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A Closer Look at Easy Fish Recipes
Easy Fish Recipes is a site dedicated to those who are seasoned fish lovers and those looking for general fish recipes to feed the ones in your family that are not believers yet. Fish recipes that are worth trying can often be a hard sell but we try to make the recipes your family will ask for time and time again.
If you are like many typical Americans, when someone mentions having fish for dinner, all you can think of is frozen fish sticks or tuna casserole. With that kind of beginning, it is no wonder that most Americans look at fish for a meal with a wrinkled nose.
In truth though, fish has been an American staple for generations, from Colonial days to the present. From the freshwaters of the country, Americans have feasted on such varieties as rainbow, steelhead and brown trout, perch, pike and pickerel. Maybe you remember going out as a kid with Dad or Grandpa, catching these and other varieties in streams and lakes and eating them pan-fried with butter, cooked over a campfire?
If memories like this make you smile, you will love our easy fish recipes. It is a myth that cooking fish is more difficult than cooking poultry or meat and you can buy fish already filleted or cut into steaks so all you have to do is follow our easy directions and you can make a wonderful dinner.
What are Easy Fish Recipes?
Easy fish recipes are recipes that show you how to transform your favorite fish into a delicious meal. Fish is often very flavorful by itself so you often do not need to add much to your fish steaks, fish fillets, or whole fish to make them appetizing and delicious. Perhaps you fancy making a crispy batter for your fish and deep-frying it or maybe you want to rub some aromatic spices into your fish and grill it to perfection.
Whichever type of fish you want to use, there is a great recipe you can follow. Why use needlessly complicated fish recipes when you can make wonderful meals using easy fish recipes instead?
Different Types of Easy Fish Recipes
You can categorize easy fish recipes in various ways - by the type of fish, by the cooking method (poaching, frying, baking or grilling maybe, just to name a few), by the preparation time or in other ways. You might like to browse through our recipes and see what kind of recipe catches your eye.
Perhaps you fancy something international, something spicy, or something fast and easy. There are lots of different types of easy fish recipes to choose from and you might like to bookmark our site and come back again and again, every time you fancy some delicious and healthy fish for dinner.
Deciding Which Easy Fish Recipes to Make
Which recipe to choose depends on a few different factors. First of all (and most importantly!) what fish do you enjoy? Do you like firm-fleshed, meaty fish like cod or halibut, do you like the sophistication of salmon, or do you like strong-flavored fish like fresh tuna? What is available locally and what is your budget?
Once you have decided which fish to use, you can search for a tasty recipe. Perhaps you fancy trying a baked fish recipe or a grilled fish recipe. Deep fried fish is great comfort food or you can poach delicate fish fillets in aromatic broth. The sky is the limit and there are plenty of easy fish recipes to delight everyone.
Thanks for visiting,
Christine and everyone here at Easy Fish Recipes
Featured Easy Fish Recipe:
Parmesan Baked Halibut with Mixed Legume Salad
This wonderful recipe combines crispy baked fish with an interesting bean salad recipe. There are some side dishes which often seem to make an appearance whenever fried or baked fish is served and those include onion rings, fries, mushrooms, peas, or a green salad. There is nothing wrong with serving classic favorites but sometimes it is nice to make something a little different and that is why the following recipe for parmesan-crusted halibut and bean salad is so great.
The fish is dipped in a milk and egg mixture and then in flour which has been flavored with paprika and parmesan. This gives it a nice crunchy outside as well as plenty of flavor. The fish is baked in a very hot oven until it is opaque. Make sure you do not overcook the fish or it will go dry.
The bean salad can be make the day before you need it. You could make it just before you need it but, for better blended flavors, make it in advance. You can use any kind of beans for this, as well as red onion, sun-dried tomatoes and some other flavorful seasonings.
Halibut Baked in a Paprika Parmesan Crust
Ingredients -
2 halibut steaks
2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon black pepper
6 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon oil
1 egg
½ teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
¼ teaspoon salt
Fresh parsley, to garnish
For the Bean Salad:
20 oz canned beans (maybe black-eyed, kidney, lima or garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
¾ tablespoon white sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon black pepper
⅛ teaspoon dry mustard
2 oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil
¼ finely sliced red onion
Preparation:
First make the bean salad. Drain the tomatoes but keep 1 ½ tablespoons of the oil.
