Fish

[brigid]

I'm a pretty decent cook (and baker) but have no experience with fish other than "buy fish frozen, cook according to directions" or "open can of tuna, mix with mayo etc."

Do you have any helpful fish tips, advice, or instruction? Any favorite fish recipes, the simpler the better?

Comments

[lassarina]

Salmon! It's pretty awesome because if you get really good salmon it won't be horrifying if you don't quite cook it 100% (unless you are at higher risk for foodborne illness in which case IGNORE THAT.)

What you need:

--A broiler (and broiler pan)

1 lb salmon, cut into filets

2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp salt
pinch pepper
2 cloves garlic minced
1 tsp rosemary (better if fresh! In which case you use more; double or triple, depending on how much you like it.)

Mix up all the stuff that's not salmon. Spread it generously on the salmon. (A pastry brush is awesome for this, and they sell kickass silicone ones now that are dead easy to clean.) Put the salmon 4 inches from the heat of your broiler and leave it there for 4-6 minutes per inch of thickness. Eat.

(Alternatively, put salmon on a double thickness of aluminum foil, put on marinade as above and add a little bit of butter, some sliced onion, and sliced tomato if you like it. Fold the foil up into a packet. Put it under the broiler for about the same amount of time as above. It gets all steamy and tasty.)

[brigid]

I've never had salmon I like, and it's pretty expensive where I am (Chicago). I have friends from the PNW who assure me that if I had it FRESH I would change my tune but I just... it's not for me. Maybe if I ate more fish in general or Salmon specifically it would grow on me, but I don't really feel like throwing down $$$ to choke down something I don't particularly like. (If I am ever in the PNW I will try Salmon again.)

[lassarina]

Ah, you're in Chicago too? :) I am reliably informed that the frozen fish you can get at Trader Joe's is both inexpensive and tasty; barring that, if you've a car or don't mind carting things about on public transportation, the specialty fish stores (I can think of one in Winnetka and one in Glenview, and I am sure they must exist in the city) are often good choices for any type of seafood.

[brigid]

I don't think I've ever actually been inside a trader joe's.

Most of the fish we eat is the kind that's seasoned/breaded/coated in flavored crumbs and then frozen. Which, yes, in theory I could do that myself but in practice I'm afraid of messing it up and ruining the fish. Which if I just started practicing, I'd get the hang of it and not have to worry about it. :/