The waters of the Necluda Sea are rich with a variety of fish, as are the many lakes and rivers that wind through Hyrule. In the seaside village of Lurelin, fishing is more than a livelihood, it’s also a way of life. Over generations, Lurelin’s fishermen and cooks have learned not just how to catch fish, but how to prepare them in ways that let their natural flavors shine.
Steamed Fish is one such preparation. Using aromatic greens and vegetation native to the nearby Faron region, a whole fish is gently wrapped and steamed until the flesh is moist, tender, and delicately seasoned by the herbs themselves. It’s a simple dish, built on knowledge of the fish and respect for the ingredient. It’s the kind of meal you’d expect to find in Lurelin. It’s unassuming at first glance, but deeply satisfying, and definitely not to be missed when visiting this seaside paradise.
"A refined dish made by wrapping a fresh fish in fragrant wild greens and cooking it."
To bring this dish to life, we’ll be taking an approach very similar to the fisherman of Lurelin. We will be wrapping the fish with banana leaves for flavors, but we will also be stuffing the fish with additional flavorings as well as adding a finishing sauce. The fish will be stuffed with ginger, garlic, green onion and cilantro before being fully wrapped. After steaming, a sauce of soy sauce, lime and aromatic oil will be used to annoint the fish, adding additional flavor. Simple, light, and delicious. This dish is perfect for sharing at sunset on the beaches of Lurelin, gathered around a fire with bowls of Hylian rice.
Ingredients
1 whole tilapia (or other white fish, such as rockfish, bass, snapper, cod, or grouper), gutted and scaled (about 1–1.5 lbs)
3 slices fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 stalk green onion, chopped
3-4 sprigs of fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper
2-3 banana leaves or large green leaves (for steaming and serving)
Vegetable oil
1 whole tilapia (or other white fish, such as rockfish, bass, snapper, cod, or grouper), gutted and scaled (about 1–1.5 lbs)
3 slices fresh ginger
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 stalk green onion, chopped
3-4 sprigs of fresh cilantro
Salt and pepper
2-3 banana leaves or large green leaves (for steaming and serving)
Vegetable oil
Finishing sauce:
¼ cup light soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 slice ginger, julienned
1 green onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup light soy sauce
1 tbsp lime juice
¼ cup vegetable oil
1 slice ginger, julienned
1 green onion, thinly sliced
Rinse the tilapia and pat dry. Season the inside cavity and outside with salt and pepper. Stuff the cavity with garlic, ginger, green onion, and cilantro.
Lay a banana leaf on the steamer insert. Lightly brush the surface with neutral oil to prevent sticking. Place the stuffed fish on the leaf, and then wrap it loosely around the fish creating a sealed packet to hold in flavor and moisture while allowing steam to circulate. Use a second leaf if need be to help create a full seal.
Fill a steamer pot with one to two inches of water, and bring the water in the steamer pot to a boil. Place the steamer insert with the fish atop the pot, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and steam the fish for 12-15 minutes. The fish is done when the flesh flakes easily and the eyes turn opaque. You can carefully open a part of the banana leaf packet to check the fish.
Now we will make the sauce for the fish. In a small pan, warm ¼ cup vegetable oil over low-medium heat. Add the ginger and green onion, and sauté for approximately two minutes, until aromatic (do not brown). Remove the oil from the heat and strain the oil into a bowl through a metal strainer to remove the solids. Stir the soy sauce and lime juice into the oil to make a smooth finishing liquid.
When the fish is finished, carefully unwrap the banana leaves and transfer the steamed fish to a serving plate lined with a fresh banana leaf (cut to match the leaf in the game photo, if desired). Pour the finishing sauce and aromatic oil evenly over the fish.
The fish is ready to serve. I recommend serving portions of the fish with bowls of rice.
Learn more about the Steamed Fish dish from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom at Zelda Dungeon.