Spicy Sichuan "Water Boiled" Fish and Celery (Shui Zhu Yu)

Ingredients

• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 3 egg whites
• 1⁄4 cup cornstarch
• 1 1⁄2 lb. boneless, skinless mahi mahi filet, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 pieces pieces of cassia bark or cinnamon sticks
• 3 whole star anise
• 1 whole black cardamom pod
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 bunch scallions, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 (3-inch) piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp. chile bean sauce (doubanjiang)
• 2 tbsp. fermented and salted black beans (douchi), rinsed
• 4 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1⁄2 cup Shaoxing wine
• 2 tsp. sesame seeds
• Roughly chopped cilantro, to garnish
• Sichuan chile oil, to garnish