General Tso's Basa With Rice And Broccoli

Preheat the oven to 180°C/ 160°C (fan)/ gas 4

Add your white long grain rice to a pot with a lid with 225ml [300ml] [450ml] cold water and bring to the boil over a high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for 12-15 min or until all the water has absorbed and the rice is cooked, then remove from the heat and set aside (lid on) to steam until serving

Whilst the rice is cooking, cut your broccoli into small florets

Cut piece of tin foil (or two!) approx. the size of A3 paper

Lay the broccoli florets in the middle with your toasted sesame oil, 1 tbsp [1 1/2 tbsp] [2 tbsp] water and a pinch of salt and add to a baking tray

Scrunch the edges of the foil around the broccoli to form sealed parcel[s]

Put the tray in the oven for 15 min or until tender

Whilst the broccoli is cooking, peel and finely chop (or grate) your garlic

Peel (scrape the skin off with a teaspoon) and finely chop (or grate) your ginger

Combine 1/2 tsp per person cornflour (save the rest for later!), your soy sauce and 3 tbsp [4 tbsp] [5 tbsp] cold water in a bowl and stir it all together

Add your Chinese rice wine and honey and give everything a good mix up – this is your honey sauce

Cut your basa fillet[s] into bite-sized pieces and add them to a bowl, add the remaining cornflour and give everything a good mix up until the basa is fully coated

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a very generous drizzle of vegetable oil over a high heat, once hot, add the coated basa and cook for 3-4 min on each side or until golden – this is your golden basa

Tip: Cooking for 3 or more? You may need to do this in batches!

Once the basa is golden, transfer it to a plate and set aside for later

Tip: Your fish is cooked when it turns opaque and flakes easily

Carefully pour away most of the oil and return the pan to a medium heat

Add the chopped garlic, chopped ginger and your chilli flakes (can't handle the heat? Go easy!) and cook for 1-2 min or until fragrant

Once fragrant, add the honey sauce and cook for 1-2 min or until thick and sticky

Once the sauce has thickened, return the golden basa to the pan and give everything a good mix up

Cook for 1-2 min further or until the basa is fully coated – this is your General Tso's basa