Braised Spanish Mackerel With Soy Sauce and Mirin

This is a simple and healthy 3 dish meal for 2 that costs less than Ringgit 10.00.  Not too bad idea of simple dishes if you are looking for some non-spicy food for dinner.

The above picture shows the 3 dishes that goes well with plain white rice: 

• Braised Spanish Mackerel with Soy Sauce and Mirin
• Miso Tofu and Seaweed Soup
• Salad leaves, cherry tomato Yoghurt Salad

BRAISED SPANISH MACKEREL WITH SOY SAUCE AND MIRIN

2 pieces Spanish mackerel - clean and pat dry

3-5 spices ginger [more if you love ginger]

1 stalk spring onions - cut slantwise about 1 inch lengths [keep some for garnishing]

2 tbsp soy sauce

3 tbsp mirin

dash of pepper

1-2 tbsp oil

1. Pan fry Spanish mackerel with oil in non-stick pan until both sides are golden brown.  Push aside.
2. Use the remaining oil to saute ginger slices and part of the spring onions until fragrant [maybe slightly brown].
3. Add in soy sauce from around the wok followed by mirin and pepper.  Bring it to a bubbly boil.  Push the fried fish slices back into the sauce to braise until sauce is slightly thickened [1-2 seconds].  Flip over fish slices for 1 time so that it is well coated with sauce.   Very quick process.
4. Dish out to serve with garnishing [spring onions].
5. Serve with rice.

Note:  Can also use Salmon slices but reduce the oil quantity.

JAPANESE MISO TOFU SOUP

400 ml water

1 piece soft tofu - cut big cubes

1 small piece seaweed [hai tai] - wash and soak in water for a few minutes - cut wide strips

2 tbsp Japanese Miso paste

1. Mix miso paste with some of the water until well mixed.  Set aside
2. Bring water to boil in a soup pot.  Add in miso paste mix and seaweed 'hai tai' and tofu cubes.  Let it boil again, then lower heat to simmer for another 5-10 minutes.
3. Serve hot with rice.

SALAD LEAVES, CHERRY TOMATO WITH YOGHURT SALAD

Some salad leaves - washed and break into small pieces

some cherry tomatoes - cut half

1 small tub plain yoghurt [about 135 gm]

1/2 tsp fish sauce

juice of 1 calamasi lime

1 tsp sugar [optional]

• Mix all ingredients together and refrigerate until serving time.