Chop the tomatoes and add them to the beans, basil, and red onions.
Toss the mixture lightly.
Combine the sugar, mustard, salt, pepper, and vinegar and whisk in the reserved tomato oil to make a vinaigrette.
Pour this over the bean salad and toss it.
Cover and chill for at least one hour or preferably overnight.
Let the bean salad warm up to room temperature while you prepare the fish.
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
Coat a baking dish with oil.
Rinse and dry the fish.
Combine the flour, cheese, paprika, salt and pepper in one bowl and beat the milk and egg in another bowl.
Dip the fish into the egg mixture and then coat it with the parmesan mixture.
Bake the fish for 15 minutes or until it is opaque. Divide the bean salad between two plates and top it with the fish.
Decorate with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
(Serves 2)
Photo Description:
This easy halibut recipe makes a beautiful dinner. Even though the bean salad is simply a question of stirring the ingredients together and the fish is similarly easy to prepare, this recipe is sure to impress and satisfy. The crunchy parmesan coating on the fish gives it a gourmet flavor and the simple cheese-flavored fish contrasts well with the tasty mixed bean salad. Fish is a great meal choice because it is rich in protein and nutrients and baking it means you get all the flavor of fried fish without the extra calories or fat frying would entail.
An Introduction to Easy Fish Recipes
If cooking fish sounds like something best left to the professionals, you have not been looking at the right fish recipes. It is true that some fish recipes are difficult and fiddly and some types of fish are comparatively expensive but don't forget some of the budget options can be just as tasty if you know how to make easy fish recipes with them.
All home cooks have to start somewhere and not many of us have been to catering college. If you are a typical home cook you might use ingredients such as chicken and beef on a regular basis but not really think about cooking with fish all that often. Fish is a protein-packed food which is usually low in fat and calories. Fish and seafood are widely available and there are fish to suit every palate and budget.
A Few Types of Fish to Consider
There are freshwater and saltwater varieties of salmon available to Americans from the lakes and waters of Upstate New York to the streams of the Rockies and the Pacific Northwest. Alaskans can dine on black cod, Pacific Salmon, and other whitefish varieties like haddock and whiting.
In the south, there is catfish and porgies, usually eaten battered and deep-fried. However, Mississippi is not the only place catfish is found. Although not as big in size, there is a breed of catfish known in the North as "bullheads" or "croakers." Another Southern variation is to have Cajun seasonings and cooking methods, coming out of the Louisiana swamps and bayous, where the fish is highly spiced and added to gumbos (a type of stew thickened with okra).
In New England, generations have enjoyed fish like cod, halibut, and haddock, which often form the basis of regional dishes like thick and hearty chowders. What person of Irish ancestry is not familiar with dishes made from salted, dried cod?
In addition, if of English ancestry, chances are you are familiar with the type of pie, which contains eels, a dish popular from the Middle Ages and brought by ancestors to these shores during the colonial period. Western New York and Western Pennsylvania remain the US capital of the Friday fish fry featuring battered, deep fried varieties like haddock, whiting, and salmon fingers with fries and coleslaw.
Asian immigrants first settling on both coasts and in Hawaii have taught us of wonderful dishes using fish spiced with a whole palate of exotic flavors, ingredients and preparation methods like sweet and sour fish soup and sushi.
Classic Fish Recipes and Modern Ones
With such a wide selection available today it is no wonder that cooks are rediscovering old tried and true cooking methods, as well as trying out new ways either by grilling, baking, or broiling trying a different regional or ethnic cuisine, or cooking method like baking or poaching. You probably will not like every single fish because there is such a diversity and you might not be keen on every cooking method but, because there are so many easy fish recipes, everyone can find a recipe they would like to try.
If you are not a fisherman yourself or never were able to go fishing as a kid, and would like to try different varieties of fish not normally found in your region, it is now also possible to purchase wild or commercially farm raised catfish, salmon, and trout at your local fish market or grocery store. There is also an abundance of tasty recipes and cooking methods to please even the fussiest eater, located in our easy fish recipes section which you can reach easily by the links at the top and bottom of our site.
