The Many Wonders Of Cooking Fish

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.

Methods 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.

Grilling is a good way of cooking small whole fish or fillets. If you are using whole fish, slash the skin on both sides a few times and brush with melted butter or olive oil. Baste the fish during cooking and turn it halfway through. You might like to wrap the fish in foil with olive oil, herbs, and lemon juice before placing it on the grill.

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.

When cooking on a wood fish board, the fish cooks indirectly so you do not need to flip it during cooking. You should brush the fish with oil on one side so it does not stick to the board. When the fish is seasoned, place it on the fish board and place the board on the grill. You can baste the fish during cooking with lemon juice or butter if you want, but do not use anything flammable. Make sure the fire is low, so the board does not ignite.

Cooking fish on a wood fish board is an excellent way of cooking. The wood smolders, which creates the smoke to flavor your fish. What's more, there is no washing up to be done afterwards!