Ocean Trout - Fusion Recipe

The long weekend has rekindled my interest in trying out new recipes. Since the urge came suddenly, I had to make do with whatever ingredients I have in the fridge and kitchen to cook the piece of ocean trout I bought yesterday. I've decided on an East meet West style. Since I'm also on a learning curve on my new EF18mm lens, I thought it would be a good idea to mix both of my hobbies together.

I'm quite happy with the final result - both the taste of the food and the result from the lens. Thought I could share the recipe with everyone.

Ocean Trout with Chinese Sauce

Ingredients

• 250g of ocean trout fillet, preferably with skin on one side (should work well with salmon, barramundi or snapper)
• 1/2 teaspoon of crushed sea salt
• 1 tablespoon of corn flour
• 4 tablespoon of olive oil (2 for frying the trout, 2 for
• 2 teaspoon of water
  

The sauce

• 1 inch (2.5 cm) piece of fresh root ginger
• 2 spring onions
• half a clove of garlic
• 2 small chilli (cili padi)
  
• 1/8 cup of fresh coriander leaves
  
• white pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoon Shaosing wine (Chinese brown rice wine)
• 2 teaspoon of Maggi seasoning sauce
• 1 tablespoon of fish sauce
• 2 tablespoon of sesame oil
• 1/2 cup of water
  

The side

• 1/2 cup of mashed potato powder, otherwise make mashed potato from scratch
  
• 2 teaspoon of salted butter
  

Directions

Preparing the serving plate and side

1. Spread olive oil onto the plate in a circle, one inch away from the edge of the plate
2. Place mashed potato in the middle of the plate, in the shape of the fish fillet. This will serve as the base to put on the fish fillet
   

Preparing the sauce

1. Chop garlic, chilli and coriander leaves finely
2. Chop the green parts of the spring onions finely
3. Chop ginger into thin strips
   
4. Place chopped chilli, spring onions and coriander leaves into a small bowl
5. Add white pepper, Shaosing wine, fish sauce, Maggi seasoning sauce and sesame oil to the bowl
6. Add water to the bowl and stir

Frying the trout fillet

1. Rub sea salt on trout fillet evenly
2. Mix water to corn flour and rub onto the trout fillet
3. Heat up grill pan with olive oil
4. Fry trout fillet on both sides for a few minutes until golden brown
5. Place the trout fillet on top of the mashed potato, skinless side facing up
   

Heating the sauce

1. Heat up a small saucepan with sesame oil
   
2. Fry ginger and garlic until slightly golden
3. Pour the sauce mix into the pan and stir gently for one minute
   
4. Pour the sauce onto the fish fillet, letting it flow gently, creating a smaller brown colour circle within the yellow colour circle created by the olive oil (see photo below)
5. Garnish with a few coriander leaves
   

Hope you enjoy the recipe. Feedback welcomed.

Happy New Year 2009

Shot with EF50mm f/1.8 II at the 9.15pm fireworks at Melbourne CBD

2008 has finally come to a close. Feels like Johanna and I have just been in Melbourne for a while but it has already been more than one year.

It has been a great year especially at work. Our lifestyle here is also a lot more relaxing. Actuarial exam wise, I wish I had done better, but I'm content with the only pass nevertheless. Hobby wise, web developing may be coming to an end soon as I've stop upgrading myself for some time, while in photography, I have not managed to allocate more time to unleash the power of my EOS 30D. Nothing really bad, other than missing my parents occasionally.

Looking back at our old photos with Johanna, we've suddenly realised how much we've aged and 'grown'. Hence my first resolution in 2009 is to reduce my increasing waistline by making use of the parks around our apartment. Ironically I've only walked/jogged around the Albert Park lake thrice thus far. Hopefully I'll make better progress in actuarial exams in 2009.

Blast From the Past

--- 2003 ---


Singapore with Johnson & Yve and Brian & Cherlyn

--- 2004 ---


Pool outing at Hartamas with Via & Community


Singapore

--- 2005 ---


Shazrul & Teratai's engagement


BMW 3 Series Launch


BMW 3 Series Launch


Jeff's birthday at Ceylon Hill Cafe with Sayf, Shazrul, Ozzy and Wan


Yew Khuen & Jo-Ann's wedding


Johnson & Yve's wedding

--- 2006 ---


Photography trip with Ozzy at FRIM - Photo by Ozzy


With Moses and Charis in Sydney


Visiting Whitstable with Xian, Niki and Hazreen

--- 2007 ---


Having Matthias and Lisi at our London apartment


Visiting Old Trafford with Ozzy


Chinese New Year lunch with Hong Lim & Whuan Ting, Yi Duan and Yee Yung


Keukenhof Tulip Garden in Netherlands


Edinburgh

--- 2008 ---


A very late Christmas dinner with AIG Life colleagues and spouses from actuarial department


Cascade Brewery, Tasmania with Moses and Charis


At home with Johanna on 2009 New Year's eve

My New Toy

Johanna got me the first lens for my Canon EOS 30D (other than the kit lens) for Christmas.

It is good for shooting portraits and under low light conditions. But so far I have not managed to get any volunteers for portraits.

So far I'm amazed with the sharpness and the ability to take shots under low light conditions without needing a tripod.

The new EF50mm f/1.8 II shot with EFS18-55mm


Ornaments on our Christmas trees


A swan at Albert Park late during sunset


More swans at Albert Park late during sunset. The focus is unfortunately not on the swans.


Rare scene at the usually busy Queens Road. Amazing that this photo can be taken without needing a tripod.


Christmas bauble


DOF may be too shallow

Merry Christmas

Christmas Day Dinner with Alex and Hui Min

Christmas Eve Family Dinner