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Red Snapper is a food fish, a particularly valuable delicacy in many countries. It lives in the warm tropical and subtropical waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. You can easily recognize a fish by its appearance – it has a large head and a flattened body.
Chefs like to use red snapper to prepare a variety of dishes. They use the softest and most tender part – fillets. But is this red snapper so good and is it possible to cook it at home?
Is red snapper healthy?
Red snapper is a low-calorie fish, rich in its nutritional composition. The product contains a high content of protein and water. The main disadvantage is the low content of vitamins. However, experts found a sufficient amount of sulfur and phosphorus in the fish. Why is it worth eating red snapper?
- A source of nutrients that saturate the body
- Improvement of metabolic processes in the body
- Strengthening the condition of blood vessels and heart
- Lowering the concentration of cholesterol in the blood
- Normalization of blood pressure
- Promotes weight loss
- Protection of the child’s body from rickets
- Improvement of the nervous system
- Normalization of the thyroid gland
- Strengthening immune system
This dietary product has almost no contraindications to use. However, the exception is people with individual intolerance to sea fish. Also, pay special attention to the process of cutting and cleaning red snapper.
Sea fish contains high levels of mercury and poisons harmful to the human body. These toxic substances can cause poisoning of the body or the appearance of allergic reactions.
Storage features
Sea fish requires special storage and transportation conditions. Professional chefs have highlighted several tips that will help you increase the shelf life of red snapper:
- Do not store fish in a cellophane bag. It is best to use thick parchment paper.
- Be sure to remove all the insides. Saltwater fish contains high levels of mercury and toxins, which you should thoroughly cleanout.
- Remove excess moisture. After washing the fish under cold water, wipe off excess water with paper towels. It will prevent rotting.
- Choose the coldest place in the refrigerator to store fresh fish.
- Additionally, place the fish in ice. Fill the fish from the top and bottom.
- Lubricate the fish or fillet with vegetable oil and place it in the refrigerator. Choose an oil without smell and pronounced taste.
- Cool the fish before freezing in the freezer. For a more efficient process, cut the fillet into small pieces.
Cleaning red snapper
Before cooking the fish, clean the product properly. Professional chefs advise doing this as follows:
- Remove the scales from the fish with a kitchen knife. Don’t forget to wear gloves to protect your skin.
- Rinse the cleaned fish with cold water.
- Open the fish’s stomach and take out the internal organs. Rinse the fish again.
- Separate the head, tail, and fins from the fish. Leave only the fillets.
- Dry the red snapper with a paper towel.
- Sprinkle the fish with lemon juice mixed with vinegar solution.
What does red snapper taste like?
Red snapper fillet has an exceptional nutty taste and a dense texture. This sea fish is perfectly combined with herbs like dill, parsley, and oregano. You can also choose spices as an addition to the dish.
The main criterion of choice is not a sharp taste, which will not spoil the quality of the product. If you don’t have seasonings at hand, use regular salt and pepper.
How long to bake red snapper at 375
Baking is a fast way to cook fillets of sea fish. Lubricate the surface of the dishes with olive oil to prevent the red snapper from sticking to the baking sheet. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Next, put the fillets on a baking sheet and add all the necessary seasonings and spices. The baking time is 25 minutes. In order not to over-dry the fish, check it by piercing it with a fork.
How to cook red snapper fillets in a pan
Another way to cook red snapper is frying in a frying pan. So that the fish does not burn and turn out juicy, follow the cooking instructions from professional chefs:
- Butcher the fish: remove the internal organs, cut off the tail and head. Leave only small pieces of fillet.
- Blot the fillets with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- Add salt and pepper to the fillet, rub thoroughly into the surface of the fish.
- Heat a frying pan and add olive oil.
- Place the red snapper fillet in the pan with the skin down.
- Fry on both sides until golden brown.
- Serve with melted butter and lemon slices.
What’s the difference between snapper and red snapper?
The main difference between two related fish species is in their color and habitat. Red snapper is distinguished by its pinkish hue and silvery luster. An ordinary snapper is unremarkable, you don’t even immediately recognize it among the perches.
However, only red snapper is a delicacy. It’s all about the rarity of the fish. It lives in deep seas, making mining more difficult. To cope with this problem, private fishermen have even started to open their fish farms, where they grow red snappers and sell them all over the world at a high price.
Why is red snapper chewy?
Red snapper has a viscous consistency due to its habitat in salty waters. Especially the structure of the fish becomes dense with age.
Professional chefs advise buying younger individuals to avoid this problem. You can also make the fish softer by soaking it in marinades. Vinegar or soy sauce will best cope with the chewy taste.
Best way to cook red snapper fillets
There are many ways to prepare red snapper. They differ in the cooking time and the method of preserving the useful substances of the product. Professional chefs in restaurants prefer to fry deep-fried red snapper fillets. To make the dish juicy, follow the step-by-step instructions:
- Clean the fish from the scales and remove all internal organs.