Inside Easy Fish Recipes
Baked Fish Recipes
Brilliant Baked Fish Recipes - Baking fish simply means cooking it in the oven but there are plenty of ways to do that. You might like to wrap the fish in aluminum foil, enclosing your favorite herbs or spices or you might want to make a crunchy crust for the fish before you bake it. You can bake lots of different types of fish and this cooking method is great for cooking novices because it is especially easy. Served with your favorite side dishes, baked fish recipes make delicious, nutritious meals for the whole family.
Grilled Fish Recipes
Gorgeous Grilled Fish Recipes - You are not limited to the warmer seasons if you want to make grilled fish recipes, not since the invention of indoor grills anyway. Grilling fish over a charcoal grill gives it an extra special smoky flavor and gas grills are really easy to operate. If you fancy something healthy and flavorful, why not investigate some easy grilled fish recipes? You can grill fish filets or steaks or even grill a whole fish. Throw some veggies on the grill at the same time and you can make a highly flavorful side dish to serve with your mouthwatering grilled fish.
Fried Fish Recipes
Fabulous Fried Fish Recipes - Frying is one of the best cooking methods to choose for fish. You can pan fry your fish or deep fry it, depending on the results you are looking for. You can even choose oven-frying as a method of keeping the fat and calorie count down. A lot of different types of fish are ideal for frying and this is a fast cooking method as well so if you are hungry and you fancy some comfort food, be sure that fried fish recipes are bound to hit the spot and leave you satisfied.
Cod Fish Recipes
Simple Cod Fish Recipes - Cod is one of the most popular fish and you can cook it in various ways. Cod can be steamed, poached, grilled, baked, or fried and it always comes out perfect. This meaty fish has a unique flavor and it is many people's favorite fish. If you have some cod there are lots of different things you can do with it, whether you want to preserve the naturally delicate flavor of the fish or liven it up with Asian or Mexican seasonings, give it some Cajun spice or do something else with it.
Salmon Recipes
Extra Special Salmon Recipes - You do not have to put a lot of effort into making extra special salmon recipes because salmon is naturally special. It has its own gourmet flavor and you can add as much or as little flavor to this delicious fish as you like, to make the best grilled, pan fried, baked, poached, or steamed salmon recipes ever. This juicy pink-colored fish is a favorite with old and young alike and you can combine canned salmon, smoked salmon or fresh salmon with other delicious ingredients to make the most mouthwatering meals.
Tilapia Fish Recipes
Terrific Tilapia Fish Recipes - If you are looking for inspiration to make the best easy fish recipes, you might like to consider using tilapia. This juicy, succulent and flavorful fish is easy to find and simple to prepare and use for top quality fish recipes. Tilapia pairs well with many other flavors and seasonings and you can make some amazing dinner recipes with this delicious fish. There are tilapia fish recipes for everyone, no matter what your personal food preferences are and there are a variety of suitable cooking methods for this protein-packed fish.
Tuna Fish Recipes
Tasty Tuna Fish Recipes - Tuna is a very special fish. You can make basic tuna fish recipes using tuna from a can or you can make restaurant quality meals with fresh tuna. If you are looking for inspiration for exciting dinner menus, you might like to include fresh tuna. You can sear it quickly and serve with your favorite sauce or accompaniments. Tuna is a full-flavored yet versatile ingredient and there are a number of exciting international tuna fish recipes you might like to investigate if you enjoy cooking with fish and making easy tuna fish recipes.
Halibut Recipes
Delicious Halibut Recipes - If you are looking for easy fish recipes which are sure to come out well every time, what about using halibut to make something truly sensational? This meaty fish has a mild flavor and is widely available. You can pair it with all kinds of flavorful seasonings to make meals that will impress your friends, family or dinner guests and amaze them. There are lots of different halibut recipes to choose from so you are sure to find something you like. Using halibut will give your easy fish recipes a gourmet finish whichever easy fish recipes you choose to make and whichever side dishes you choose to serve alongside them.
Freshwater Fish Recipes
Fantastic Freshwater Fish Recipes - Freshwater fish recipes are suitable for everyone because there are so many varieties of freshwater fish that everyone can find one that suits their palate. You can get small freshwater fish which can be cooked whole or huge ones which are nice in filets or steaks. Freshwater fish can be part of a healthy, well balanced meal, teamed with vegetables or a salad and perhaps potatoes, rice or fries. There are plenty of exciting marinades, spice rubs, and sauces you can consider as well, to bring out the wonderful taste of your freshwater fish recipes.
