Name: Stuffed Fish Steamed in Banana Leaf (Pinaputok na Isda)
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Cuisine: Filipino
Ingredients: Steamed white rice and Toyomansi (optional), for serving; 6 garlic cloves, 3 minced and 3 smashed; 1 in [2.5 cm] piece peeled fresh ginger, ½ grated and ½ thinly sliced; 4 banana leaves (see Tip); Freshly ground black pepper; Kosher salt; 1 long green chile, seeded and thinly sliced on the diagonal; 6 green onions, white and green parts, thinly sliced; 1 small handful fresh cilantro sprigs; ⅔ cup [110 g] cherry tomatoes, 4 halved, remaining quartered; One 3 lb [1.4 kg] whole snapper, cleaned and scaled, head and tail on

Preparation info

Yield:
4 to 6
servings

Difficulty
Easy
Ready in
45 min

Appears in

Islas

By Von Diaz

Published 2024

About

This showstopping whole fish dish is as beautiful as it is delicious. Typically served family style inside its banana-leaf wrapper, it’s a common centerpiece for a kamayan meal, a communal Filipino feast.

Ingredients

One 3 lb [1.4 kg] whole snapper, cleaned and scaled, head and tail on
4

Method

Rinse the fish inside and out with cold water and dry with paper towels. Make three shallow cuts, each about ½ in [13 mm] deep, into the thickest part of each side of the fish.

Using your gas stove or any other open flame, pass each banana leaf, one at a time, over the flame, moving constantly until they become soft and pliable. Do not put the leaves directly into the flame or they will