Crispy Steamed Fish with Soy & Ginger

This crispy whole fish with soy, ginger, and spring onions is a light, flavourful dish that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner or elegant lunch. Gently cooked in the air fryer, the fish stays tender and juicy, while a sizzling soy dressing brings bold umami flavours and freshness to the plate.

Easy to prepare, beautifully presented, and packed with aromatic herbs and spices — it’s a crowd-pleasing favourite served with steamed rice and stir-fried greens.

Serves: 2–3 (with sides)
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 8–12 minutes
Appliance: Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 300–400 g whole fish of your choice
• 30 g fresh ginger
• 5 spring onions
• 15 g fresh coriander
• 60 ml vegetable or rapeseed oil
• 60 ml soy sauce
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp rice wine vinegar
• 1 red chilli, deseeded and thinly sliced

Serving suggestion:

• Stir-fried baby bok choy with garlic
• Steamed rice

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the fish
Choose a whole fish that fits in your air fryer basket. Ask your fishmonger to clean it (remove scales, gills, and fins).
Pat the fish dry inside and out with paper towels.

Step 2: Prepare the aromatics
Use the back of a teaspoon to peel the ginger, then cut into thin matchsticks. Trim the dark green tops off the spring onions and set aside. Thinly slice the remaining spring onions.
Stuff the fish with half of the ginger, the spring onion tops, and half the coriander.

Step 3: Cook the fish
Brush the outside of the fish with a little vegetable oil. Place it on a small piece of baking paper and into the Instant Vortex air fryer basket.
Select Air Fry, set temperature to 195°C, and time to 12 minutes.
Start checking after 9 minutes — the fish is done when the thickest part pulls away easily with a knife and the flesh is opaque.

Step 4: Make the soy dressing
While the fish cooks, place the remaining ginger and some spring onions in a heatproof bowl (reserve some for garnish).
Heat the vegetable oil in a saucepan until nearly smoking, then pour it over the bowl — it should sizzle. Stir in soy sauce, sugar, and rice wine vinegar.

Step 5: Finish and serve
Carefully remove the fish from the air fryer and transfer to a serving dish. Spoon over the hot soy dressing. Garnish with the remaining coriander, spring onions, and sliced chilli.
Serve immediately with rice and stir-fried bok choy.