Today was one of those hectic days at work where everything seemed to be happening at the same time. By the time I finished my tasks, I was already feeling mentally exhausted and quite stressed. And whenever I have this kind of day, one of the easiest ways for me to improve my mood is through food LOL.
So for tonight's dinner, I decided to treat myself to some seafood!
I went for one of my favorite and dependable choices: Japanese-style fried saba fish with teriyaki sauce. It is one of those dishes that I don't really have to think twice about ordering because I already know what I'm getting. As long as the fish is fried properly, it's almost impossible for me to be disappointed.
I'm not sure how common it is in other countries to add a sweet sauce to fried fish, but here in our region, combining sweet and savory flavors is quite normal. In fact, I think this kind of flavor combination is one of the things that makes Southeast Asian food so enjoyable.
Personally, I really like it!
The saba fish was fried until the skin had that nice crispy texture while the meat inside remained soft and juicy. Once the teriyaki sauce was poured over it, the dish became even more satisfying. The sauce had enough sweetness to balance the natural savory and slightly oily flavor of the fish.
When saba is prepared properly, I sometimes feel that every bite can be almost as satisfying as eating salmon. Of course, salmon is another level when it comes to richness, but considering that this whole saba fish set only costs SGD 7.50, I think it's really good value for money.
The meal also came with rice, a fried egg, some vegetables, sambal, tomato, lime, and a bowl of soup. I particularly enjoyed having the sambal beside the fish because it added another layer of flavor. So I basically had sweet teriyaki, savory fish, spicy sambal, and rice all working together in one plate.
Nowadays, food prices are rising together with many other daily expenses. That's why I'm always happy whenever I find hawker stalls that continue to offer good-quality meals at a reasonable price. SGD 7.50 might not be the cheapest meal around, but for a whole saba fish with rice and several sides, I think it's still quite fair.
Freshness is also important to me when it comes to saba. I once ordered it from another place that I wasn't familiar with, and the fish tasted a bit off. Not long after eating it, I ended up with an upset stomach, so since then I've become more careful about where I order this dish.
Thankfully, tonight's fish tasted perfectly fine. It may not have been a freshly caught fish straight from the sea, but the texture and flavor were good, and I enjoyed every bite.
The teriyaki sauce was really what united everything on the plate for me. After such a stressful day at work, sitting down with this simple but satisfying meal was exactly what I needed.
Sometimes, good food doesn't need to be fancy or expensive. A crispy saba fish, some rice, a fried egg, and a flavorful sauce can already turn a hectic day into a much better evening.
Bon appétit!
My Recent HiveGrove Posts:
- HiveGrove Season 2 Is Here... And the Hype Is Real!
- Three Weeks Into HiveGrove... Growing My Grove and my Network!
- HiveGrove Has Become Part of My Daily Hive Routine
- My HiveGrove Leaderboard Strategy... What I’ve Learned So Far
- A Big Leap in My HiveGrove Journey... Welcome to My Grove!
- Starting My Journey in HiveGrove