Thai-Style Crispy Basa With Tamarind Sauce

Add your basa fillet[s] to a plate and drizzle your soy sauce all over, turn the fish several times until all the soy sauce has been absorbed

Sprinkle your cornflour all over and rub it into both sides of the fish until fully coated, then set aside for later – this is your coated basa

Tip: Coat the fish in the cornflour one side at a time to avoid stickiness!

Peel and finely slice your shallot[s]

Peel and finely chop (or grate) your garlic

Chop half your red chilli[es] into rounds, then chop the remaining chilli finely

Add your white long grain rice and 400ml [600ml] [800ml] cold water to a pot with a lid and bring to a boil over a high heat

Once boiling, reduce the heat to very low and cook, covered, for an initial 12 min

Meanwhile, boil half a kettle

Heat a large, wide-based pan (preferably non-stick) with a very generous drizzle of vegetable oil (enough to cover the base of the pan) over a medium-high heat

Once hot, add the coated basa and cook for 8-9 min, turning once halfway until golden, crisp and cooked through – this is your Thai-style crispy basa

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

While the fish is cooking, combine your tamarind paste, fish sauce, 2 tsp [3 tsp] [4 tsp] sugar and 150ml [200ml] [260ml] boiled water – this is your tamarind stock

Once the rice has had an initial 12 min, trim, then add your green beans to the pot

Cook, covered, for a further 5-8 min or until all the water has absorbed and the rice and green beans are cooked

Once done, remove the pot from the heat and keep covered until serving

Heat a separate pot with a drizzle of vegetable oil over a medium heat

Once hot, add the sliced shallot, chopped garlic and chopped chilli (can't handle the heat? Go easy!) and cook for 1 min

Add the tamarind stock, bring to the boil and cook for 4-5 min or until thickened slightly – this is your tamarind sauce

Chop your coriander roughly, including the stalks

Trim, then slice your spring onion[s] finely