Salted Plum Steamed Fish

My family in Swatow prepares this using a fresh fish and just a few pantry staples as part of a quick meal. My aunts take advantage of young ginger’s delicate flavor when it’s available at their market, and I do the same when I can find it in Los Angeles. However, the standard mature ginger available at any supermarket is a perfectly acceptable substitute. You can use any white-fleshed fish for this flexible recipe, although I generally like pomfret, sea bass, and snapper the best. This recipe uses jarred salted plums—the labels may say preserved plums or plum in brine.