Good news!
New mummies may eat sea bass during their confinement period. But they do need to control their consumption of it.
This fish is rich in protein which can help quicken your recovery process after giving birth. It also has fatty acids like docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can help to improve your newborn’s brain development if you are breastfeeding your baby.
Sea bass is also a great source of vitamins and minerals which are great for your postpartum body.
Nevertheless, this fish contains high levels of mercury—which isn’t good for your general health. So, you may want to limit the amount of your consumption.
Preparation
Make sure to always prepare your fish properly before consumption, mummies! Never miss out on either of these four steps prior: Scaling, trimming, gutting and filleting.
- Scaling – You need to use the back of your knife or a fish scaler to remove the scales.
- Trimming – Trim the fin part of the fish.
- Gutting – Make sure to remove the guts. Just cut the stomach open and remove it carefully.
- Filleting– Well, you may skip this step as it depends on both how you want to cook your fish and your knife skills. So, you may want to ask your local fishmonger to prepare it for you. This would save more time, making it easier for you. Plus, most of our local dishes do not require us to fillet a fish.
Preservation
You need to wash it properly with water and dry it with a paper towel. Then, put it in an airtight container because it may cause an odour in the refrigerator, if it’s not properly sealed. Put it in your refrigerator to ensure it does not rot.
Top Sea Bass Recipes for Your Confinement
Sea Bass Soup with Shiitake Mushrooms
Shiitake mushroom is great source of protein and amino acids which can help you to quicken your postpartum recovery. Plus, it can also boost your breast milk production.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 250 g sea bass
- 3 shiitake mushrooms
- 5 g wood ear fungus
- 15 ml rice wine
- 10 g green onions
- 3 slices ginger
- 5 g salt
- Appropriate amount of cooking oil
Instructions
- Wash the shiitake mushrooms thoroughly and cut it into half. Soak wood ear fungus in water until pliable, remove from water and dice it up.
- Remove the guts from the sea bass, rinse and wipe down the fish.
- Heat up the pan with an appropriate amount of cooking oil, pan fry both side of the sea bass.
- Add the ginger slices and sauté until fragrant.
- Add 500ml of water and rice wine, bring it to a boil.
- Close the lid, and let it cook for 10 minutes under low heat.
- Add the shiitake mushrooms and wood ear fungus in when the broth starts to turn whitish.
- Season it with salt and garnish with a sprinkle of green onions before serving.
Sea Bass Soup with Chinese Cabbage
Do you want a simple sea bass dish for your confinement meal? Worry not! We have the best sea bass soup with Chinese cabbage recipe here just for you.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 1 sea bass
- 2 stubs Chinese cabbage
- 3 slices ginger
- 5 g salt
- 15 ml cooking oil
- 10 g wolfberry
- 15 ml rice wine
Instructions
- Remove the guts and scales from the sea bass, rinse and dry the fish.
- Wash the Chinese cabbage thoroughly before removing the stem and cut it into half.
- Heat up the pan with cooking oil, pan fry both sides of the sea bass until yellowish. Add in the ginger slices, rice wine and 600ml water, then bring it to a boil. Once it is boiled, turn down the heat and let it simmer until the broth turns whitish.
- Add the Chinese cabbage in and cook it for 10 mins before adding the wolfberry and salt. Then, cook it for another 3 minutes before serving.
Sea Bass Milk Soup
Calling out all new mummies to try out our special sea bass milk soup recipe! It's very nourishing and delicious which are great for new mummies' palettes.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 1 sea bass
- 50 g soybeans
- 5 slices ginger
- 5 g star anise
- 5 g salt
- 5 g pepper
- 15 ml cooking oil
Instructions
- Remove the guts and scales from the sea bass, rinse and clean the fish dry.
- Heat up the pan with cooking oil, pan fry the sea bass together with the ginger slices, then add 600ml of water and bring it to a boil.
- Add the soybeans and star anise in, simmer it until the sea bass is cooked thoroughly and the broth turns whitish.
- Season it with salt and pepper before serving.
