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dinner · dairy-free

Squirrel fish

Suzhou's scored, deep-fried whole fish that blooms like a squirrel's tail, glazed in tomato sweet-sour sauce.

Time
60min
Steps
5
Squirrel fish, photographed from above

Ingredients

4 servings

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Allergens

Contains wheat, soy, tree nuts and fish.

Worked out from the ingredient names, so it can miss what a brand adds or what a factory handles. Swaps change it too. Always read the labels, and if an allergy is serious, check every product. Allergies, food safety and our disclaimer.

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    Equipment

    You'll need: Deep pot for frying.

    Helpful, not essential: Kitchen thermometer.

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    Method

    1. 1

      Remove backbone, keeping the tail; score flesh deeply in a diamond pattern without cutting the skin.

    2. 2

      Season, then coat thoroughly in cornstarch, opening the cuts.

    3. 3

      Fry at 190°C (375°F), holding the tail, until crisp and curled and the fish reaches 63°C (145°F).

    4. 4

      Cook the sauce with peas and bamboo; thicken.

    5. 5

      Pour the sizzling sauce over the fish; top with pine nuts.

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