Thai Fried Drunken Fish Recipe

Ingredients (19)

• 1 whole fish (cleaned, such as tilapia, rainbow trout, sea bream, snapper - thawed if frozen)
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. lime juice (fresh, more as needed)
• 1/2 cup flour (white)
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups canola (sunflower, or other oil)
• Garnish: tomato and cucumber slices plus handfuls of fresh basil and/or coriander
• For the Sauce: :
• 6 garlic cloves
• 1 lime (freshly squeezed juice)
• 1/2 tsp. white or black pepper (white or black)
• 3 to 4 spring onions (sliced)
• 1/2 cup coriander (loose fresh, including stems)
• 3 tbsp. fish sauce
• 3 tbsp. sugar (palm or brown)
• 4 to 5 lime leaves (snipped into slivers with scissors)
• 1/4 cup basil (fresh)
• 1/4 cup coconut (or other good-tasting oil; a good-quality olive oil may also be used)
• 1to 2 chilies (red, or 2-3 tsp. chili paste/sauce, such as Nam Prik Pao)
• 2 tbsp. water