Sea Bass and Wild Rice Stem Soup
Sea bass and wild rice stem make quite a great pair! Sea bass is a high source of protein, making it easier for your body to heal its wounds, while the wild rice stem can help improve bone health, which is an issue many pregnant mothers face.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 200 g wild rice stems
- 250 g sea bass
- 100 g tomatoes
- 50 g wood ear fungus
- 10 g scallions sliced
- 3 slices ginger
- 5 ml cooking oil
- 5 ml rice wine
- salt
Instructions
- Clean the sea bass thoroughly, and make sure to remove any excess water by patting it dry. Set aside.
- Peel the wild rice stems. Once done, chop into pieces. Wash and rinse the tomatoes and wood ear fungus, then cut into pieces.
- In a pan, heat up some cooking oil. Pan-fry both sides until it is golden brown.
- Add the scallions and ginger slices and sauté until fragrant.
- Throw in the chopped wild rice stems, tomatoes and wood ear fungus, stir-fry well.
- Add 500ml of water and rice wine (optional), and bring it to a boil.
- Turn down the heat after and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Serve hot.
Sea Bass Bamboo Shoots and Pickled Cabbage Soup
Do try out our sea bass bamboo shoots and picked cabbage soup recipe. It has many nutrients which can help with your recovery after giving birth.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 30 g winter bamboo shoots
- 30 g pickled cabbage
- 30 g belly meat
- 1/2 sea bass
- 10 g scallions
- 3 ginger sliced
- 5 ml cooking oil
- 5 ml cooking wine
- 5 g pepper
- 5 g salt
- 5 ml sesame oil
Instructions
- Remove the guts and scales from the sea bass, rinse and wipe down the fish.
- Wash the winter bamboo shoots, blanch it in hot water and cut into slices.
- Wash the pickled cabbage and dice it up.
- Wash the meat belly and cut into slices.
- Heat up the pan with cooking oil, pan fry both sides of the sea bass until golden brown.
- Add in the ginger slices, winter bamboo shoots slices, diced pickled cabbage, meat belly slices and scallions, then stir-fry under high heat.
- Add 500ml of water and let it simmer for 15 minutes. Turn up the heat, add cooking wine, pepper, salt and sesame oil, bring it to a boil before serving.
Sea Bass Soup with Chinese Angelica Slices and Astralagus
This soup, featuring sea bass that's full of proteins, and Chinese angelica slices as well as astralagus, can be a great tonic for your confinement time.
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 20 g Chinese angelica sliced
- 1/2 sea bass
- 10 g wolfberry
- 20 g astragalus
- 10 g ginger sliced thinly
- 15 g salt
- 5 ml cooking wine (optional)
Instructions
- Clean the sea bass and remove excess water by patting dry with paper towels. Slice open the back of the fish. Then, coat the fish thoroughly with salt. Leave it to marinate for 15 minutes.
- Wash and cut the Chinese Angelica slices and wolfberries. Set aside.
- In a pot filled with plain water, add the Chinese Angelica slices, wolfberries, astralagus, and Chinese cooking wine (optional). Bring water to a boil, and then turn down the heat. Let the soup simmer for 25 minutes.
- Stuff sea bass with shredded ginger, and add it into the cooking pot with the broth. Bring it to a boil again. Then, turn down the heat again and let it simmer for another 35 minutes.
- Once ready, season it with salt to taste. Serve hot.
Noodles with Bamboo Shoot and Sea Bass Head Soup
Running out of ideas on what to cook for your confinement meal? Don't worry; here's a delicious recipe for you to try: a nice warm bowl of noodles, accompanied by sea bass head, and bamboo shoots!
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 100 g soft tofu
- 1 sea bass head
- 60 g winter bamboo shoot
- 50 g rice vermicelli noodles
- 5 ml vinegar
- 3 slices ginger
- 10 g scallions
- sugar to taste
- salt to taste
- 5 g pepper
- 10 g coriander
- 5 ml rice wine optional
- 5 ml cooking oil
Instructions
- Start by washing fish head thoroughly, before chopping into smaller chunks. Immediately wipe it down with a paper towel.
- Cut a block of soft tofu into thick slices. Set aside.