Saltwater Fish Recipes
Sensational Saltwater Fish Recipes - Most people love saltwater fish recipes and that is because there are many kinds of saltwater fish to choose from, each with their own unique style and flavor. Whether you enjoy marinating your saltwater fish recipes, making a tangy sauce or dressing or using fresh herbs or a spice rub, we have plenty of amazing saltwater fish recipes to choose from so you can find something that matches your palate perfectly, no matter if you prefer fish steaks, filets or small whole fish and whichever cooking methods you favor the most.
Fish Stews, Soups, and Chowder Recipes
Yummy Fish Stews, Soups, and Chowder Recipes - A hearty bowl of stew or soup is guaranteed to warm you up and lift your spirits and these stews and soups don't have to be meat or poultry-based. What about making delicious fish stews, soups, and chowder recipes the next time you get some fish or seafood? You can use one type of fish or combine several to make the best fish stews, soups, and chowder recipes. Recipes like these have been around for centuries because they taste so good and will be popular forever and these classic meals are satisfying and flavorful.
Fish Salad Recipes
Fabulous Fish Salad Recipes - You do not have to put a lot of effort into making delicious fish salad recipes or be a master cook. If you are looking for easy fish recipes then there are hundreds. A salad can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be and a lot of fish salad recipes can be made in advance and chilled until you serve them, which is handy if you want to make a dish ahead. Whichever fish or seafood you happen to favor, there is a wonderful salad you can make with it. A lot of fish salad recipes are healthy as well as totally delicious.
Fish Sandwiches
Versatile and Tasty Fish Sandwiches - If you crave something more stimulating than your usual soggy lunchtime fare, what about making fish sandwiches? The fact that you can grill, broil or microwave fish in a few minutes means you can make a quick and easy lunch which is hot and mouthwatering, and it will keep you satisfied until dinner time. Alternatively you might want to make fish sandwich recipes as snacks, dinner or supper, in which case we have plenty of wonderful fish sandwiches for you to choose from, no matter whether you are new to easy fish recipes, a seasoned cook or somewhere in between.
Fish Articles
The Most Helpful Fish Articles - Fish might sound like a daunting ingredient to cook but there are so many easy fish recipes to choose from that it would be a shame to miss out on this exciting ingredient just because you do not have the background knowledge. If you want to learn more about how to cook fish, how to select the best fish recipes, how to enhance the flavor of your seafood and how to make sure your fish comes out moist, succulent and cooked perfectly, you will find our fish articles very useful. There are tips for everyone, beginners, and seasoned cooks alike.
Five Reasons to Make Your Own Fish Recipes
1. Everyone Loves Great Fish Recipes
If you enjoy cooking, you will love cooking with fish because there are easy fish recipes for everyone. Whether you prefer delicate tasting fish, meaty fish, unusual fish, or a mixture of fish and seafood, there is a perfect fish recipe waiting for you to find it.
2. Fish Recipes are So Easy to Make
Not every fish recipe is easy but we are focused on finding the simplest ones which still taste amazing, and sharing the best fish recipes with you. There are recipes for canned tuna and fish sticks but we also have recipes for salmon, tuna and other exciting fish and the good news is these are easy fish recipes as well.
3. Most Fish Recipes are Healthy
In addition to the myriad of tastes available among the different types of fish, more and more studies are proving the benefits to your health from eating fish, especially baked fish. Crucial Omega-3 fatty acids found in fish like salmon and haddock help promote a healthy heart and lifestyle. Depending on the method of preparation, fish is a good source of low-fat protein and can actually provide help in keeping cholesterol rates down and help with weight loss.
4. There are Some Great Budget Choices
If your main reason for shunning fish was the cost then you will be pleased to know that budget fish can taste just as mouthwatering as the expensive ones, as long as you know which ingredients to add to get the best results from your chosen fish.
5. Fish Makes a Welcome Change
Tired of chicken? Bored with beef? Why not investigate the delicious world of easy fish recipes and find some new dinner menu inspiration? There are easy fish recipes to suit every budget and palate so check out our easy fish recipes today!
