Batter Up for the Best Fish Dishes

There are many variations of fish batter recipes. And, curiously, many are based upon traditional recipes handed down from generation to generation. The essence of batter fried fish is the batter itself. Or, more accurately, the recipe for the batter. Be prepared to try different ingredients, if you like to create your own batter recipes. Batter is more than just flour and water. Much more. Resulting texture is hugely important in the type of ingredients used to make batter. Too little water and you end up with fish that tastes less like it originated from the sea or stream, than it does a flour cannister.

Fish batter recipes often are related to culture. Since you want to buy the freshest fish available and insure that it is prepared like a rare delicacy, your batter must marry freshness with batter ingredients so that the end result is unforgettably delicious fish.

Most simple fish batter recipes include flour, water and egg. Still others, might include flour, milk, and egg. In either case, you want to blend the batter until it is the consistency of pancake batter. But, it doesn’t end there. Now, you’ll want to give your batter your own signature flavor. Be careful which additional ingredients you add when using milk.

In the US’s southern states, the big secret to the world’s best fish batter is self-rising flour and a dash of cajun seasoning. In New England, you’ll likely find that standard flour is enhanced by little more than salt and pepper. In Italian cultures, the secret for fish batter is to add bread crumbs and since bread crumbs are sold with Italian seasonings added, it saves time and money. Often, another little secret is a tablespoon or two to taste of parmesan cheese which gives a delectable body to fish.

The basic ingredients may also depend on the type of fish you are preparing. Remember too, that battered fish can be baked as well as fried. The amount of flour depends upon the quantity fish to be dredged in the batter. For example, five to six medium sized pieces of flounder requires approximately 3/4 cups of flour to about 2/3 cup water. Add your spices. Some Italian fish batter recipes substitute water with white or red wine.

When using self-rising flour, don’t add baking powder. It is already added to the flour. Adding a half teaspoon of baking powder to regular flour helps the batter to stabilize better. But, you can certainly omit it if you prepare a virgin-style batter. Once you’ve added all of the preferred ingredients, make sure your deep fryer is very hot or the batter will fray and your fish will be undressed for presentation at the table.

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Fire up the Grill: Great Recipes and Tips for Grilling your Favorite Fish!

There is a vast assortment of fish in the market to suit your palate. The most difficult part of the selection process is how you will handle the challenge of preparation. When you have decided on a grilling fish recipe. Here are three helpful hints to start you off and make certain that you will produce the perfect outcome:

Selection
• Fresh fish should have a mild ocean fresh scent.
• If there is any other odor besides that, do not make a purchase.
• Do not buy frozen fish if you see evidence of freezer burn or ice crystals.
• The eyes of a fresh fish should be clear and shiny, the gills should be pink or red, and the scales should
also be shiny.

Storage
• Seafood should be used within 24-36 hours of purchase.
• Seafood should be the last item you put in your cart before checking out at the market.
• Defrosted seafood should be used within 36 hours.
• Frozen seafood stored at home should be used within 6 months.

Handling
• Never defrost seafood on the counter.
• Don’t marinade seafood in citrus liquids for more than 25 minutes or it will begin to cook or wither.
• Always wash your hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds before and after preparation.
• Marinade that has been used for seafood must be heated before serving with cooked seafood.

The Best Breeds for Grilling Recipes

Fish is a fabulous alternative to an often mundane steak or chop so, when you choose a certain fillet or steak to grill do you have in mind the type of grilled fish recipe that will work splendidly for the fish you have selected.
There are hundreds of species of fish that work well for grilling but, I will share with you the most recognizable:

• Catfish
• Grouper
• haddock
• Halibut
• Lobster
• Macheral
• Maui Maui
• Octopus
• Salmon
• Scallops
• Sea bass
• Shark
• Shrimp
• Snapper
• Swordfish
• Tuna
• Tilapia
• Trout

When it comes to grilled fish recipes, always keep it simple. To many herbs, spices, and marinades can take away the natural flavor and delicacy of the fish.

