Published Jul 29, 2009 Updated Sep 15, 2024
The Best Grilled Fish Recipe
I hail from Penang, a Malaysian island teeming with abundant fish caught off its shores, and among our many outstanding fish dishes, none surpasses the exquisite flavors of grilled fish, especially the ones grilled in banana leaves and marinated with sambal —a spice paste and marinade for fish. It’s spicy, aromatic, pungent, salty, sweet, with perfect balance of taste. Locally known as ikan bakar or ikan panggang, envision succulent grilled whole fish, delicately marinated in spices, then enveloped in banana leaves before being grilled or cooked to utter perfection! Just the thought of it has my taste buds dancing in anticipation. I developed this grilled fish recipe from scratch; it’s very accessible because it’s cooked in a pan on the stove top. If you have an outdoor grill, you can try spicy grilled fish. As it’s cooked indoor, your kitchen will be filled with the aroma of sizzling grilled fish wafted through the air, enticing the senses with its tantalizing flavors. This is the most authentic and best grilled fish recipe you will find online!
Banana Leaves For Cooking
In Southeast Asia, including countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, cooking with banana leaves is a cherished culinary tradition. Banana leaves aren’t just wraps; they work wonders when grilling fish. In these regions, large banana leaves serve as natural, eco-friendly wraps, imparting a special earthy aroma to a variety of foods. Using banana leaves when grilling fish also help prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom, and hence keeping the fish moist and tasty. As the fish cooks, the banana leaves release a lovely and charred aroma, adding a tropical twist to your dish. Presentation wise, banana leaves also make the grilled fish look rustic and authentic, enhancing the dining experience. Banana leave recipes include not only grilled fish and nasi lemak, but a variety of sweet treats such as onde-onde, pulut inti, and kuih bengka. Other than that, they are also used for serving food. I am a huge fan of banana leaves food; they are undoubtedly rustic and traditional compared to modern-day plastic boxes and shrink-wrapped foods.
Ingredients For Grilled Fish
My recipe is structured into three main steps: the fish, the marinade (sambal), and the grilled fish dipping sauce. For my grilled fish recipe, you will need the following ingredients:
Red or white snapper: There are two types of snapper—red and white. Both are excellent choices for grilling, with the difference lying in their color and appearance. For my recipe, I opted for white snapper. Banana leaves: They are used to wrap the fish and to serve the final finished dish.
Grilled Fish Marinade Ingredients
My grilled fish recipe calls for sambal, or Malaysian spice paste as the marinade. The sambal is made of:
Red Chilies – fresh red chilies are used in my sambal, giving it the freshest taste possible. Shallots Lemongrass Belacan – Malaysian shrimp paste. Fish Sauce – lends a deeper umami flavor to the sambal. Lime Juice Cooking Oil Salt Sugar
Grilled Fish Dipping Sauce Ingredients
Grilled fish is often served with a dipping sauce made with the following ingredients:
Red Chilies Shallots Belacan Tamarind pulp & water Sugar Salt
How To Make Grilled Fish Sambal
How To Cook Grilled Fish
Pro Tips: You can grill fish on an outdoor grill or use the stovetop for cooking. If you cannot find fresh or frozen banana leaves in your supermarket or food stores, you may grill fish using aluminum foil. I highly encourage you to give this grilled fish recipe a try. I’ve included a step-by-step picture guide in the post above for your convenience. I believe my late grandmother and parents would have been immensely proud of me if they had tasted my grilled fish recipe. It truly is exceptional!
What To Serve With This Recipe
For a complete Malaysian meal at home, I recommend the following recipes: I hope you enjoy this post as much as I do. If you try my recipe, please leave a comment and consider giving it a 5-star rating. For more easy and delicious recipes, explore my Recipe Index, and stay updated by subscribing to my newsletter and following me on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for new updates.
