Grilled Sea Bream with XO Sauce

Grilled Sea Bream with XO Sauce is a medium Chinese recipe that serves 2. 350 calories per serving. Recipe by THE YELLOW RICE on YouTube.

Prep: 12 min | Cook: 15 min | Total: 37 min

Cost: $12.32 total, $6.16 per serving

Ingredients

  • 1 fish Whole sea bream (cleaned, scaled, gutted, about 350 g)
  • 2 tbsp XO sauce (spicy sauce made with seafood)
  • 2 tbsp Light soy sauce (or light soy sauce)
  • 1 tsp Sugar (white or cane)
  • 1 tsp Sesame oil (flavored, add at the end of cooking)
  • 2 cloves Garlic (finely sliced)
  • 1 cm Fresh ginger (grated)
  • 1 small Shallot (diced fine)
  • 2 small Red sweet chilies (seeded and diced fine)
  • 5 sprigs Fresh cilantro (for garnish)
  • 2 tbsp All-purpose flour (to coat the fish)
  • 1 pinch Salt
  • 1 pinch Black pepper
  • 2 tbsp Vegetable oil (sunflower or peanut) (for cooking the fish)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the aromatics

    Finely slice the shallot, chop the garlic, grate the ginger and dice the sweet chilies.

    Time: PT5M

  2. Prepare the cooking sauce

    In a small bowl, mix the XO sauce, light soy sauce and sugar until smooth.

    Time: PT2M

  3. Prepare the fish

    Remove the fish fins, make three 1 cm deep incisions on each side, season with salt and pepper, then lightly coat with flour, tapping off excess.

    Time: PT5M

  4. Cook the fish

    Heat the pan over medium heat, add the vegetable oil and, once hot, place the fish. Cook 3‑4 minutes each side until the flesh flakes easily and the skin is golden.

    Time: PT10M

    Temperature: moyen

  5. Make the sauce in a sauté pan

    In a sauté pan, heat 2 tbsp oil, add garlic, shallot and ginger, sauté for 30 seconds without browning.

    Time: PT1M

    Temperature: moyen

  6. Incorporate the XO mixture

    Pour the XO‑soy‑sugar mixture into the sauté pan, bring to a gentle boil and let simmer for 1 minute.

    Time: PT1M

    Temperature: moyen

  7. Finish the sauce

    Add the diced sweet chilies and sesame oil, stir quickly for 15 seconds.

    Time: PT30S

    Temperature: moyen

  8. Plating and serving

    Place the cooked fish on a serving plate, generously drizzle with sauce, sprinkle cilantro leaves and serve immediately with white rice.

    Time: PT2M

Nutrition Facts

Calories
350
Protein
30 g
Carbohydrates
10 g
Fat
15 g
Fiber
2 g

Dietary info: pescetarian, dairy-free, low-carb, high-protein, low-calorie

Allergens: fish, sesame, soy, shellfish

Last updated: April 7, 2026

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Grilled Sea Bream with XO Sauce

Recipe by THE YELLOW RICE

Whole sea bream grilled in a pan, glazed with a fragrant XO sauce flavored with ginger, garlic, shallot and sweet chilies, enhanced with soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil. Served with white rice, this quick and tasty recipe brings the flavors of Chinese cuisine to your table.

MediumChineseServes 2

Shop all ingredients on Amazon in one click • Printable PDF with shopping checklist

Source Video
10m
Prep
16m
Cook
10m
Cleanup
36m
Total

Cost Breakdown

$12.32
Total cost
$6.16
Per serving

Critical Success Points

  • Score the fish and coat it properly to prevent tearing during cooking.
  • Heat the pan before adding the fish to achieve a crispy skin.
  • Do not let the garlic burn while sautéing the aromatics.

Safety Warnings

  • Handle raw fish with clean hands and utensils to avoid contamination.
  • Very hot oil can splatter; use a partial lid or a splash guard.
  • Check that the fish is fully cooked (the flesh should be opaque and flake easily).

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