mwl-logo

Made With Lau

Recipes

Our Family

Courses

Cookbook Newsletter

mwl-logo

Made With Lau

madewithlau.com

The Pan-fried Whole Fish My Dad's Made 100,000 Times

香煎全魚
Prep: 40 minCook: 15 minTotal: 55 minServes: 4

Ingredients

1 lbwhole fish
1 ozred pepper
1 ozred onion
1 ozwhite onion
0.50 ozshallot
3 clovegarlic
0.50 ozginger
2 piecesgreen onion
2 tbspcooking oil
2 tbspcooking wine
Sauce
1 tbspKikkoman® light soy sauce
1 tbspKikkoman® oyster sauce
1 tspKikkoman® tamari
1 tbspcooking wine
0.25 tspwhite pepper
1 tspsugar
1 tspsalt
3 tbspwater
0.50 tspcornstarch
3 tbspwater
Fish Seasoning
2 tspwhite pepper
0.50 tspsalt
2 tspcornstarch

Instructions

1
Cut ingredients

Dice red pepper (1 oz), red onion (1 oz), white onion (1 oz) + shallot (0.50 oz) into small pieces.

Trim the ends of garlic cloves (3 clove), cut into slices.

Cut ginger (0.50 oz) into small triangular pieces.

Cut green parts of green onion (2 pieces) into small pieces.

2
Make sauce

In a bowl, combine light soy sauce (1 tbsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp), dark soy sauce (1 tsp), cooking wine (1 tbsp), white pepper powder (0.25 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), salt (1 tsp) + water (3 tbsp).

In another bowl, create a cornstarch slurry with cornstarch (0.50 tsp) and water (3 tbsp).

3
Prep fish

With our whole fish (1 lb), use scissors to cut off pectoral fins, pelvic fins and dorsal fins.

Using a knife, make 4 to 5 angled cuts across the fish on both sides.

Sprinkle white pepper (2 tsp) powder all over the fish, including the cuts + inside of the fish. Repeat with salt (0.50 tsp), set aside.

4
Pan-fry fish

Heat wok on high heat. Coat both sides of fish with cornstarch (2 tsp).

When wok is hot enough, add oil (1 tbsp). Carefully lower fish into wok, sear bottom side for 2 mins on medium heat.

When bottom side has developed a nice crust, use spatula to flip fish onto other side, cook for another 2 mins. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting, add cooking wine (1 tbsp), immediately cover wok with lid.

Allow steam to finish cooking fish for 1 minute on medium-low heat.

Uncover wok, flip fish over, continue to cook on medium heat for a final 45 seconds.

Pick up fish with spatula, let excess oil drain before transferring onto serving plate.

5
Cook sauce

Heat wok on high, add oil (2 tbsp) when the wok is hot enough.

Reduce heat to medium, cook ginger, garlic + shallots until fragrant, about 45 secs.

Add both peppers + onions into wok, cook for 20 secs.

Increase heat to medium-high, add cooking wine (1 tbsp) + sauce, stir constantly for 30 secs.
Reduce heat to low, mix and pour the slurry into wok slowly while stirring constantly.

Cook until the consistency is your liking.

Pour the sauce over the fish, or transfer it to a bowl to add just before serving.

Recipe by Daddy Lau · 2× James Beard Award Winner · madewithlau.com
Pan-fried Whole Fish (香煎全魚)

The Pan-fried Whole Fish My Dad's Made 100,000 Times

香煎全魚
Prep
40 min
Cook
15 min
Total
55 min
Serves
4
Daddy Lau
By Daddy Lau · 2x James Beard Awards · 60+ years
Published Mar 2025 · Updated Mar 2025

Why this recipe

The story
Pan-fried Whole Fish (香煎全魚) — Daddy Lau
Daddy Lau

Most pan-fried whole fish recipes online are tested only a handful of times. My dad used to make this dish multiple times a day, every day, for 60+ years and can make this in his sleep.