When you start preparing your fish for grilling, the best coating for a fillet or steak is an oil based marinade that will retain the flavor and moisture. Remember to baste the fish frequently and turn fish halfway through the cooking time if the fish is over 1/2 inch think.

The easiest way to grill fish is with a grilling basket. Hunters and campers often use this method to keep the fish intact while it is grilling over the open pit. The mesh basket allows for easy rotation ith the fish sticking or breaking apart.

Always leave skin on fish steak while completing a grilling fish recipe so it retains it’s flavor but, most of all it will stay in tact while being grilled.

The Time is Right

It’s quite easy to tell when grilled fish is done by the way it looks. The fish will turn opaque and it will flake easily with a fork when you test the thickest part of the fish.

Follow these simple and easy to do guidelines to get the best out of your seafood selections every time.

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Eating Well With A Diabetic Recipe Book

by Albert Wellsom

Enjoying good food is not just the area of those lucky people who do not have diabetes, today there are plenty of superb diabetic recipes to make this condition more bearable. Checking your diet can be the key to lowering the risk of diabetes as well as improving your symptoms if you are already affected by this disease people often refer to as “the silent killer”. The situation today is much simpler than it used to be as there are particular diabetic recipes available which make the task of arranging a diet much simpler.

One of the hardest things to do will be to stick with your diabetic diet to shed those unnecessary pounds as preserving your weight is extremely important when you’re a diabetic. Diabetic diets actually help you here by ensuring you only eat the right amount of food from the four main groups. For patients, having a healthy diabetic diet plan means eating in a way that reduces the risk of complications that are normally connected with their condition, including heart disease and stroke. Diabetic recipes are designed to be healthy, ensuring a low fat diabetic diet which should help with some of the familiar symptoms linked with the condition such as fuzzy vision, low energy levels and continual thirst.

A healthy diabetic menu is concerned with eating a balanced diet of non-fat dairy foods, lean meat, domestic fowl, fish, entire grains, fruit, vegetables and beans. If you are limited to a low-carb diabetic diet then you may discover that the vegetables you are allowed to eat include, avocados, carrots and kidney beans along with fish, cheese, eggs, poultry and meat. Saturated fats and cholesterol are a problem if you are a diabetic so you would need to abide by diabetic recipes that cut down on foodstuffs like this and eat skinless poultry as well as fresh fruit and vegetables.

A diabetic is not just about eating the right foods, as it is also serious that the amount consumed is correct to ensure the calorific intake is not too high, so weighing the food will become second nature. Using the food labels in the supermarkets will also become second nature when you are preparing your diabetic recipes as they contain useful information, usually based on a diet of two thousand calories per day. When on a 2,000 calorie diabetic diet program, the ideal breakfast should consist of two slices of bread or two rice cakes or half a cup of pasta, one cup of skimmed milk or a cup of sugar-free yogurt, one egg in any form, boiled or poached or scrambled and surely a serving of one’s favorite fruit. However, if a lower 1,800 calorie per day has been advised for your diabetic diet plan then your diabetic recipes book might advise something like a cup of skimmed milk, a tablespoon of cheese, a couple of slices of bread and a serving of fruit.

With your balanced diet you would be able to have an afternoon snack which could be some fruit and a couple of crackers washed down with a half cup of tea or coffee but only with artificial sweeteners. Alternatively, to vary your diabetic diet you could always have a cup of skimmed milk or yogurt to replace the tea or coffee. Diabetic diets using specially formulated diabetic recipes can be just as interesting as a normal diet but you just have to know what you are allowed to eat and vary your menus to keep them interesting.

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Cod Fish Recipes

Cod fish recipes are delicious, healthy, and an easy way to make dinner. The great thing about cod fish is that you can make it in a variety of ways. You could bake it or fry it. You can dress it up with vegetables or you can serve the dish bare. The great thing about the dishes is that you can take what you like and incorporate it into the dish to make for a truly unique and delicious meal. You can’t go wrong when it comes to making cod fish.

First, when choosing between recipes, consider your needs. Do you want something healthy? If so, avoid frying the fish, as it isnt the healthiest of ways to prepare the dish. Do you want something flavorful? Then consider choosing a recipe that involves using a variety of vegetables or sauces. Do you want something simple? If so, consider a bare-bones recipe that focuses on preparing the cod fish without any other garnishes or ingredients.