- Prepare the breading. To prepare dry breadcrumbs, mix 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add black and red pepper to taste.
- Prepare the fryer and heat the oil.
- Roll the fillets in breadcrumbs from all sides. You can use a life hack: put the breading in a bag and shake the fillet pieces there alternately.
- Fry the fillet of red snapper deep-fried. A few minus points on each side.
- Dry the fillets in breadcrumbs on paper towels.
Mediterranean red snapper fillet recipe
The Mediterranean red snapper has a particularly dense structure. To make the fillet softer, many add tamarind marinade. It makes the dish juicy and tender. If you want to cook a dish according to this recipe, prepare the following ingredients:
- tamarind – 2 tablespoons
- cold water – 2 cups
- shallots – 2 pieces
- garlic – 3 cloves
- coriander roots – 2 teaspoons
- Asian fish sauce – 1 tablespoon
- sugar – 1/2 teaspoon
- salt – 1/2 teaspoon
- vegetable oil – 1/2 teaspoon
- red pepper – 2 pieces
- Thai basil
- fillet of red snapper
- green onion
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Pour water into a bowl and add tamarind. Let stand for 10 minutes.
- Finely chop the garlic and shallots.
- Add shallots, garlic, coriander roots, Asian fish sauce, sugar, and salt to tamarind water.
- Put water on the stove and cook for 2 minutes. The mixture should become thick.
- Preheat the frying pan and put the fish fillets on it.
- Season the fish with salt and fry for no more than 10 minutes.
- While the fish is frying, finely chop the chives and red bell pepper.
- Put the prepared fish on a plate, add thick sauce, and chopped vegetables.
Broiled red snapper recipe
You can also cook red snapper fillet most healthily – broil it. To do this, prepare the following ingredients:
- 1/2 cup of classic pepper sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato ketchup
- 1/2 pack of butter
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- fillet of fish
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Put all the ingredients in a saucepan. Heat it.
- Add pepper sauce, salt, and sugar to the mixture to taste.
- Clean the fish and rinse it under cold water.
- Bake the fish in the oven. Add the prepared sauce to it. The finished fish will be pierced easily with a fork.
Seasonings
Fish goes well with many seasonings and spices. They help make the taste of the dish more saturated and remove the unpleasant smell. The main thing is to choose those options that will not block the taste of the dish itself. Each fish recipe requires a mixture of seasonings.
However, chefs distinguished a list of the most suitable options: bay leaf, rosemary, basil, oregano, turmeric, tamarind, nutmeg, and coriander. Keep in mind that baking dishes with spices and seasonings requires special control and temperature adjustment. For example, a dish cooked with hot spices will be ready faster on 2 mins cook.
Marinades
If you want to speed up the process of cooking fish and make the fillet more tender and juicy, use soaking in the marinade. Here are the most suitable options:
- mustard + honey sauce
- soy sauce and balsamic vinegar
- white wine + spices
Using marinades will make home cook fish more tender and juicy. If you don’t have time to soak the fish in the marinade, use a cooking spray or a silicone brush.
What to serve with
The taste of red snapper is best revealed in combination with lemon slices. Not only can you put them on a plate when serving, but you can also squeeze the lemon juice into the fillet itself before frying.
You can also serve fish with herbs: parsley, dill, and basil. Coarse side dishes like potatoes will not work – they will block the unique nutty taste of red snapper. You can also rub parmesan cheese to give the dish an even more unusual taste.
Substitutes for red snapper
If you don’t have red snapper in your kitchen, you can use the available substitutes. Among them:
- Whiting. This fish has a similar nutritional composition: high content of protein and unsaturated fats. Nutritionists consider whiting an excellent component for maintaining a diet.
- Cod. This fish has a similar nutty taste and dense structure. This large fish has white layered meat, which is to the taste of everyone who has tried it at least once.
- Sea bass. You can easily find this substitute in any market. Among the advantages: rich vitamin and mineral composition, nutritional properties, and affordable price.
- An ordinary snapper. This type of fish is more accessible than its unique subspecies. It has the same taste and density as meat. You will also be able to find it easier on the market and buy it at a more affordable price.
Verdict
Red snapper is a unique and expensive delicacy. Chefs around the world include dishes from this fish in the list of their favorites. Snapper has a high protein and fat content, saturating the body for the whole day.
An only drawback is a small number of vitamins. Nutritionists note the low-calorie content of the product and its hypoallergenic. Contraindications to use apply only to those who suffer from complete intolerance to fish products. There are many ways to prepare red snapper. You can fry the dish in a frying pan, stew it in the oven, or deep fry it.
The main purpose of cooking is to get rid of the thick consistency of the product. Marinades and sauces will help you make the dish juicier.