- Clean winter bamboo shoots and cut into smaller pieces.
- In a pan, heat up cooking oil. Pan fry the fish head until the skin is golden brown.
- Add the ginger slices and sauté until fragrant.
- Add water and bring it to a boil. Add tofu, rice vermicelli noodles, bamboo shoots, rice wine, and vinegar into the pot. Close the lid, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Once broth is a whitish colour, add green onions and coriander. Season with salt, sugar, and pepper again. Serve hot.
Sea Bass Brown Rice Porridge
Calling all porridge lovers! You might want to try out this sea bass brown rice porridge during your postpartum period - it is very finger-licking good yet healthy!
Servings 1
Ingredients
- 50 g brown rice
- 50 g sea bass
- 10 g carrot
- 10 g green peas
- 5 ml sesame oil
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Properly clean and fillet sea bass.
- Wash and peel carrot, and then dice into small pieces. Set aside.
- Wash green peas, and toss to remove excess water. Then, mash until it turns into paste. Set aside.
- Wash brown rice and soak in water for 12 hours.
- Once it is time to cook, put the rice and all the ingredients into a rice cooker. Add some additional water, and wait for it to cook.
- Once cooked, ladle desired amount into a bowl, and add all the other ingredients. Serve hot.
Notes
Brown rice is rich in vitamin E that can promote blood circulation, maintain sufficient oxygen in the brain, and ensure that the baby's brain functions operate normally. Nuts such as cashews, chestnuts, walnuts, etc. are good sources of vitamin E.
Sea Bass, Kelp and Tofu Soup
This soup is great for those who love the flavours of the sea! Paired with soft and bouncy tofu pieces, this soup will fix your seafood cravings very quick!
Servings 1 People
Ingredients
- 1 sea bass fish head
- 150 g tofu
- 50 g kelp
- 5 ml cooking wine optional
- 10 g scallions
- 3 slices ginger
- 10 g coriander
- salt to taste
- 5 ml vinegar
- 5 ml bala oil
Instructions
- Clean the sea bass fish head thoroughly, and split it into half. Set aside.
- Cut a block of soft tofu into pieces, and set aside.
- Soak kelp in some water to rehydrate it.
- In a pan, add cooking oil. Pan fry both sides of the sea bass fish head until it is golden brown.
- Sauté the ginger slices and scallions until fragrant. Add 500ml of water, vinegar and bring it to boil. Once boiled, turn down the heat and let it simmer.
- Once the broth starts to turn whitish, add the tofu, kelp and cooking wine. Let it simmer for a while.
- Once the tofu is cooked thoroughly, garnish with coriander and season it with salt before serving.
Steamed Sea Bass with Ginger
Ginger is a staple in a lot of confinement dishes, as it is a heaty ingredient. So, here is a simple fish dish featuring this root vegetable.
Servings 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 sea bass fish
- 1 clove garlic sliced
- parsley
- chives
- ginger smashed
- fish sauce
- black pepper pounded
- salt to taste
- sesame oil
- soy sauce
Instructions
- Clean sea bass thoroughly. Add fish sauce, salt and black pepper. Coat thoroughly, and leave to marinate for 30 minutes minimum.
- Take the garlic slices and stuff it into the fish belly.
- Add fish in the steamer, and steam for about 10 minutes or until fish is cooked.
- Smash and slice the ginger. Then, fry in a pan until crisp. Sprinkle over the steamed fish.
- Add some soy sauce and sesame oil, and then pour the oil used to fry the ginger slices. Stir to combine thoroughly, and then coat the steamed fish.
- Garnish with onion leaves, parsley, tomatoes, and carrots. Serve as a main dish.
Remember to take care of your diet during your confinement period!
And there you have it! New mummies can still eat delicious food by following our healthy yet finger-licking recipes. You need to remember to always eat healthily and have an ample rest to recover after giving birth.
Do try our red dates longan tea recipe for your confinement too.
Read here to know which seafood are safe to eat and which should be avoided during your postpartum period.
For more insightful stories and fun recipes, stay tuned to Motherhood Story!