Try These Delicious Easy Fish Recipes
Here is just a sampling of our delicious fish recipes you'll find plenty more inside the site.
Grilled Rainbow Trout Recipes with Tomato and Red Onion Salsa
Spicy Battered Fish with Paprika and Lemon
One of the Simplest And Best Grilled Cod Recipe
Tilapia Fish Recipe with Pineapple Salsa
Seared Tuna Appetizer with a Spiced Lime Dressing
Photo Description:
When it comes to fish and seafood, it pays to use and buy good quality fish. This does not necessarily mean you have to get it straight from the fishing boats but it does mean you should be choosy. Fresh fish should smell of the sea rather than have a strong fishy odor, and you should also check for firm flesh and bright eyes. Many easy fish recipes will allow you to use thawed fish and some recipes are suitable for canned fish. If you are able to get very fresh fish though, the recipes will certainly have an extra special quality.
A Delicious Guide to the History of Fish Recipes
Fish recipes have been around as long as fishing and that has many thousands of years of history. Fishing boats have been able to cross oceans since the 1500s and larger vessels have been in use since the 1800s. The practice of eating fish dates back about forty thousand years and we know this because of cave paintings, discarded fish bones and isotopic human skeletal analysis. Most people during those times lived as hunter-gatherers and would have eaten their fish raw.
The Nile in Egypt was full of fish and dried fish, as well as fresh fish, were very popular in ancient times. Eels, Nile perch, and catfish are examples. In ancient Greece, slices of fish were often cooked with cheese and oil and this is the oldest known Greek recipe. The measurements for fish recipes like this were often vague because it was believed that a good cook would know how much of each ingredient to add. Men were responsible for roasting the fish on spits or coals and women would do the boiling, cooking and baking.
Recreating Ancient Fish Recipes
The Romans were keen on fatty fish like sardines and they would have added this fish to a pitcher with aromatic flavors like fennel, mint, oregano, celery, coriander or dill, as well as plenty of salt, and left the container in the sun for a week until it became a liquid. They would then use it in recipes. For a modern take, you could boil grape juice with anchovy paste and oregano and serve it as a dip for bread.
An ancient Greek mullet recipe combines the fish with oil, lemon, and herbs. Many modern recipes use similar simple ingredients to flavor fish and some recipes have not changed much at all.
Find Out More About the History of Fish Recipes in our more in depth look at its history.
How to Smoke Fish
Smoking fish is not difficult and all you need is the fish, a smoker and some brine. However, you will probably want to try smoking a few inexpensive fish first, to see how it goes, before smoking a very large or expensive fish.
Preparing the Fish
Use thawed, flash-frozen fish or fresh fish for this. Clean the fish and take off the head, tail and fins, as well as any damaged or bruised flesh. Wash the fish well in clean water. Make a saltwater brine using two and a half tablespoons of salt to one cup of water. You will need a quart of brine per pound of fish. Soak the fish in the brine for fifteen minutes per half-inch thickness of the fish. You can add a teaspoon of lemon juice per cup of brine if you want to reduce the fishy odor.
How Long to Smoke It
Get the smoker ready. You will need to smoke the fish for three hours plus half an hour per pound of fish. Take the fish out of the brine and run it under cold running water. Put it skin side down on an oiled smoker rack and smoke it.
Keep the temperature around 150 degrees F, and then turn the heat up after the first two hours to 200 degrees F. Keep smoking the fish until it is cooked through and flakes easily. Serve it right away or chill it in the refrigerator. You can also wrap it tightly and freeze it for a couple of months.
Different Kinds of Fish Recipes Around the World
Humans have been eating fish ever since the ancient times when they first set up camp alongside coasts, lake shores, and streams. Fish and seafood are versatile as well as flavorful and they offer health benefits too.
Bouillabaisse is a famous French fish stew recipe and this recipe requires quite a few ingredients including a minimum of three different kinds of fish. Traditionally, bouillabaisse is made with rascasse, which is an ugly Mediterranean fish, but you can use any combination of seafood and fish available.
Asian Fish Recipes
Fish is extremely popular all over Asia, although the recipes do differ a lot. Goa curry is enjoyed all along India's west coast. There are many variations but this curry tends to be fiery hot with tamarind and coconut added as well.
