Many people think that preparing fish at home is a challenging task. But, it doesn’t have to be, if you have the right set of skills. We all know how fish is healthy for us, considering it contains a lot of proteins and omega-3 fatty acids. So, this is another reason, why you should learn how to prepare for fish and introduce this type of diet to your family. Also, fish can prevent many harmful diseases, such as heart conditions, diabetes, and Alzheimer. So, here are some ways, which can help you prepare fish at home.
Buying fish
Before you start preparing fish, you need to buy one, and there are a couple of tips which can help you in this decision. First of all, you need to smell the fish, fresh fish usually smells sweet and any fish that has a strong odor, you should avoid. For this, you should visit local fish markets, where people deliver fresh fish every day. If fish looks like its taken from the water, has bright eyes and firm flesh, then you know it’s fresh. You can store fish in the freezer, but only for a day or two if you want to experience the genuine taste.
Don’t overcook it
For inexperienced people, it’s tough to find a balance between perfectly cooked fish and overcooked fish. First of all, remember that even when you take the fish from the heat, it will continue to cook. For the best result, you should prepare fish until it’s almost done and then remove the pan from heat source and let it sit for a couple of minutes. For example, some fish, such as tuna or salmon can be served medium rare, but some people love when the fish is well done, so, the choice is up to you.
Should you marinate or not?
When you marinate the fish, you give it flavor and moisture to the flesh, but marinating should be brief, 30 minutes top. If fish sits in marinate for too long, then acidic ingredients will start to dissolve the delicate proteins, turning the fish into mush. Only fish like salmon or tuna should be marinated for an hour. Marinades usually include oil, extra virgin olive oil, then add acidic ingredients, such as chopped tomatoes, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and variety of seasonings. For this, you can choose spices depending on your taste, like red pepper flakes, or jalapeno peppers, or thyme. When you take the fish from marinate, let it sit for couple of minutes.
Grilled fish
For grilling, you will require a sturdier fish, like salmon, tuna, swordfish, or shark. You need to make sure that grill is clean and lightly oiled before you put fish. Otherwise, it will stick to the grill, and you will have a hard time separating it. The fish needs to develop a fine crust before you can turn it. If you intend to grill more delicate fish, then make sure to use a grill basket.