This is a classic saucy Chinese whole fish, an appropriate showstopper for holidays and feasts!

Thank you, Kikkoman!

This recipe is brought to you in part by Kikkoman. My dad has been using Kikkoman flavors throughout his 50-year career as a chef, and it's a privilege to get to partner with them on such a popular recipe, Mongolian beef!

  • Kikkoman products are a major flavor enhancer and bring out the “umami” taste, and helps balance and round out flavors
  • Kikkoman® Less Sodium Soy Sauce is perfect for home cooks who are looking to cut down on their sodium levels, without sacrificing flavor
  • Kikkoman offers wide range of Gluten-Free Asian sauces, including Gluten-Free Oyster Sauce and Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce
  • The KikkomanUSA.com Chinese site offers easy Asian recipes that home cooks can enjoy any night of the week

You can learn more about Kikkoman and follow them on social media here:

  • Website: https://www.KikkomanUSA.com​
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KikkomanChineseUSA (Kikkoman 萬字在美)
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kikkomanusa_chinese/ (Kikkoman 萬字在美)

Ingredients

Serves4
Understanding Flavor
FUNDAMENTALS
Understanding Flavor
Dive Deeper →
Main Ingredients
1 lbwhole fish
1 ozred pepper
1 ozred onion
1 ozwhite onion
0.50 ozshallot
3 clovegarlic
0.50 ozginger
2 piecesgreen onion
2 tbspcooking oil
2 tbspcooking wine
Sauce
1 tbspKikkoman® light soy sauce
1 tbspKikkoman® oyster sauce
1 tspKikkoman® tamari
1 tbspcooking wine
0.25 tspwhite pepper
1 tspsugar
1 tspsalt
3 tbspwater
0.50 tspcornstarch
3 tbspwater
Fish Seasoning
2 tspwhite pepper
0.50 tspsalt
2 tspcornstarch

Instructions

5 steps · click any step to scrub ↑
1

Cut ingredients

Dice red pepper (1 oz), red onion (1 oz), white onion (1 oz) + shallot (0.50 oz) into small pieces.

Trim the ends of garlic cloves (3 clove), cut into slices.

Cut ginger (0.50 oz) into small triangular pieces.

Cut green parts of green onion (2 pieces) into small pieces.

The 10 Essential Cutting Techniques
LESSON 3.3
The 10 Essential Cutting Techniques
Dive Deeper →
2

Make sauce

In a bowl, combine light soy sauce (1 tbsp), oyster sauce (1 tbsp), dark soy sauce (1 tsp), cooking wine (1 tbsp), white pepper powder (0.25 tsp), sugar (1 tsp), salt (1 tsp) + water (3 tbsp).

In another bowl, create a cornstarch slurry with cornstarch (0.50 tsp) and water (3 tbsp).

3

Prep fish

With our whole fish (1 lb), use scissors to cut off pectoral fins, pelvic fins and dorsal fins.

Using a knife, make 4 to 5 angled cuts across the fish on both sides.

Sprinkle white pepper (2 tsp) powder all over the fish, including the cuts + inside of the fish. Repeat with salt (0.50 tsp), set aside.

4

Pan-fry fish

Heat wok on high heat. Coat both sides of fish with cornstarch (2 tsp).

When wok is hot enough, add oil (1 tbsp). Carefully lower fish into wok, sear bottom side for 2 mins on medium heat.

When bottom side has developed a nice crust, use spatula to flip fish onto other side, cook for another 2 mins. Reduce the heat to its lowest setting, add cooking wine (1 tbsp), immediately cover wok with lid.

Allow steam to finish cooking fish for 1 minute on medium-low heat.

Uncover wok, flip fish over, continue to cook on medium heat for a final 45 seconds.

Pick up fish with spatula, let excess oil drain before transferring onto serving plate.

5

Cook sauce

Heat wok on high, add oil (2 tbsp) when the wok is hot enough.

Reduce heat to medium, cook ginger, garlic + shallots until fragrant, about 45 secs.