Also, consider the amount of time you have to make this meal. If youre in a rush, you may not want to prepare sauces to soak or coat the fish in. Know the amount of time you have to spend making cod fish recipes before looking for the right one for your meal. Also, consider where or not you want fresh or frozen cod fish.

The following is just one of the many cod fish recipes you can make for yourself for others. Though easy to make and inexpensive, this recipe will taste like a dish you might have a fine dining establishment. The recipe is simple and involves tomatoes and cheese, but otherwise, its fairly bare bones.

First, you will need to know your ingredients. You will need: 1 1/2 pounds of frozen cod fillet, 1 teaspoon of butter, salt and pepper, four sliced tomatoes, Swiss cheese (as much as you?d want on the fish), and 1/2 cup of half and half.

To make the cod fish recipe, first remove the fishs skin and bones. Dry the fish using a paper towel. Your oven should be preheated at 375 degrees. Take the butter and melt it. Take your fish and top it with the tomato slices. Sprinkle on as much cheese as you?d like, pour the cream on the fish, and add the butter to a baking dish or pan. You are now ready to bake your fish. Cook your cod fish for 25 minutes or until the fish appears to flake.

You can of course substitute many of the ingredients. For example, if you dislike Swiss cheese, you could always go with cheddar cheese. If you dislike tomatoes, you could always use green peppers instead.

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Smoked Fish Recipes

When it comes to smoked fish recipes, salmon is likely the most popular. However, white-fleshed fish like cod, tuna and fresh water fish like pike, trout and bass can also be counted among the tastiest smoked fish. Smoked salmon is readily available in most seafood stores.

Smoke it Yourself
The process of smoking fish isn’t complex. First, fish is “cured” in a brine of water and salt until the flesh glazes. Then, smoked slowly over wood in a covered “smoker”. The brine can also be updated by adding other ingredients like garlic, pickling spices, etc. for more flavor. Salt and water are the most important factors in “curing”. Once the flesh of the fish has glazed, you can allow it to dry slightly, if preferred, or place directly in the smoker. Then, it’s ready for use in smoked fish recipes.

Pre-Smoked for Your Convenience
Though the variations decrease when purchasing pre-smoked fish, the quality of the fish should always be fresh. The easiest way to distinguish freshly smoked fish is the “nose test”. The “fishier” the odor, the less fresh the fish is apt to be. Also, you’ll want the flesh to be firm. Whether you’ll need to de-bone depends on the type of fish you buy. Salmon generally has a small bone if cut “steak”-style. With salmon, you want to bring out its best flavors. So, be sure you select smoked salmon that retains a somewhat juicy consistency. Smoking does dehydrate natural juices to some degree. But, you don’t want smoked fish that results in a “leathery” or “papery” texture. Flavor and texture are crucial to any smoked fish presentation.

Smoked Fish Recipes
Smoked Salmon Steak with Mango Salsa
2 lbs of smoked salmon steaks

For salsa:
1-2 jalapenos diced
2 cloves garlic crushed
1 mango - seeded and mashed
1/2 cup lime juice
1/4 tsp. fresh cilantro chopped finely
2 shallots - diced
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 Anejo rum or regular white rum

In a small bowl, combine all salsa ingredients. Mix until well blended. Allow to marinate at least 2 hours. Place smoked salmon on a bed of water cress for presentation. Cover with salsa. Garnish with slices of avocado if desired.

Smoked Fish Confetti Salad
2 1/2 cups smoked fish (any type) shredded into large slivers
1 Purple onion (large) cut into thin slivers
2 tomatoes seeded and diced
1 green pepper (may use jalapeno is desired)
1 cup shredded carrot
2 scallions - sliced finely
1/4 shredded cabbage
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup Balsamic vinegar
1 clove garlic crushed
anchovie paste

Dressing: Mix olive oil, Balsamic vinegar, garlic and anchovie paste together in a small bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of water if too thick.

