What do I prefer? Meat or fish? My answer is fish. I have been a seafood lover since I was young. The moments that I will never forget were those when my parents brought us to seafood restaurants. That was something that got me really excited when my parents told us, ‘Hurry up, go and get changed, we are going out for dinner at a seafood restaurant.’
The nearest coastal town from my hometown is about 30 minutes by car. Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis are both famous for seafood restaurants. Apart from that, both places are famous fishing ports in the Northwest of Malaysia and also the spots where you can take the ferry to go to Langkawi island. Every time we went to Kuala Perlis was not to take a ferry to go to Langkawi but to indulge in the freshest seafood we could get. It couldn’t have been better when my uncle got his own catch and brought it to the restaurant!
Fish, of course, you can cook in many ways. I have a few fish recipes posted on my blog. If you take a look again, I guess, you will notice that I like to steam fish as well as stir-fry. Steaming is the best way of tasting fish! This time around, I steamed my fish but in a slight different way. I used plaice fillets and rolled them with spinach. Pretty simple, but in this way, I have my portion of greens too, which is great!
Plaice wasn’t common to me when I came to the UK a few years ago. It’s a kind of flat fish, which is widely available here. There isn’t much flesh but its texture is really fine and almost melt in the mouth. Try plaice, it’s a great fish!
Recipe: Steamed Plaice & Spinach Rolls
Ingredients:
Place fillets (cut into halves to make smaller rolls), 2-3
Spinach (chopped), 60g – 80g
Oyster sauce, 1 tbsp
White pepper, to taste
Garlic (chopped), 1 clove
Vegetable oil, 1 tbsp
Coriander (to garnish), 1-2 sprig
Method:
1. Lay each fillet flat on a chopping board. Divide the spinach between each fillet. Portion the spinach in the middle of the fillet and roll it up. Secure with toothpick.
2. Arrange fillet rolls on a plate.
3. Mix oyster sauce, white pepper and sesame oil. Drizzle on each fillet roll.
4. Steam fillet rolls in the steamer for 10 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, heat up a pan. Put in oil and on low heat, slowly brown the chopped garlic.
6. Serve the rolls warm, drizzle with garlic and its oil and garnish with coriander.
Steamed Plaice & Spinach Rolls
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January 29th, 2010 at 2:23 am
Lee Mei, you naughty girl! You made me hungry right after eating breakfast! Sigh … give me those plaice rolls anytime. Like you, I am a seafood lover. And I must say, you're really creative. The dish looks restaurant quality!
January 29th, 2010 at 2:54 am
I love that first photograph and I love the clean and light flavors you have used here. We are trying to eat more fish and I think we are doing a pretty good job.This recipe will definitely be tested in my kitchen!!!
January 29th, 2010 at 6:07 am
mmmm I agree! Plaice is very lovely.
Not much flesh but you'll savour it ever the more. Beautiful dish!
January 29th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Wow..to me this seems to be a very refreshing dish… I love the colour… Although I am not sure whether can we find Plaice in Sg… but mb I can try it out by using some other fish fillet
It's really a very quick and easy dish for working mum like us, thanks for sharing… 
January 29th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Is there other name for Plaice? Never heard of this before.
I used to be neutral to meat and fish but for the past years, my taste buds have definitely attuned to seafood.
…I just did a "meat" post cos I realized my blog has been meatless for the past week :O
January 29th, 2010 at 10:05 am
This recipe looks delicious. I try to eat more fish and I'm a spinach maniac, therefore I will give this one a go soon!
I love the first photo, the background gives it a special feeling.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Same here.. just love seafood… dont think I've come across plaice here, alternative?
January 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Sorry that I made you hungry.. ops… hehe.. thanks for your compliment.. I am blushing already…
January 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Thanks!
Let me know once you try.. it's really simple
January 29th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Thanks! Yeah, Plaice hasn't got much flesh but it's really a nice fish.
January 29th, 2010 at 10:44 pm
Thanks!
You can use any kind of white fish fillets, as long as they are thin enough so that it would be easier to roll.
I always love quick dish to feed my hungry tummy after work.. hehe..
January 29th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
Well, I think there's one similar flat fish, which is lemon sole, which can be a great substitute for plaice.
I don't eat meat (as in red) that often, probably twice a week.. other than that, I eat mostly vegs, chicken, fish…
January 29th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Yeah, give it a go, it's really simple and tasty. Fish is good and I think spinach goes pretty good with fish and seafood overall.
Thanks for your compliment, that encourages me to do better next time!
January 29th, 2010 at 10:48 pm
Hey!! I am sure you get lots of seafood in OZ. If can't find plaice, lemon sole is great too. If not, try any type of white fish and make sure the fillet is thin enough so that it's easier to roll.