Add both peppers + onions into wok, cook for 20 secs.

Increase heat to medium-high, add cooking wine (1 tbsp) + sauce, stir constantly for 30 secs.
Reduce heat to low, mix and pour the slurry into wok slowly while stirring constantly.

Cook until the consistency is your liking.

Pour the sauce over the fish, or transfer it to a bowl to add just before serving.

劉
Mini Masterclasses
“
His recipes aren't difficult: that's the beautiful part. But when I cook them, I can feel mine aren't quite there. What's missing isn't a recipe. It's the fundamentals.
”
Desmond F. · Mini Masterclass student
Mini Masterclasses are the fundamentals: the part that makes the recipes work.
100+ short video lessons from decades in a professional kitchen: wok heat, knife angles, the tastes you're listening for, how to fix a dish that isn't quite right.
What you're buying
What's inside — a peek at the lessons
6 of 100+ lessons. Free preview marked below.
Reading the wok: when it's hot enough8:42★ Free preview
Wok & heat
Reading the wok: when it's hot enough
Holding the cleaver, three ways6:18🔒 Locked
Knife skills
Holding the cleaver, three ways
Roast Duck11:05🔒 Locked
Exclusive Recipe
Roast Duck
Inside my dad's pantry7:30🔒 Locked
Ingredient Basics
Inside my dad's pantry
Wok Tossing 1015:24🔒 Locked
Fundamentals
Wok Tossing 101
Rice Noodle Rolls9:12🔒 Locked
Exclusive Recipe
Rice Noodle Rolls
Watch the first lesson free.
Drop your email and we'll send the full first lesson + three more sample clips. No card required.
Made With Lau
Mini Masterclasses, lifetime access
100+ video lessons·Never expires·Learn at your own pace
$99
one-time payment
”
“My Chinese cooking has improved by leaps and bounds. I'm now able to recreate my grandmother's recipes through fundamentals and taste memories alone. With Daddy Lau sharing tips from his years in the kitchen, if you listen carefully these tips speak volumes. The fundamentals that you will learn will be priceless.”
D
Desmond F.
Professional chef, 16 years · Singapore
”
“Not only is this THE place for me, a Hong Kong born Cantonese who grew up in Ireland, to relearn all the cooking skills my own Cantonese Mom and Dad taught me. The English translation has also allowed my non-Cantonese speaking, American-born kids to learn about this under-represented side of their heritage. Plus the results are always delicious!”
A
Ann Y.
Hong Kong-born, raised in Ireland
”
“Hearing Daddy Lau's voice brought back memories of my late grandparents who used to cook these meals for me. The Mini Masterclasses improved my cooking skills in various ways, from cutting techniques to preserving your groceries and controlling the heat of the wok. I highly recommend it to anyone, regardless of their experience level.”
S
Shirley P.
Parents from Guangzhou and Toisan · Chicago

The fundamentals you'll learn are priceless.

✓30-day money-back guarantee

Pairs well with

View all →
50 min

Longevity Noodles (三鮮伊面)

View recipe →
25 min

Ginger Scallion Spaghetti (薑蔥撈麵)

View recipe →
60 min

Plant-Based Meal (植物性餐點)

View recipe →

Made with love ❤️

The Lau Family

We started Made With Lau to celebrate Cantonese culture and honor the legacy of our wonderful parents, Jenny and Chung Sun Lau.

Our hope is that these recipes and stories help you spread the joy, love, and nostalgia that I felt growing up.

mwl-logoMade With Lau

A family-run Cantonese cooking project from Daddy Lau, Randy Lau, and a small team in the Bay Area.

Recipes
All recipesEasy weeknightsTakeout favoritesSoups & brothsDim sumNoodles
Learn
Mini masterclassesAll courses
About
Our familyCookbook (2027)ContactPrivacy
Made with ♥ in the Bay · © 2026 · Year of the Horse
YouTube · 1.78MInstagram · 412KTikTok · 891K