In Vietnam, kho is the word used to described food which is braised in clay pots. There are kho recipes for fish as well as meat and they are served with delicious caramel-style, molasses-based sauces. Spicy squid is popular in Thailand and there are also plenty of Chinese recipes for seafood and fish. Filipino shrimp and sweet potato fritters are a mouthwatering appetizer.
The Popularity of Raw Fish
Raw fish is closely associated with Japanese cuisine but do not forget ceviche. Although ceviche is fish which is combined with citrus juice to "cook" it, it is still made with raw fish, since the fish is not cooked using heat. This dish is thought to have originated in Ecuador or Peru in Inca times. The fish was marinated in a fermented corn beverage, although citrus juice was introduced and used instead when the Spanish settlers arrived.
There is a famous dish from Tahiti made with raw tuna, coconut milk, limejuice and other ingredients and this is known as Poisson Cru which simply means raw fish. The fish in this recipe marinates very briefly so the fish does not get "cooked" (by the citrus juice) on the inside. Raw meat recipes like carpaccio are very popular in certain areas and raw fish recipes are also considered a delicacy.
American Favorites
Tuna noodle casserole was very popular in the 1970s when casseroles were in vogue. Tuna casserole was one of the most popular ones because you could easily make it with dried and canned ingredients. New England lobster salad sandwiches are a great way to use seafood and this summer favorite is popular all along the Maine coastline.
Cajun-Creole dishes like jambalaya are also popular and this one-pot recipe can be made with or without tomatoes. Jambalaya is believed to have been developed by Spanish immigrants who missed their Spanish paella recipes.
European Fish Recipes
From gravlax, which is a Swedish recipe for cured salmon, to French poached cod with aioli and hot, breadcrumb-topped Greek fish in tomato sauce, European fish recipes are diverse and exciting.
British fish and chips is a classic fish recipe and moules marinieres is an elegant French seafood dish. Fish pie is popular in England, although this creamy egg and fish dish was also adapted by Jamaicans who gave it a fiery kick with hot pepper sauce and a tropical coconut twist.
No two international fish recipes are the same, which is why learning new easy fish recipes is so exciting.
How to Clean a Fish Quickly and Easily
There are various ways to clean a fish but you should always begin by rinsing the fish under cold running water first of all. Next cut the fins off each side and cut the fish from the gills to the backbone, using a sharp knife. Never use a dull knife, electric knife or serrated knife when preparing fish because these will tear the fillet instead of slicing cleanly.
Snap and pull on the head and the entrails will come away with the head. Cut the tail off where it joins the body. Cut along the belly from the vent to the gills and scrape along the inside of the fish to remove the blood vein and the reddish brown kidney line. It might be easier to use a spoon for this. Rinse the fish again in cold water. If you take the skin off, the dorsal fin will come off too.
Descaling a Fish
Not all fish need to be descaled but some do. Catfish and eels do not have scales. Lay the fish flat and brush a knife up it, using short strokes, from the tail to the head. If the scales are flat and come up easily, you need to take them off. Fish like flounder have tiny scales which are horrible to get in your mouth when you eat them but fiddly to remove so you will need patience to descale such a fish properly.
Keep brushing the scales off with the knife until they are all gone, then flip the fish over, and do the other side. If you are planning to skin the fish before you cook it you do not need to descale it because the scales will come off with the skin.
Deboning a Fish
You can debone your fish before or after cooking it. It is easier to debone cooked fish but a lot of people do not like to pick bones out of their fish while they are eating it. To debone a fish, you need to gut and rinse the fish well. Put it on its side and cut straight down the fish behind the gills, using a sharp knife, until the blade touches the backbone. Rotate the knife so the blade is flat against the backbone, parallel to the cutting board and the sharp point is toward the tail.
Saw the fish in a gentle back and forth motion and cut along the backbone to the tail, underneath the fillet. Turn the fish over and do the other side. Pull the backbone out. Cut the rib cage bones out of the fillet with a pair of tweezers or feel for them with your fingers and pull them out.
If you are not comfortable with the idea of cleaning your own fish, most fish are available cut into filets or steaks or you can ask your fishmonger to do it. If you catch your own fish or receive one as a gift though, knowing how to clean and debone it is very useful. You can bury the head, tail and guts from the fish in the garden because they contain nutrients which are beneficial for the plants.
