A vibrant round porcelain dish holds a colorful array of seafood: pink and white shrimp, lush orange sea scallops, green fennel fronds, and contrast of opaque white noodles. Glistening with the sheen of a fragrant soy-based sauce, specks of red chili flakes and shards of star anise float, adding a hint of visual drama.

Winter's Embrace: Chinese Steamed Seafood Medley with Fennel

Name: Winter's Embrace: Chinese Steamed Seafood Medley with Fennel
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Chinese
Ingredients: 1 bulb fennel, 1 bulb thinly sliced, fronds saved for garnish; 6 jumbo shrimp, 6 heads on and deveined; 6 sea scallops, 6 cleaned; 2 nests of vermicelli noodles, 2 nests soaked in warm water; soy sauce, 2 tbsp.; Shaoxing wine, 1 tbsp.; red chili flakes, 1/2 tsp. crushed; star anise, 4; sesame oil, 1 tsp.; peanut oil, 1 tbsp.; fine sea salt, 1 tsp.; black pepper, to taste freshly cracked

Category Main Course

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 15 minutes

Style Chinese

Technique Steaming

Diet Friendly Pescatarian

Daily Recipe: December 09, 2025

This recipe is a unique fusion of Chinese flavors and fresh seafood, with a seasonal twist. The use of fennel adds a warming sweet and herby aroma, essential during colder days. By using the traditional method of steaming, it preserves the natural sweetness of the seafood ingredients, highlighting them beautifully.

Ingredients (for 2)

1 bulb fennel - 1 bulb - thinly sliced, fronds saved for garnish
6 jumbo shrimp - 6 - heads on and deveined
6 sea scallops - 6 - cleaned
2 nests of vermicelli noodles - 2 nests - soaked in warm water
Soy sauce - 2 tbsp.
Shaoxing wine - 1 tbsp.
Red chili flakes - 1/2 tsp. - crushed
Star anise - 4
Sesame oil - 1 tsp.
Peanut oil - 1 tbsp.
Fine sea salt - 1 tsp.
Black pepper - to taste - freshly cracked

Preparation

Step 1 - 🌊🔥🥘

In a large steaming pot, add water and bring to a boil. Arrange thinly sliced fennel at the bottom of a shallow, heat-safe dish.
Step 2 - 🍤🧂🍝

Place the shrimp and scallops on top of the fennel. Season it with fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Add the soaked vermicelli noodles on top.
Step 3 - 🥡🌶️🍷

In a small bowl, combine soy sauce, Shaoxing wine, crushed red chili flakes, star anise, sesame oil, and peanut oil. Pour this mixture evenly over the seafood and noodles.
Step 4 - 🍲⏲️🔥

Place the dish into the steaming pot. Cover it and let it steam for about 10-12 minutes or until the seafood is cooked thoroughly.
Step 5 - 🌿🍽️😋

Finally, garnish the dish with fresh fennel fronds. Serve hot and enjoy it.

Additional

To vary this dish, you can experiment with other types of seafood like clams or mussels, or add thin slices of shiitake mushroom for an earthy flavor. Engage kids by inviting them to arrange the seafood onto the bed of fennel.