Steaming is one of the simplest ways to cook, and one I come back to often. It keeps the fish and bok choy tender and the flavors clean, with ginger, scallions, and a light tamari-based sauce adding a savory finish. It’s a method that’s been used for generations, and for a good reason—it really lets the ingredients shine.
Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger and Bok Choy
4
Prep time:
10 min
Cook time:
10 min
Ingredients
- 4 (5-ounce) fillets sustainably caught Mediterranean sea bass (branzino)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 heads bok choy, halved
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup gluten-free tamari
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 (2-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and julienned
- 1 bunch scallions, whites thinly sliced, greens julienned into 2-inch pieces
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves with soft stems
- 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- Chili oil, for serving (optional)
- Cooked brown rice, for serving (optional)
Method
Step 1
Season the sea bass fillets with the salt.
Step 2
Fill a heavy bottomed pan with a lid with 1½ to 2 inches water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Add the bok choy, halved sides up. Cover and cook for 2 minutes. Place the fillets on top of the bok choy, cover, and steam until the fish is opaque, about 4 minutes.
Step 3
In a small bowl, combine the water, tamari, and mirin. Heat the sesame oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ginger and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant. Add the white parts of the scallions and continue cooking for 1 minute. Add the remaining julienned scallions, half of the cilantro, and the tamari mixture and cook until the scallion greens and cilantro are wilted, about 30 seconds.
Step 4
Carefully remove the steamed fish from the pan and plate with some bok choy. Pour the sauce over the steamed fish. Sprinkle the remaining cilantro and toasted sesame seeds over the fish. Drizzle with chili oil and serve in bowls with brown rice if you like.
Nutritional Analysis Per Serving (w/o rice):
Calories: 240 Total Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Fiber: 2g, Protein: 30g, Carbohydrates: 9g, Sodium: 820mg, Sugars: 3g, Net Carbs: 7g
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What if supporting your protein intake was as simple as taking something once a day, the same way you would a multivitamin? That’s how I think about Perfect Amino. It provides essential amino acids in a form your body can use efficiently, supporting what you’re already doing with food.
As we get older, the body becomes less efficient at using protein, a concept known as anabolic resistance. In simple terms, the same meal that worked for you years ago may not have the same impact today. Getting enough essential amino acids helps support muscle maintenance, recovery, and overall function.
I focus on real, whole foods first—but this is a simple way to stay consistent when routines aren’t perfect.
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