January 30th, 2010 at 10:36 am
I've eaten plaice quite a few times (always steamed), and I love it. Never thought of rolling it up with spinach, will have to do this next time!
Beautiful photos as always.
January 30th, 2010 at 12:55 pm
Wow – so simple and yet so tasty. Like you i think that steaming fish is the best way to keep the flavour as fresh as possible (other than eating it raw sashimi style at least) and the spinach would complement plaice very well. Both are simple clean flavours. Great photos too!
January 30th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
That's gorgeous! Love the presentation. To be honest, I'm a meat person but I don't mind fish every now and then.
January 30th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Good post… I’m always on the lookout for good blogs.
January 31st, 2010 at 7:16 am
Lee Mei,
This fish dish looks so lovely and easy to prepare. I am impressed that the spinach stay wonderfully green after steaming.
Gotta to try this.
As usual, fantastic photography.
January 31st, 2010 at 9:17 am
That's soooo pretty ! You make it sooo simple ! I like your combinations fish and spinach all in one.
January 31st, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I steamed fish most of the time because it's simple and healthy. But lately the prices for some of the fish (ie ma yau) are sky-rocketed. Not sure why. Maybe it's due to the festive season. Your combination of plaice and spinach looks interesting! A great way to have green too. Love the shots!
January 31st, 2010 at 3:36 pm
Su-yin,
Tell me what you think once you get to try this recipe.
Thanks! I think a delicate fish like plaice is great to steam.
January 31st, 2010 at 3:38 pm
Definitely.. steamed fish is always my fav and it's simple too. Sashimi is also my fav.. with wasabi and soya sauce.. yum.. hehe.
Thanks for your compliment!
January 31st, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Thanks!
I am more of a seafood person but I like meat from time to time too..
January 31st, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Hi,
Thanks for your compliment. This dish is really easy to prepare and it suits me when I don't have much time to spend in the kitchen. Let me know what you think once you've tried.
January 31st, 2010 at 3:41 pm
It is really simple.. hehe..
January 31st, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Yup.. totally agree, steamed fish is the most healthy way. I think I have tried ma yau before and think that it's great fish! I definitely think because it's near to festive season that's why there's price increase. It's always like this.
Thanks for your compliment.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:42 am
This recipe sure looks good. Simple plating but delicate to the taste buds. Lovely!
February 1st, 2010 at 12:21 pm
That is the best way to cook fish, I wish I was growing up so closed to the coast
Beautiful photos as usual
February 1st, 2010 at 7:31 pm
My parents love steamed fish, guess that's how I learn to love it.
The advantage of living near to the coast is you can get inexpensive fresh seafood… *drooling*.. heeh
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 am
I've never tried to combine spinach and fish. Sounds and looks good ! Will give it a try with local fish soon.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:05 am
Your photographs are stunning! I, too, prefer the freshness of fish and this recipe sounds particularly pleasing.
February 2nd, 2010 at 12:30 am
This is so elegantly prepared and photographed.
February 2nd, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Yup… give it a go!
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Thanks for your comment! You'll love this recipe.
February 2nd, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Thanks!
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:50 am
This is simply healthy and yummy!
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:48 pm
Are you from Perlis or Kedah?
February 4th, 2010 at 6:52 am
I love seafood a lot and this dish is going to be a hit for me. I think this is the best way to cook fish. Thanks for sharing!
February 4th, 2010 at 8:30 am
Your food is always so beautifully styled and captured. I love fish and it's great to cook it at home because you know it's really fresh.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Thanks for your compliment.. Yeah, love steamed fish and fresh fish always makes the fish stands out.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Thanks Alice!
February 4th, 2010 at 7:40 pm
I am from Kedah
February 6th, 2010 at 4:20 am
What an interesting way to steam fish. I eat fish twice a week. I am a seafood lover. This is a new twist to cook fish. I got to try it. I hope we have plaice fillet here in California.
February 6th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Hi,
You eat frequently, that's great! If you can't find plaice, try lemon sole.
February 9th, 2010 at 8:49 am
Very elegant meal you have there! I love seafood and fish too especially when it's served as beautifully as this!
February 9th, 2010 at 10:03 pm
Thank you!
February 9th, 2010 at 9:53 pm
It is definitely the best way to cook fish!
February 28th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Brilliant and elegant dish. It's light, fresh and vibrant. Wonderful photography as always.
February 28th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by mycookinghut: Love fish, love Plaice.. try this: http://www.mycookinghut.com/2010/01/28/steamed-plaice-spinach-rolls/ http://bit.ly/coKf9P...
March 1st, 2010 at 9:40 pm
Thanks for your comment, Divina.