Tips for Cooking a Non-Fishy and Tender Fish Soup
Remove the Dark Guts and Tendons that Cause the Fishy Odor
One way to help reduce the fishy odor when cooking soup is to first remove the parts of the fish that create the odor, such as the gills, fins, scales, tendons, intestines, and any slimy substances around the body…
– If you’re not skilled at preparing fish, ask the fishmonger to clean and cut the fish into small, bite-sized pieces. When you get home, simply rinse the fish 2-3 times and it’s ready to be cooked.
Methods to Remove the Fishy Odor from the Fish
– There are many ingredients that can effectively remove the fishy odor. Soaking and rinsing the fish with rice wine and ginger will reduce the odor and enhance the flavor of the fish.
– As ginger has a strong flavor, use a small amount and avoid overdoing it to maintain the dish’s balance.
– Soaking the fish in either rice water or fresh milk for about 15 minutes, followed by a rinse in clean water, is another way to neutralize the fishy smell.
– Rubbing the fish with salt or soaking it in a saltwater solution before rinsing it off is also an effective way to reduce the fishiness.
Marinate the Fish with Spices Before Cooking the Soup
Marinating the fish with spices before cooking adds flavor and reduces the fishy odor. You can marinate the fish with spices like onion, garlic, pepper, chili, and coriander…
– If you wish to marinate the fish with ginger, avoid using raw ginger with raw fish. When the fish is heated, the protein will leak out and counteract the odor-removing effect of ginger.
– Therefore, if you want to marinate with ginger, first put the fish in the pot and heat it up to coagulate the protein, then add the ginger for marination.
Cook the Fish in Boiling Water
– If you cook the fish in water that hasn’t reached a boil, the remaining blood and mucus in the fish will mix with the water, making the soup smell and taste unpleasant. Therefore, only add the fish to the pot once the water is boiling.
Fry the Fish Before Cooking the Soup
– One secret to making a delicious fish soup is to fry the fish before adding it to the broth. This ensures that the fish absorbs the spices evenly and doesn’t fall apart.
– After frying the fish, add it to the boiling soup that already has all the ingredients and spices. Cook for a while longer, and then turn off the heat and serve.
Add Herbs to the Fish Soup After Cooking
To make your fish soup even more delicious and to eliminate any remaining fishy odor, add herbs like scallions, coriander, dill, and chili after the soup is cooked. This will give your soup a wonderful aroma and flavor.