Cooking Fish - Help!!

[Neely]

I've never really been one to eat fish. I'll have it on rare occasion when someone else cooks it. But I think it's about time I bite the bullet and start eating more of it. Plus, the price of Tilapia has gone way down around here :D

Sooo... being that I've never cooked fish before, I need some lessons. How do you cook yours? What kind of seasonings do you use? How long will it keep in the fridge once it's cooked?

I'm a good cook, but with this, I feel so lost :o

[Lex]

Oh, good topic! The dreaded fish! Well, I'm in prep and have 2 daily fish meals as of now. I certainly go through phases of being able to tolerate a certain type of fish or it being cooked a certain way. Here are the three ways I can do it:

1) TUNA: measure your tuna and put it in a tupperware. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Then 1-3 (I'm an :angel: and would never spray more than the serving size! :p) sprays of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter on the top. Then I sprinkle Molly McButter Cheddar Cheese Sprinkles and put in the microwave for 35 seconds. I SWEAR it is like a tuna melt! NOT for those watching their sodium!

2) http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m85/lexmck/225_6540_CAJUNSSN.gif

I LOVE this spice combo on my orange roughy or tilapia. It is McCormick's Gourmet Cajun Spice. The regular McCormick's cajun spice was NASTY, so be sure to get this one! Cover both sides and grill to a crisp on the Foreman...mmm! Then I squeeze fresh lemon on it.

3) Orange roughy or tilapia CEVICHE: One of my close friends is the executive chef at Houston's Restaurant here in SF. She invited me to a party last week and told me to bring my fish. OH it was SO good! :p

Cut your white fish in very small cubes and place into a bowl. Chop fresh cilantro, garlic, one white/yellow onion and 4 small cerrano peppers. Mix all ingredients in with the fish. Then squeeze the juice of 3 limes into the whole mixture. Place into the fridge for 3 hours and VOILA - fresh ceviche! The lime juice will cook the fish within 3 hours, but you may steam the fish first and then just let it cool in the fridge until it reaches your desired temp.

Enjoy! :)

[NPCFigure 40]

I like to cook my talapia in the oven in tin foil packets. I marinate them in lemon juice for about 5-7 min. Then I sprinkle them with Mc cormicks lemon/pepper seasoning, and a little parsley. I thinly slice onion and pepper and lay them across the top I add alittle minced garlic and some real lemon slices and I bake it for 15 min at 350 degrees. Yummy!!

[sixzebra]

If you want to spend the extra money, orange roughy is great! I can't stomach talapia anymore.

I place it on a foil and sprinkle some salt/pepper, and layer some fresh rosemary and dill on top, seal the foil and bake on 380 for 30 mins. That, for me, cooks it perfectly. And if I cook two meals, microwaves well also.

But you could do your talapia the same way.
edit: i cook my fish from freezer straight to oven, hence the longer cooking time.

[Neely]

You guys are awesome!! :respect:


So when it comes to fish, I assume it's best not to cook much at once? As in, it won't be 'good' for long once it's cooked?

[SBT]

I like a little drizzle of white wine too if you can have that and some tomato basil garlic mrs dash... other then that I stick with some lemon and pepper or cajun seasoning :)

[Suzanne]

When Jeremy said i had to have Salmon twice a week I nearly puked YUCK! (well except cooked at a restaurant)

First Salmon I tried was sockeye eeeewwww WAY too salmony It took me forever to choke it down

then i talked to whole foods fish guy and went with fresh norwegion

I use
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41JNSW3MC0L._SS500_.jpg

the seafood magic and some lemon and broil and actually wasn't bad

[Suzanne]

Unless it it not a option I only eat fish the day it is cooked. I now only by fresh fish and cut into my portion size and freeze immediately and only take out the serving i need for tha day

[IslandGirl]

I like a little drizzle of white wine too if you can have that and some tomato basil garlic mrs dash... other then that I stick with some lemon and pepper or cajun seasoning :)

Yes, SBT suggested I try the white wine and wow, I really liked it. I drizzle over the orange roughy with Chef Paul seafood magic (^what Suzanne suggested).

