The Secrets of Cooking Fish

by KC Kudra

There are many ways to cook fish, each producing unique and delicious results. Different cooking methods suit different fish and it also depends whether you are using a whole fish, fillets, or steaks. Stuffing adds texture and flavor. There is more space in the body cavity of round fish. Do not overstuff the fish because most stuffing contains breadcrumbs, which swell when they are cooked. Parsley and walnut pesto, for example, is delicious with sea bass. You can also roll or sandwich fillets with stuffing and oven-bake them.

Different Ways of Fish Cooking

Steaming is a good, easy way to cook fillets, whole fish, and steaks. You need to put the fish in the steamer over boiling water and have a tight-fitting lid on it. Poaching is another healthy way of cooking it, in which you add seasoning, cream or another thickener and herbs. This gives you a sauce to serve with the fish.

Oven baking and roasting are suitable for whole fish or fillets. You place the fish in an ovenproof dish and add herbs, seasoning, oil or butter and white wine. If you want very tender flesh, you can cook your fish “en papillote”, which means you put the fish in sealed paper or foil, so it will cook in its own steam. You might like to add lemon or limejuice, fresh herbs and white wine to the fish before sealing the parcel and cooking it. If you would like to braise your fish, you need to put it on top of sauted vegetables in an ovenproof dish, add some white wine and bouillon, and cook for about 20 minutes, with a tight-fitting lid in place.

If you have a grill, you can use it to cook fillets or small, whole fish. If you want to use whole fish, slash the skin on each side a couple of times and brush the fish with olive oil or melted butter. Turn the fish halfway through the cooking time and baste it to keep it moist and add flavor. You can also wrap the fish in a foil packet and add herbs, lemon juice, and olive oil before grilling it.

You do not always need to heat fish in order to cook it. Ceviche is when you soak white fish, usually snapper, in chili, herbs, and lime juice. You can also use flounder, sole, or scallops. The acidic citrus juice cooks the fish.

Wood Fish Board for Cooking

Most types of wood are suitable for cooking fish, as long as the board is pest-free and untreated. You need to soak the wood before using it. Soak the wood for at least an hour, until it is totally waterlogged. This ensures it is going to give off enough steam to cook the fish.

Cedar is a common wood for fish boards but you can also use alder, maple, cherry, apple, or oak. A wood fish board is for one use only and you can get one from a specialty food store or online.

Brushing your fish with oil stops it from sticking to the board. When you cook on a wood fish board, you do not flip the fish because it cooks indirectly. Once your fish is prepared, oiled on one side and seasoned, you need to place the fish board and fish directly on the grill. You can baste the fish during cooking but do not use anything flammable. The board should be over a low fire so as not to ignite.

Cooking fish on a wood fish board gives plenty of flavors, since the smoldering wood gives a smoky taste. In addition, you will not need to clean the grill afterwards!

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