Shad Fish Steamed in Honey Wine

Ingredients

• 1 whole fish shad (鰣魚)
• honey wine (蜜酒)
• oil
• light soy sauce (清醬)
• rice wine (酒釀)

Instructions

1. The finest preparation of shad employs the method for treating刀魚 (sword-tail fish): steam the whole fish in honey wine.
2. Alternatively, pan-fry it in oil, then add light soy sauce and rice wine — this method too yields excellence.
3. Above all, do not cut the fish into small fragments and stew it in chicken stock. Neither should one discard the back and use only the belly — such practices destroy the true essence of the fish's flavor entirely.