Today is: 07.25.2008
|
Home
|
Mise En Place with Chef Donna-Choosing Seafood |
|
|
|
With summertime fast approaching, and more of us looking for high-protein, low fat selections, seafood is a delicious and healthy alternative to turn to. Although some may be skeptical with regard to selection and preparation, seafood is relatively quick and easy to prepare in many different forms. Don’t let it be something exclusive to ordering out. Whether grilling, broiling, poaching, steaming, baking, pan or deep frying, seafood in any form can be done at home in a snap.
So how do you choose the freshest seafood available? Since fish and shellfish are our most perishable food, proper selection, handling and storage are imperative. There are eight characteristics of fresh fish to consider when selecting:• Smell – A fresh cucumber-like, sea breeze scent. A strong fish odor or one of ammonia is not acceptable.• Eyes – Whole fish should have bulging clear, full eyes.• Touch – Flesh should be firm and elastic, not soft.• Gills – Bright red; not gray or pale with slime.• Scales – Tight to the body.• Skin – Unblemished, even color.• Slime – A natural slime indicative to fish.• Live Shellfish – All mollusks – clams, mussels, oysters and crustaceans-lobsters, crabs should be alive prior to cooking. Shells of mollusks may open naturally but will close tightly when tapped, indicating they are alive. Those shells which do not open after cooking preparation should be discarded. Scallops are usually sold shucked. They vary in size by distinction of type: sea, bay or calico. “Dry scallops” are those which have no additives to lengthen their shelf life. Although more costly, dry scallops are by far the most flavorful. Fresh seafood should be stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator for up to two days. Bags of ice should be placed on top, and replaced when the need arises. Remember, when in doubt, throw it out! Perhaps the biggest blunder in preparation is overcooking. Seafood cooks quickly and may toughen or dry if one does not pay attention to cooking time. Optimize your preparation time by having all your mise en place together for the entire meal, timing out your seafood recipe to be served immediately when done. A perfect example of this would be if you were making a Seafood Marinara. The shellfish would be added “a la minute,” or at the last possible moment. Because it takes only minutes for shellfish to cook, additions such as shrimp, mussels, clams, calamari, etc., would toughen and be chewy if placed in the sauce too early. They should transcend from a semi lucent to opaque color making them tender with their liquor enhancing the flavor of the sauce. Soooo, where do you go to purchase fresh, quality seafood at the Jersey Shore? The best place is one that has a consistent quality. The following are some of our favorites:• The Lusty Lobster 88 Bay Avenue, Highlands – 732-291-1548• Klein’s Fish Market Waterside Café & Express River Road, Belmar –732-291-1548• The New Mister Shrimp 1837 Highway 35, Wall – 732-449-7557. Now that you are ready to select fish and know what essential tool to use, the last step is preparation. All the methods I described above are methods of cooking. Creativity is your friend with seafood. You can do anything with it provided you know which fish are the best to use for each method. Oily fishes, such as those rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids are generally not suitable for deep frying or pan frying preparations. Rather, poaching, grilling, baking, or broiling would optimize and enhance the flavor of the fish. To learn more about Seafood preparation, a wonderful compliment to any kitchen library is Fish & Shellfish, by James Peterson. This indispensable book will make you loose your inhibitions with regard to seafood and give you the confidence to incorporate these delicious additions to your meal planning at home. Bon Appetit!
|
|
Awning Design - All about Solar Shades
With everyone on the "green" train for environmental conservation, we thought that you would like to learn more about Durasol Shades - A way to lower your air conditioning bill and save your furniture, all in one shot. One local company can show you how with solar shades.
A Gift From The Heart
Here's a gift idea that will last FOREVER. Metromemoriesusa.com is ready to transfer all of your priceless family memories onto a DVD so you can give a gift from the heart. Follow This Link to an amazing gift idea www.metromemoriesusa.com
|
