Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish

泰式鹽殼燒魚

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — finished dish

Total time: 55 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

A whole fish stuffed with lemongrass and lime leaf is grilled under a coarse salt crust.

01

Ingredients

Main ingredients

1 kg whole sea bass
500 g coarse salt
1 piece egg white
3 stalks lemongrass
5 leaves makrut lime leaves

Lime dipping sauce

3 tbsp lime juice
2 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp sugar
2 cloves garlic
2 pieces green chillies

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — ingredients

02

Tools

cutting board
knife
large bowl
grill
tongs

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — tools

03

Steps

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Gut and gill the fish but leave scales on; rinse and dry thoroughly

Step 1

Gut and gill the fish but leave scales on; rinse and dry thoroughly

Gut and gill the fish but leave scales on; rinse and dry thoroughly.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Mix lime juice, fish sauce and sugar until dissolved

Step 2

Mix lime juice, fish sauce and sugar until dissolved

Mix lime juice, fish sauce and sugar until dissolved.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Bruise lemongrass; mince garlic and chillies into the sauce

Step 3

Bruise lemongrass; mince garlic and chillies into the sauce

Bruise lemongrass; mince garlic and chillies into the sauce.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Stuff the fish cavity with lemongrass and lime leaves

Step 4

Stuff the fish cavity with lemongrass and lime leaves

Stuff the fish cavity with lemongrass and lime leaves.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Mix coarse salt with egg white until it clumps

Step 5

Mix coarse salt with egg white until it clumps

Mix coarse salt with egg white until it clumps.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Press an even thick salt crust onto both sides of the fish

Step 6

Press an even thick salt crust onto both sides of the fish

Press an even thick salt crust onto both sides of the fish.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Preheat a clean grill to medium heat

Step 7

Preheat a clean grill to medium heat

Preheat a clean grill to medium heat.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Grill the fish for 15 minutes without moving it repeatedly

Step 8

Grill the fish for 15 minutes without moving it repeatedly

Grill the fish for 15 minutes without moving it repeatedly.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Turn carefully and grill the other side for 15 to 20 minutes

Step 9

Turn carefully and grill the other side for 15 to 20 minutes

Turn carefully and grill the other side for 15 to 20 minutes.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Check the thickest part with a thermometer to ensure the fish is cooked

Step 10

Check the thickest part with a thermometer to ensure the fish is cooked

Check the thickest part with a thermometer to ensure the fish is cooked.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Rest three minutes, crack the salt crust and lift it away with the skin

Step 11

Rest three minutes, crack the salt crust and lift it away with the skin

Rest three minutes, crack the salt crust and lift it away with the skin.

Thai Salt-Crusted Grilled Fish — Serve the intact fish flesh with the lime sauce on the side

Step 12

Serve the intact fish flesh with the lime sauce on the side

Serve the intact fish flesh with the lime sauce on the side.

Common mistakes

Do not skip the doneness check or rush with excessive heat, which can burn the outside while leaving the centre undercooked.

Tips

Measure first and keep raw and cooked utensils separate; debone, reduce chilli and cut smaller for children or older adults.