Place remaining ingredients in a large salad bowl. Gently toss with dressing. Serve on crusty bread or bed of romaine lettuce.

Not Just A Tuna Sandwich
1 loaf crusty bread sliced lengthwise
purple onion slices
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice
4 oz. cream cheese
1 pimento diced
1 smoked tuna steak sliced
1/4 cup chives
1/8 cup freshly chopped dill
1/4 teaspoon fresh tarragon diced

Lightly toast bread. Mix remaining ingredients to a smooth paste. Spread on inside top and bottom. Layer smoked tuna and purple onion.

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Cooking Fish like a Professional Chef

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

Poaching usually gives excellent results. To poach fish, you need to add herbs, seasoning and a thickener such as cream. You can use this as a sauce to serve with the fish. Steaming is easy and suits whole fish, steaks, or fillets. To steam fish, put it in a steamer over boiling water and make sure you use a tight-fitting lid.

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 Board for Cooking Fish

This is another great method for cooking fish. You can use just about any kind of wood to cook fish on, as long as it is untreated and pest-free. The wood must be completely waterlogged before cooking, to ensure the wood generates enough steam and smoke to cook the fish, so it needs to be soaked for at least an hour beforehand.

Cedar is the most common wood but you can also use oak, maple, alder, apple, or cherry. You can buy a cooking quality wood fish board from specialty food stores or online. A wood fish board lasts for one use.

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.

Using a wood fish board to cook the fish results in a wonderful flavor. The wood will smolder, making the fish deliciously smoky. In addition, since you only use the board once, it really cuts down on washing up!

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Grilled Basa Fish - How to do it

by Andrew White

Basa fish is part of the larger catfish family. The body of a basa fish is stout and heavy. The rounded head is broader than it is long, the blunt snout having a white band on its muzzle. Basa fish has a milder and more delicate taste than other catfish. The basa fish also give less fishy smell than other fish does.

Basa are native to the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam and Chao Phraya basin. The basa fish are important food resource with an international market. The basa fish has grown more popular in the western market the later years. It is now available in many supermarkets. Since the basa fish is an imported fish you will most often buy it frozen.

Basa fish is typically grilled much like we grill salmon. I usually give it a brush with some butter. You can use garlic butter if you want to. Spice up the basa fish with some white pepper or other spices as well to give it extra taste. You can add lemon and lime at the end to give it some extra flavor.

After you have spiced up the basa filets and added some butter it is necessary to pack aluminum foil around them. There are several reasons for this. The process is simple. Make one sheet of aluminum foil for each filet and wrap the foil around it.

People usually have different opinions about how long basa fish is supposed to be on the grill. The basic is you want them to be cooked, but not over-cooked. I use to put them on one side for 10 minutes, turn them around and leave them there for 10 additional minutes. The general rule is between 10 and 15 minutes, but they can easily be over-cooked.

You now have a short guide for on how to grill basa fish. All you have to do now is get to the store and buy you some to get started.

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Sounds-gory-but-it-works Fish Bait Recipes

By Neels Theron

When you start looking around for fish bait recipes you’ll be amazed at - and often amused by - the assortment of “trusted” “secret” and “sounds-gory-but-it-works” fish bait recipes you will come across!

If you want to learn how to prepare your own recipes, then get ready for some often gruesome kithen work… not to mention the aromas you will have to contend with.

Of course, if you want to avoid all of the preparation in the kitchen, you can buy commercially prepared fish bait recipes, but this can add quite a bit to your weekend fishing budget!

There is no shortage of advice available about fish bait recipes. First you have to decide what kind of fish you’re aiming to catch, as they all have different tastes.

The smell of the bait is often very important. For instance, river salmon is known for a keen sense of smell to go with their eyesight, and you should try to take advantage of this when preparing your bait.

The smell of bait also fades in the water, so you should have enough bait to be able to change your bait often to keep that irresistable smell hanging and drifting around there in the water.

California salmon fishers recommend using tuna balls. Canned tuna in oil or water can be placed in a mesh bag and tied shut when used below a float. Chopped herring or sardines make great bagged baits too.