I'm simple when I cook cuz' I don't have alot of time so with fish, I just bake it in the oven in a glass dish with whatever seasoning for 9-11 minutes for light fish and salmon I think it was slightly more.

I do not care for any fish that has a strong fishy odor. That turns me off. When I first start off dieting I'll eat orange roughy, tilapia, halibut (very expensive), catfish (once in a great while)....but I end up with just orange roughy because the others end up tasting yucky or it's too expensive (halibut).

[Shelly]

ugh i hate fish and i have it EVERYDAY DURING PREP! :(

i usually drown it in lemon juice... and lemon pepper seasoning...

we just got a huge grill... so this yr i think we'll try throwing it on there.

everything tastes better on the grill :D

[dvsness]

I prefer my fish poached and I usually put cinnamon on it during prep. :nuts:

[Ondrea]

I cook mine on the forman. I like to make it every day instead of keeping it in the fridge. And it takes about 10 min or less on the forum, so it is doable to do it before work in the a.m.

lemon or lime juice

red wine vinegar

cinnamon

caynanne pepper

I'm not fancy with it!

Orange roughy does not need anything..so good...but EXPENSIVE!

[Neely]

All of you have helped me out soooo much with this! :respect:

I haven't bought any fish yet... planning to early next week when I do my shopping again. I'll have to let y'all know how bad I butcher things the first couple of tries lol.

[SunlovinCO]

We buy pounds and pounds of tilapia and then individually freeze a few servings so we can just pull them out each day....

We have a large spice rack and each day I just randomly choose a new spice....

I typically bake it in the overn but at work or in a rush I use steam bags in the microwave...

http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b13
http://www.glad.com/simplycooking/

OFF-SEASON Fish:
Now, when you are not dieting/on prep, try a little mayo with some red pepper and just smear it on top of the fish and bake... mmmmm, it makes a little golden crust. I love it!
Or a few spoons of Cream of wheat or corn meal sprinkled on top give a great crunch as well!

Good Luck!

[DanielleA]

I usually drown everything in lemon also. When orange roughy REALLY starts to get to me, I actually eat it cold/room temperature. For some reason it goes down easier, maybe bc it's more chewy and less flaky.

This season I'm going to try baking it in foil packets and outdoor grilling, maybe that will help!

[NYCStrongFox]

Aw, the famous how to cook fish question lol. Always great to get new ideas.
I grill mine on the griddle most of the time, but when I'm not in the "chef" mood and cook 100 meals at once, I throw all the fish in the over in foil. But, with orange roughy, I burn it on the grill lol. Mrs. Dash Southwestern Chipotle is awesome with a lil spice kick. I put it in my eggs and on chicken too. I clean out the Wal Mart shelf of that one kind lol.

[atrain]

All fish sucks, some fish just sucks less. With talapia the brown spots/streak through the center is where the strong fishy taste/smell comes from.

Mrs dash puts out a lot of good spices you can use with your fish. I use the lemon pepper. If the fish taste is still too strong for you, a little basil added to the lemon pepper helps a lot.

I cook Lori's in a skillet on 60% heat. You flip the fish over when the tops become white. Fish cooks pretty fast and you have to keep a eye on it. Once you have fixed it a few times, it becomes really easy.

[Marie Ann Newman]

You guys all sound like real cooks. Jim and I sautee' (sp) everything in olive oil spray. No seasoning!!! Talapia, chicken, ground turkey, ground meat, ect.... We are so boring. We have done it for so loong now that I am use to it. Jim actually likes it this way. He really likes bland foods.

I have always hated fish, but I have learned to handle it pre-contest.

[Dane22]

I've never really been one to eat fish. I'll have it on rare occasion when someone else cooks it. But I think it's about time I bite the bullet and start eating more of it. Plus, the price of Tilapia has gone way down around here :D

Sooo... being that I've never cooked fish before, I need some lessons. How do you cook yours? What kind of seasonings do you use? How long will it keep in the fridge once it's cooked?

