Steamed Cantonese Whole Fish

When I taught a class at the Gourmandise School in Santa Monica recently, I decided to teach my students how to make my mother’s Steamed Cantonese Whole Fish recipe. Whole sea bass or red snapper is marinated in fermented black beans and classic Chinese seasonings and then steamed to perfection. Steaming is the purest way to cook fresh fish—and after making it, you’ll see why. It turns out tender and flaky, and the sweet and delicate flavor of the fish shines through. In fact, one student d