steam fish

Market Tales

Met a market Aunty aka fellow home cook.. And she was so excited to see this fish.. Immediately she asked the fishmonger uncle for a bigger one..

It was already huge as anything about a kilo each.. And she asked for it to be gutted but to have the scales remained..

I being the curious home cook,  asked her how she would eat it.. “plenty of bones, very oily fish, but I love it.” exclaimed the lady in Teochew.. “steam with pandan leaves, lemon grass.. Or cook in assam.. Must dip in lime and blacan chilli or cut chilli and black soy sauce..”

It was as if she had the entire road map for the fish painted out already.. I could see the conviction in her eyes and saliva glands reacting..

Must be damn nice..