I'm a good cook, but with this, I feel so lost :o

Try Tilapia with a pinch of sea salt if you can still have it and fresh pepper and garlic and ff cooking spray
Also if you like tuna try tuna steaks... I ground up oatmeal and flax seed in a coffee grinder and and season it with a pinch of sea salt fresh pepper garlic and chipoltle pepper. High heat with 1/2 olive oil and sear to rare about 1 to 1.5 min on each side... nice and crusty, and still cool in the center, and if you cook more than one, let it cool and save it for a salad the next day. Yummm

[Shelly]

You guys all sound like real cooks. Jim and I sautee' (sp) everything in olive oil spray. No seasoning!!! Talapia, chicken, ground turkey, ground meat, ect.... We are so boring. We have done it for so loong now that I am use to it. Jim actually likes it this way. He really likes bland foods.

I have always hated fish, but I have learned to handle it pre-contest.

amen to that i WILL NOT TOUCH it unless i am dieting.

[presshard]

I like cutting slices of lemon and placing on each piece of fish (helps with the fishy taste).....then place on foil and grill. Yummy!

[sdahlum]

PENZEY'S SPICES!!! Go to http://www.penzeys.com. They have so many awesome seasoning blends. I use it on all of my meat, and it's like having something new every day :) Our cabinet is stocked full of the stuff. My favorite is the Fox Point on fish, but I finished that bottle up the other day, so I used the Greek seasoning tonight on my orange roughy. Yum! I really can't get enough of it. I completely cover the filets in the seasoning (both sides) and either bake it in a glass dish, or "fry" it on the stove in a cast iron skillet with some olive oil cooking spray.

Seriously, with all the chicken breasts, beef, and fish I'm eating, I never get sick of them with all of the different Penzey's seasonings (no, I don't own stock in the company- just truly love their stuff!!).

[KristineLarge]

I like cod, baked with lemon pepper on top!

[Shelly]

I like cutting slices of lemon and placing on each piece of fish (helps with the fishy taste).....then place on foil and grill. Yummy!

maybe ill try this... i hate when its fishy tasting... prob b/ i hate fish lol

[Latinfitgirl]

What other of the Penzeys spices do you recommend?


PENZEY'S SPICES!!! Go to http://www.penzeys.com. They have so many awesome seasoning blends. I use it on all of my meat, and it's like having something new every day :) Our cabinet is stocked full of the stuff. My favorite is the Fox Point on fish, but I finished that bottle up the other day, so I used the Greek seasoning tonight on my orange roughy. Yum! I really can't get enough of it. I completely cover the filets in the seasoning (both sides) and either bake it in a glass dish, or "fry" it on the stove in a cast iron skillet with some olive oil cooking spray.

Seriously, with all the chicken breasts, beef, and fish I'm eating, I never get sick of them with all of the different Penzey's seasonings (no, I don't own stock in the company- just truly love their stuff!!).

[Betsy]

PENZEY'S SPICES!!! Go to http://www.penzeys.com. They have so many awesome seasoning blends. I use it on all of my meat, and it's like having something new every day :) Our cabinet is stocked full of the stuff. My favorite is the Fox Point on fish, but I finished that bottle up the other day, so I used the Greek seasoning tonight on my orange roughy. Yum! I really can't get enough of it. I completely cover the filets in the seasoning (both sides) and either bake it in a glass dish, or "fry" it on the stove in a cast iron skillet with some olive oil cooking spray.

Seriously, with all the chicken breasts, beef, and fish I'm eating, I never get sick of them with all of the different Penzey's seasonings (no, I don't own stock in the company- just truly love their stuff!!).

Ill have to check this out!!! :awesome:

[Siouxcountry]

What other of the Penzeys spices do you recommend?

