Preparation for Cooking Fish
To ensure a delicious and non-fishy fish dish, it is important to properly prepare the fish. Follow these steps:
- Remove fishy parts from the fish before cooking. This includes fins, scales, gills, bones, intestines, and any slimy substances around the body.
- If you are not confident in your ability to prepare the fish, ask the seller to do it for you when buying. Alternatively, you can buy pre-cut fish pieces. When you bring the fish home, wash it 2-3 times before cooking.
Eliminating the Fishy Smell
There are several ingredients and techniques that can help remove the fishy smell:
- Soak and wash the fish with alcohol and ginger to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor.
- Use a small amount of ginger to avoid overpowering the taste.
- Soaking the fish in rice water for about 15 minutes and then rinsing it with clean water can also help eliminate the fishy smell.
- Sprinkling salt on the fish or soaking it in salt water before rinsing can reduce the fishy smell as well.
Marinating with Spices
Marinating the fish with spices before cooking will enhance its flavor and reduce the fishy smell. Consider marinating the fish with ingredients such as onions, garlic, chili, cilantro, and other spices.
When using ginger for marinating, avoid adding raw ginger to raw fish. Instead, heat the fish in a pot to coagulate the protein before adding ginger for marination.
Proper Cooking Techniques
Follow these techniques to ensure a delicious fish dish:
- Avoid putting the fish into unboiled water, as it can dissolve blood and slimy substances, resulting in a fishy and unpleasant soup.
- Fry the fish before cooking the soup to allow it to absorb spices evenly without breaking. Add the fried fish to the boiling soup pot with other ingredients and spices, cook for a while, and then serve.
Adding Herbs for Flavor
After cooking the fish soup, add herbs to enhance the flavor. Consider using herbs such as cilantro, basil, or parsley. These herbs will complement the taste and aroma of the fish.
Remember these tips for cooking delicious, non-fishy fish dishes. Feel free to share your own tips for cooking other fish soups.