Some fish bait recipes are really very simple. For instance, if you’re after bottom-feeding fish like carp and catfish, you can simply use bread, small pieces of cheese, and even canned corn.

However, the following doughballs recipe for carp is often used:

You start by mixing 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. You then take a 1-quart container of water and pour just enough of it into the mixture to make a heavy dough. Then roll the dough into balls of 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Now you mix the rest of the water with 1 cup of molasses and pour it into a pan. Bring the molasses and water to a boil, and when the mixture is boiling, you drop in a couple of doughballs. Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes.

Many homemade fish bait recipes feature the use of marshmallows to assist in floating the bait, and some belive the color also helps to attract the fish.

Here follows a basic fish bait recipe using marshmallows:

Fill a bowl with 1/4 cup garlic powder and a small cup with water. Put about 5 miniature marshmallows in the water and make sure that they are soaked. Then put them in the bowl of garlic powder and stir them around so the powder coats them evenly. Put them in a jar for later use.

Many websites feature discussion forums where the detail of fish bait recipe preparation can be found. Here you will often find people who spill the beans about great family traditions and “secret” recipies that never fail…

For more information visit http://www.Fishing-Things.com

Neels Theron of http://www.ArticleSnap.com - where he offers original Private Label articles with a special Rewrite Kit to webmasters and publishers of niche sites - researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: Neels Theron. To republish this article please leave the links and resource box intact!

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Finding Free Recipes Online

By Kimberly Chang

If you love to cook, you are likely always looking for the next new recipe to try out on your family and friends. The thing about cooking is that it can be quite boring if you always cook the same things. So, when you are in need of new recipes, you might automatically run out and buy the newest cook book on the shelves. The problem is that when you do this, it can be quite expensive to try out new meals.

One easy way you can get recipes for free is by looking online. You can find recipes online by doing several things. First, you can try to find free recipes by doing a search. Go to your favorite or nearest search engines and type in “free recipes”. You will be shocked at how many recipes will turn up.

Another way you can find free recipes online is by visiting the sites of your favorite magazines. Magazines that focus mostly on women and family will likely always have a few new recipes per week on their sites, which can be very helpful to those seeking out the newest recipes for no cost.

So, instead of shelling out thirty dollars for the newest cookbook each time you start craving new recipes, simply hop online and do some research. You will find that you can even type in a specific meat and get the results of new recipes containing that meat. It is amazing and fun to get so much for no cost at all and start cooking in ways you never imagined before.

We specialize in Indian curry recipes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kimberly_Chang

 
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Weight Loss Recipe: Fish In Orange Sauce

By Kim Beardsmore

Lean protein is your diet is essential to weight loss and weight maintenance. Fish is an excellent source of lean protein as it is lower in fat that red meats.

Long term weight loss isn’t about hunger, misery and crash dieting. It’s a whole new way of learning to prepare nutritious food that your body needs and enjoys. “Fish in Orange Sauce” is one of a range of hunger fighting, low fat recipes to assist you keep your weight under control. This irresistible, no-hassle meal will help you reach your weight-loss goals - while making mealtime a real treat.

Variety is an essential element of any successful health program. If you get bored with foods, you’re much more likely to abandon your program altogether. Each main meal should be accompanied by an exciting range of colorful vegetables.

Fish in Orange Sauce (serves four)

Ingredients
Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon margarine
¼ teaspoon black pepper, coarsely ground
4 fillets fish
small quantity of plain flour

Directions
1. Place juices, margarine and pepper in pan.
2. Cook until slightly reduced.
3. Dust fish with flour.
4. Add to sauce and poach until just cooked, turning once.
5. Lift out onto serving plates. Spoon sauce over the fish.

Nutrition per serve
166 calories, carbohydrate 4g, protein 27g, fat 4g.

Kim Beardsmore is a weight loss consultant whose business operates across 60 countries. Tons of recipes, articles, resources, free newsletter and more to help you lose weight and keep it off forever. Estimate your healthy body weight or receive a free weight loss consultation at http://www.weight-loss-health.com.au

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kim_Beardsmore

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