Sweet and Savory Braised Mero Fish
[Mero Fish Recipe] Super Simple Mero Fish Braised in Soy Sauce – A Hit with Kids!
I received some delicious mero fish and first tried making it as a steak, but my kids weren’t fans. Pondering how to prepare it, I came up with a simple soy sauce braised mero dish. To my delight, they absolutely loved the chewy texture and the sweet and savory sauce! It’s a perfect side dish for children’s meals.
Ingredients- 1 piece of Mero cheek meat (approx. 150-200g)
- 3 Tbsp Soy Sauce
- 3 Tbsp Sugar (or Corn Syrup)
- 1 Tbsp Plum Extract
- 1 Tbsp Oyster Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Mirin or Rice Wine
- 10 Tbsp Water
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the delicious braising sauce. In a bowl, combine 3 Tbsp soy sauce, 3 Tbsp sugar (you can substitute with corn syrup if you prefer it sweeter!), 1 Tbsp plum extract, 1 Tbsp oyster sauce, 2 Tbsp mirin or rice wine, and 10 Tbsp water. Mix well until the sugar is dissolved. Having the sauce ready beforehand makes the cooking process much smoother.
Step 2
The cut of mero I used is ‘mero cheek meat.’ It was a piece about the size of my palm. Before cooking, make sure to thaw any frozen mero. Pat it dry with paper towels and let it thaw in the refrigerator or at room temperature. Cooking it while fresh is key.
Step 3
To remove any potential fishy odor, you can soak the thawed mero in rice water for about 10 minutes. If you don’t have rice water, you can use lightly salted cold water, or simply skip this step. Mero fish itself is quite mild and not very fishy. Cut the drained mero into bite-sized cubes, similar to dicing.
Step 4
Now, let’s start cooking, and it’s incredibly simple! Place the cubed mero pieces in a wide pan. Pour all the pre-mixed sauce over the fish. You don’t need to sear or stir-fry the fish separately; it will cook directly in the sauce.
Step 5
Heat the pan over medium heat. The sauce will start to bubble and simmer. At this point, the delicious flavors will begin to infuse into the mero fish as it cooks. Cooking it gently over medium heat, rather than high heat, helps maintain the tender texture of the fish.
Step 6
As the sauce thickens, use a spoon or ladle to baste the mero pieces with the simmering sauce. Repeating this a few times ensures the soy sauce flavor is evenly distributed, making the fish even tastier. Once the sauce has reduced to your liking and the fish is glossy, your braised mero is ready!
Step 7
Voila! Your delicious-looking Mero Soy Sauce Braise is complete. Even without added vegetables, the combination of chewy texture and sweet-savory sauce is outstanding. My kids, who usually shy away from fish, devoured this dish, eating it with their rice. It makes a fantastic side dish!
Step 8
This braised mero is delicious served warm, but it also tastes great when cooled, making it perfect for packed lunches. The balance of salty and sweet, along with the fish’s chewy yet tender texture, is truly captivating. Plus, with very few bones, it’s easy and safe for children and elders to enjoy! If you ever have the chance to try mero, especially if you’re sensitive to fishy smells, I highly recommend this dish as a delightful treat!