Welcome, Alexandra! :waving:

[Shelly]

What other of the Penzeys spices do you recommend?

hey A! Welcome!!:bunny:

[sdahlum]

What other of the Penzeys spices do you recommend?

Here's a rundown of my favorites:
Fox Point (my all time favorite)
Smoky 4/S seasoned salt (can't be without this one!!)
Sandwich sprinkle (good on everything)
Shallot salt
Rocky Mountain
Northwoods
Greek Seasoning
Turkish Seasoning
Chicago Steak
Adobo
Garden Salad (awesome on all veggies)
Salad Elegant
Apple Pie spice
Pumpkin Pie spice (I like adding these to my protein shakes, cottage cheese, etc)

They have some great pepper blends, too (California Seasoned pepper is really good) but I'm just not big on peppery- spicy flavors. I prefer salty :)

Let me know if you all try any others that you like!

[Trish]

I cooke Tilapia basically every month.

I mix 1tbsp of fennel seeds, Turmenic, kosher salt, black paper all together and then sprinkle on each side of the fish. I cook it in a non stick pan with non-stick olive oil spray, i put a the lid on the pan and cook for a few minutes then flip. If you can afford to you can get a tsp of honey and then sprinkle it over the tilapia while its cooking and it kind of burn on to the fish.

Hope that helps. That is how I make it and then I weigh and divide in individual bowls and I eat it all week. So I would say it keeps well for at least 4-5 days. :)

Trish :)

[Latinfitgirl]

Thank you I don't post much but I'm on your board DAILY. Love it but had to ask about the spices mainly because I don't know how to cook fish...

Welcome, Alexandra! :waving:

[Latinfitgirl]

Thanks, this board is super sweet you guys are always so welcoming to your board members. Nice to see.

hey A! Welcome!!:bunny:

[Siouxcountry]

I cooke Tilapia basically every month.

I mix 1tbsp of fennel seeds, Turmenic, kosher salt, black paper all together and then sprinkle on each side of the fish. I cook it in a non stick pan with non-stick olive oil spray, i put a the lid on the pan and cook for a few minutes then flip. If you can afford to you can get a tsp of honey and then sprinkle it over the tilapia while its cooking and it kind of burn on to the fish.

Hope that helps. That is how I make it and then I weigh and divide in individual bowls and I eat it all week. So I would say it keeps well for at least 4-5 days. :)

Trish :)

Hi Trish, happy to see you accepted my invite. Make yourself at home. :waving:

Thank you I don't post much but I'm on your board DAILY. Love it but had to ask about the spices mainly because I don't know how to cook fish...

Thanks, Alex! Feel free to post more. If you are competing this year and would like to be on our list of competitors let me know... LINK (http://www.siouxcountry.com/showthread.php?t=67) :)

[truds]

What a great thread! My diet is 80% fish at the moment... and I hate fish.. gross! :puke: I'll be trying all of these tips and tricks! Thanks everyone! :awesome:

[Shelly]

What a great thread! My diet is 80% fish at the moment... and I hate fish.. gross! :puke: I'll be trying all of these tips and tricks! Thanks everyone! :awesome:

im with you girl i have it on my diet allll the way theu and I HATE IT WITH A PASSION! i usually take bites and swig it down with water so i dont even chew it more like swallowing whole lol

[Valerie Haines]

I like to put a little garlic salt on mine and stick in under the broiler and get it nice and CRISPY!!!!!

[bree marsh]

im with you girl i have it on my diet allll the way theu and I HATE IT WITH A PASSION! i usually take bites and swig it down with water so i dont even chew it more like swallowing whole lol

dang, why eat it if you hate it!!!

[Shelly]

dang, why eat it if you hate it!!!

b/ its on my diet...and for a reason...so i suck it up and do what i am told lol

[Betsy]

b/ its on my diet...and for a reason...so i suck it up and do what i am told lol

If I could eat only the foods i like and get lean id be show shape all year long!!

eating fish is part of the whole training experience.. and it has a way different effect on your prep than chicken or eggs.. etc.. so we eat it when told!!