• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
A Day in the Kitchen
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • RECIPES
  • ABOUT
  • CONTACT
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • RECIPES
    • ABOUT
    • CONTACT
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Chinese » Chinese Poached Black Cod

    Chinese Poached Black Cod

    Published: Feb 4, 2019 · Modified: Jan 13, 2020 · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads.

    JUMP TO RECIPE

    Inspired by one of my favorite childhood dishes, Chinese poached black cod is a traditional Chinese way to prepare fish simply. It is full of flavor and delicious served with hot steamed rice.

    A black dish containing poached black cod with ginger and green onions

    The Chinese love their fish.

    And their preferred way of cooking fish is by either steaming or poaching.

    Not cut into sticks and breaded and fried. Not heavily battered...and fried.

    Moist-heat cooking methods are the way to go with many Chinese fish dishes...and with good reason! They're not only healthier, they're also delicious!

    Black Cod is one of my favorite dishes from when I was growing up. My mom steamed it, as she did with most fish she served us, but as I've happily discovered, poaching also works!

    Black cod is also known as sablefish or butterfish...and oddly enough, is not actually part of the cod family!

    If you've never had black cod, it is most similar to Chilean sea bass. It is a firm white fish, and when cooked, it is smooth, has a velvety texture, and melts in your mouth. They don't call it butterfish for nothing!

    This poached black cod is prepared and served in a traditional Chinese way. Flavored simply with julienned ginger, green onions, soy sauce, and sesame oil, it is one of the most basic and common ways to serve fish, whether at home or in Chinese restaurants.

    A dark round bowl containing white rice and poached black cod with ginger and green onions

    And while simple in ingredients and cooking method, it is rich on flavor...and comfort!

    There's nothing like a serving of this poached black cod on some white rice for a really good, satisfying home meal.

    A black dish containing filets of fish and strips of green onion and ginger for poached black cod

    I didn't appreciate all the ginger and green onions when I was younger. Much like my boys do now, I picked them all of so I could enjoy the "uncontaminated" fish with my rice! However, now I'm happy to say I really like how much flavor and texture the ginger and green onion add to the fish...my taste buds grew up!

    As I said, this was one of my favorite dishes growing up, and it still is. If you want to see and taste why the Chinese like to cook their fish by moisture-heat methods, this poached black cod is just what you need!

    ~ Lisa.

    Chinese Poached Black Cod

    A traditional Chinese way to prepare fish, this meal is simple and flavorful, and is one of my favorite childhood dishes.
    5 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Keyword: poached fish
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Makes: 6 servings
    Calories: 267kcal
    Author: Lisa from A Day in the Kitchen

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup water
    • 1 tbs light olive oil
    • 1 ½ lbs black cod (sablefish) filets cut into large pieces
    • 2-3 green onion stalks
    • 1 knob ginger, about the size of a small lemon
    • 2 tbs soy sauce (tamari for gluten-free)
    • 1 tbs sesame oil

    Instructions

    • If working with a whole side of fish, cut the fish into large pieces that will fit in a single layer in your pan.
    • Peel ginger and slice. Then julienne the slices. Set aside.
    • Chop green onions into 1-2" lengths. Set aside.
    • In large saucepan, heat water and light olive oil over medium heat.
    • Once water starts steaming, arrange fish pieces in a single layer in the pan.
    • Add ginger and reduce heat to a simmer and cover the pan. Cook for 5 minutes.
    • Add green onion to the pan replace lid; cook for another 5 minutes.
    • Add soy sauce and sesame oil to the poaching liquid and mix; spoon over the fish.
    • Transfer fish to a serving dish, ladling the sauce over the fish.
    • Serve with rice.

    Notes

    • This recipe will work with fish steaks.
    • Other fish that works well with this method is Chilean sea bass or halibut.
    • You can also steam the fish instead of poaching it, but skip adding water to the dish with the fish.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 267kcal
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @dayinthekitchen or tag #adayinthekitchen!

    If you make this poached black cod, share your photo on Facebook or Instagram and tag me @dayinthekitchen!


    You might also like:

    Broiled Miso Salmon Filets
    Broiled Miso Salmon Filets
    Poached Salmon Tobiko Bowls
    Poached Salmon Tobiko Rice Bowl
    Rice Cooker Chinese Sticky Rice
    Rice Cooker Chinese Sticky Rice

    Close-up of poached black cod filets with green onions and ginger

    This post was originally published on April 23, 2017, but was republished in Feburary 2019 with new photos, instructional photos, and updated written content.


    More Chinese

    • Black Bean Garlic Pork Belly Stir-fry
    • Steamed Egg & Minced Pork Patty
    • Savory Chinese Winter Solstice Soup
    • Almond Jello

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Comment Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Tweedy

      March 25, 2023 at 2:24 am

      5 stars
      Best fish recipe ever! Have ordered this in chinese/Japanese restaurants for big bucks and it is so easy and delicious to make at home. Thank you for sharing. I made it exactly as recommended and paired with rice and green beans with almonds. Mild butterly texture and flavor. Excellent for people who don’t like spicy anything. For people who want a kick like my hubby I added ‘slap your mama’ to the green beans.

      Reply
      • Lisa

        March 25, 2023 at 11:43 am

        Hi Tweedy! Thank you so much for making this recipe and for leaving a comment. I'm so glad you liked it!

        Reply
    2. Lindsay

      April 30, 2021 at 10:16 am

      5 stars
      This was definitely a win for my family! I made the recipe exactly as is, except that I needed a little less water, since my black cod had previously been frozen. I added 3 tbsp of soy sauce and 1 1/2 tbsp of sesame oil to make the flavor a little stronger. My filets weren't very thick, so it didn't take long to cook them. Everyone raved about how good this was! Will make this one again!

      Reply
      • Lisa

        April 30, 2021 at 4:49 pm

        That sounds great, Lindsay! Thanks for making the recipe and I'm glad everyone enjoyed it!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube

    Welcome to A Day in the Kitchen! This is your one stop kitchen for loads of easy gluten-free recipes for baking and cooking, as well as traditional home-cooked Chinese dishes! Whether you want to try gluten-free baking, are feeling nostalgic for Chinese dishes you had as a kid, or you simply want easy meal ideas, my kitchen cooks it all! It's a great day to cook!

    Read more...


    Quote for the Day

    "Cooking and baking is both physical and mental therapy."

    ~ Mary Berry.


    Never Miss A Recipe!


    Trending Recipes

    • Easy Homemade Sandwich Deli Meat
    • Cook Eggs In A Rice Cooker
      How To Cook Eggs In A Rice Cooker
    • Easy Iced Milk Tea
    • How To Peel and Cut A Mango
    • Japanese Butadon Pork Bowl with chopsticks
      Japanese Butadon Pork Bowls
    • Soft Homemade Gluten-Free Bread
    • Korean Sweet Potato Noodles (Japchae)
    • Pan-Fried Crispy Enoki Mushrooms

    Recently Posted!

    • Asian Pork and Shrimp Meatballs
    • Gluten-Free Blueberry Coffee Cake
    • Cold-Brewed Coffee Ice Cubes
    • Chocolate Peppermint Tea Latte

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us

    Related

    • A Day Out
    • A Day in the Life

    Never Miss A Recipe!

    A Day in the Kitchen participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you purchase any item from Amazon by clicking to their site via the affiliate link, it will cost the same to you, but I will receive a small commission.

    Copyright © 2022 A Day in the Kitchen.