Ingredients
250 g (about 1/2 lb) mandarin fish fillet, 100 g (about 3.5 oz) each of winter bamboo shoots, cooked ham, and cilantro, 20 spinach hearts, 12 quail eggs, 50 g (about 1/4 cup) mixed bone broth, 2 egg whites, and 3 each of red and green cherries.
Seasonings
750 g (about 1.5 lbs) cooked lard, 15 g ginger, 100 g scallions, 5 g Shaoxing wine, 5 g sesame oil, 20 g cornstarch, 2 g salt, 10 g cornstarch slurry, 1 g MSG.
Instructions
1. Cut the fish fillet into 0.5 cm thick and 7 cm long strips; cut the winter bamboo shoots and ham into 3 cm long strips; blanch 75 g of scallions in boiling water; lightly crush the remaining scallions and ginger, then mix with Shaoxing wine and 1 g of salt, squeeze out the juice, add MSG, and pour over the fish strips to marinate for about 8 minutes; then mix the egg white and cornstarch together and coat the fish strips with the mixture.
2. Cut the cherries in half; brush each quail egg with lard; wash and pick the cilantro; then place half a cherry and a few cilantro leaves into each spoon containing a quail egg to form a peacock-feather pattern, steam for 10 minutes until cooked, and keep warm in the steamer; mix the bone stock, sesame oil, and wet starch into a sauce.
3. Arrange the blanched scallion roots neatly on a plate, then place 2 strands each of ham, fish, and winter bamboo shoots crosswise on top, tying them into 20 bundles in the shape of firewood bundles.
4. Heat a wok over high heat, add lard and bring to a boil, then add the bundled mandarin fish and flash-fry until cooked through; remove and drain in a colander. Meanwhile, take the steamed quail eggs and arrange them at one end of a long platter to form a peacock's tail; place the bundled fish in the center of the platter as the peacock's body; then position a carved egg cake head at the front. Return the wok to the heat, pour in the prepared sauce and bring to a boil to form a light glaze, then evenly drizzle it over the peacock-tail mandarin fish. This dish features a variety of colors that are vibrant yet harmonious, is rich in nutrition, and has a tender, fresh flavor that is pleasing to the palate.