimony vine) Traditional Chinese Name: 黑杞子(hēi gǒu zi) Nature: Neutral Targets: Kidney and liver The red goji berries is one of the...

Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea

Tea Name: Post run wind expelling and lung healing Chinese tea Traditional Chinese Name: 红枣甘草羅漢果薑茶 (hóng zǎo gān cǎo luó hàn guǒ jiāng chá) Nature:  Warming Taste: Sweet and slightly bitter For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.The tea is warming!  It's got...

How to meal prep Chinese soups in batch (for rice cooker or stove top)

I have no time! I still want delicious Chinese soup! I want something easy! You got it!  When I did my initial "experiment" on testing the rice cooker to make Chinese soup, I honestly didn't know what to expect - BUT... it turned out amazing!   And then, it got me...

Warming Chinese Herbal Tea for Menstruation and Menopause

Tea Name: Warming Chinese Herbal Tea for Menstruation and Menopause Traditional Chinese Name: 女士茶 (nǚ shì chá) Nature:  Warming Taste: Sweet For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.This warming Chinese herbal tea is designed to heal, promote stagnant Qi in the...

Red Dates, Longan, and Wolfberries Warming Chinese Herbal Tea

Tea Name: Warming red dates, longans, and wolfberries Chinese herbal tea Traditional Chinese Name: 红枣茶 (hóng zǎo chá) Nature:  Warming Taste: Sweet For more videos, you can follow us on YouTube.This is one of the most common warming Chinese herbal teas available. ...

A Chinese Herbal Tea to Nourish, Heal, and Strengthen the Lungs

Tea Name: Nourishing, Healing, and Strengthening Chinese Herbal tea for the lungs (and cooling) Traditional Chinese Name: 羅漢果雪梨茶 (luó hàn guǒ xuě lí chá) Nature:  Cooling Taste: Sweet and sour (You can read this article on the impact on your body of different food...