A Few Entertaining Fish Recipe Facts
Did you know that there are more than twenty eight thousand different species of fish or that the climbing perch (a kind of Indian fish) is able to walk on land to search for water when its own water hole dries up? The world of fish is fascinating indeed.
What do koi fish symbolize, many people wonder. This fish is believed to have originated in Iran and koi carp are very beautiful fish which are kept in ornamental ponds. And what kind of fish is Dory from Finding Nemo, other people want to know. Well, Dory is actually a regal blue tang fish. These fish are baitfish only (used in fishing to catch bigger fish) and they can be toxic to humans.
Facts About Choosing The Best Fish
People tend to fear fish recipes more than any other kind, for some reason, but there are plenty of easy fish recipes which are suitable for even complete beginners in the kitchen.
You should begin with recently caught, healthy fish. Look out for firm, blemish-free, odorless specimens. Salmon is a great fish for beginners to choose because it pairs with lots of different ingredients and can be cooked in several different ways.
Quick Cooking Tips for Luscious Fish Recipes
If you rub lemon juice on fish before cooking, it will add to the flavor and help the fish to maintain its color. Try dipping your fish in flour before pan-frying it, if you want a crispy crust. If you are cooking fish that is less than half an inch thick, it will not need to be flipped over.
Frozen fish has a longer cooking time than fresh fish. Broil, steam, poach, or grill oily fish so their natural fats can drain away. For moist broiled fish, poach or steam the fish first until it is nearly cooked through and then brown it under the broiler. You can find plenty more fish cooking tips in our fish articles section!
How to Make Memorable Fish Recipes
Fish recipes should be memorable for the right reasons, not the wrong ones. Nobody wants to accidentally overcook fish and end up with something flavorless or dry. On the other hand, home chefs seem equally worried about undercooking fish. The truth is that fish is easy to cook. When it is done it is opaque and will flake easily with a fork. All our easy fish recipes tell you roughly how long your fish will take to cook.
Ingredients and Presentation Ideas
It is often best to keep the amount of ingredients down so you do not overpower the flavor of the fish. Although some fish are strong-tasting, a lot are very mild and delicate which is why a pinch of spice, some minced garlic, some fresh herbs or a squeeze of lemon juice is often all that is called for when making very easy fish recipes. You can present a simple fish recipe attractively, perhaps garnishing it with a sprig of fresh parsley or a slice of orange or lemon.
Get the Quality and Quantity Right
Use the best quality fish you can get, especially if you are serving a raw fish dish or something like ceviche which is "cooked" with citrus juice, because the flavor of the fish will shine through clearly. If you are making a fish stew or chowder, you can use frozen fish. Frozen fish is often a budget option and in a hearty, tasty stew you will not be able to tell whether the fish in it was fresh or thawed anyway.
Our easy fish recipes tell you how many people the meal will serve, as an appetizer or entree although, as a general guideline, serve six to eight ounces of fish or seafood per person for an entree.
Webmaster's Notes:
Welcome to Easy Fish Recipes. We have recently changed the design of the site to better reflect our content and continued efforts to improve its functionality for our visitors and repeat users. Easy fish recipes are something that every health-conscious and flavor-conscious cook should find interesting and we believe that a good-looking, content-rich site, which is also simple to navigate, is the perfect source for you to learn about preparing and cooking the best easy fish recipes.
If you are looking for new recipe inspiration, the world of fish is enormous and there are many different kinds of fish you can try as well as various cooking methods and recipe styles. What about trying a classic American or British fish recipe or making a tasty exotic fish curry? If you are a complete fish-cooking novice, do not worry, because our recipes will guide you every step of the way.
We hope you like the site upgrade, the new recipes, and appetizer cooking articles. Over the next several weeks, we have loads of new content to add to the site so check back often to see what is new. Our goal here is not only to make this the best site we can but also to make it the foremost fish recipe site on the web. Thanks for visiting and, if you have a moment, please bookmark us in your favorite social bookmarking site. We appreciate the vote of confidence. It helps us to focus our resources on what you really want, which is great content.
Thanks,
Christine and everyone here at Easy Fish Recipes