How to cook fish?

Question

I would love to start eating fish, but my problem is I don't know how to cook it. I don't have an oven.. any tips are greatly appreciated!

Answer 1

Fish can be cooked almost any way but braised, I think... it's a delicate protein, so it can't take long cooking.

Another great way to cook fish (and include seasonings and even veggies all in one dish) is to cook it in a "pouch" --also called "en papillote."
Since you don't have an oven, here are many recipes and instructions for cooking in a parchment paper or butcher paper pouch, in a microwave:
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=fish+microwave+pouch
(if you had an oven or a grill/campfire, this kind of cooking could be done in an aluminum foil pouch instead. . . you can also use the same principle with a covered container instead of a pouch)

Another good thing about cooking fish in a "pouch" is that the margin for error is wider and it's harder to overcook, etc.

Don't forget various types of shellfish ... they're wonderful too, and canned tuna can be used in lots of ways.
Personally I also like canned sardines too (with tomato sauce, but there are others with mustard, or other sauces), and a few anchovies cooked into a dish are really good... they kind of melt (and nothing like eating them whole and plain).

Don't worry if some of your trials with fish don't turn out to taste spectacular or are too mooshy... sometimes that's because the fish was frozen, then thawed, then refrozen, etc., or because that batch just wasn't all that good right from the case.

Here are some good links for the basics of "how to cook fish"...
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLC,GGLC:1969-53,GGLC:en&q=how+to+cook+fish


HTH,

Diane B.

Answer 2

It's great that you want your children to be able t make up their own mind about food so good on you! I think that boil in the bag should only really be given to adults or older children because you want to give your little ones all the vitamins they can possibly get. I don't think there's anyway to get rid of the smell when cooking fish so you may just have to put up with it :s You could try baking the fish in the oven by wrapping it in tin foil with a little seasoning that way it steams and cooks in it's own juices and nothing is lost. The best advice I can give regarding the smell is to try a good odour neutralising air freshener and to keep up the good work - your children will grow up eating a wide variety of foods and you will know that if they don't like something then it's down to their own dislikes and not yours :D

Answer 3

These instructions are for white fish, but not catfish (which needs to be fried). It works especially well for tilapia. Salmon is best on the grill.
Tilapia: (for about 2 filets)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Get a cookie sheet. Cut some butter up and put it on the bottom. Cut up about half an onion in slices put on pan with the butter. Put on the filets (about 1 per person is usually good). Pour on some whipping cream on top, just a little bit to cover the fish, not too much. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top. Put in oven for 8-10 minutes. Flip the fish and pour a little bit more cream on top and add salt & pepper to the other side. Cook about 5-10 minutes more until cooked. That's it! Fish should be white throughout. Amounts of butter and cream are flexible and can be adjusted to taste. Sauce is good topping for rice. Hope you enjoy! :D

Answer 4

I recently had a big feast for my friends during a trip to the lake at a condo. I cooked Buffalo strips, hush puppies, Fries, and Fish! Well I deep fried every single item and the best thing for me to do was the fish last bc it makes a huge mess when you deep fry it once it's been covered with Andy's Brand Seasoning.... I love it that way. Best to take a zip lock bag with the seasoning in it and put a few fillets at a time into the bag and roll the opening of the bag up and shake it... do this to all the fillets, then let them sit and absorb the seasoning so that it all looks wet on the fish... then shake them all again... This gives a great crispy breading on the fish and it tastes amazing... but be careful not to cook it too long... fish frys fast. Hope this helped

Answer 5

I would buy a white flesh fish because it will taste not as strong as some darker flesh fish. Season the fish depending on your tastes ie.. like spicy food use cajun spice or lightly coat in flour with salt and pepper. Fry in pan with half butter and oil (tastes better) Cook on one side until the fish is white around the edges then turn over cook for a few minutes then turn the heat off but leave the fish in the pan for a few minutes longer( it keeps cooking) then squeze lemon or lime on top then serve with what ever u like pasta , vegetables, potato ect.

Answer 6

If you have a microwave, fish cooks really great in a micro.

Top your fish with a little butter, olive oil or margerine, flavor with lemon juice and parsley or dill.

Follow the instructions that came with your microwave, it should take 2 minutes or so for a fish fillet.

If you have a George Forman grill, that's another great way to cook fish.

Just try not to OVERcook, as it'll lose flavor, and dry out.

Add salad and a potato, and you're all set!

Answer 7

There are tons of recipes on line if you just do a search. Tilapia is a yummy fish, I cook it with lemon butter, sometimes add capers. Cod is good breaded and fried. Tuna steak is great grilled with teriyaki seasoning. I have learned to love fish. Just experiment and have fun. Oh, and wild fish is healthier than farm raised, and smaller fish have less toxins than larger fish.

Answer 8

Mix together two good blobs of miracle whip with one or two spoons of ground mustard (the seedy kind), add a pinch of thyme or tarragon and a squeeze of lemon juice. (it's a lot tastier than it sounds)

You can put it on the fish after it has been pan-fried.

If you are feeling ambitious then you can make deep fried fish and chips. Here's a link to the recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_10424,00.html?rsrc=search

You can also grill it.

I would not microwave fish. I think it's just icky.

Hope this helps

EDIT: Ooooooh, I like the idea posted above me about ceviche. I love ceviche.

Answer 9

First off, there shouldn't be any "fishy" smell to your fish. it should smell fresh, and of the ocean. Secondly, this "chemical" cooking is called Ceviche. Is most commonly done with lemons and/or limes. It denatures the proteins in the fish, and basically pickles it. another way would be to pan fry it. dust it in a little flour, maybe finish with a piccata sauce. white wine, lemon juice, capers, mount with some butter and sprinkle with parsley. you could poach in a court bouillion or oil. lots of different things to do.

Answer 10

heres you a easy one this is the way i fix my . when you buy your fish tell the man you need a bag of corn meal for your fish he should either get it for you or show you were its at . now be for you cook your fish roll it in the corn meal . get your cooking oil[ mid hot ] but not to hot .put your fish in the cooking oil .there you see you are cooking fish oops don,t for get the hush puppys one more thing cook on each side of the fish about 10min or un till you think it is done just keep a good watch on it .when it is done it well fall apart whenyou stick a fork in it . happy eating ps cat fish is GOOD