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Wahoo is an expensive marine fish that lives in tropical seas. It has a thin elongated body and a bright tiger color. Wahoo is one of the most beautiful and fastest marine fish, thanks to the structure of the body, it can make throws at speeds up to 80 km/h.
The weight of the largest wahoo caught so far is 83 kg, and the length is 2.5 meters, but the average weight of the fish is 10-20 kg. Wahoo is unique not only for its coloring but for the most part for its nutritional and taste qualities.
Chefs around the world are developing various recipes and cooking technologies for the product.
What type of fish is wahoo?
Wahoo is a species of ray-finned fish in the mackerel family. The fish lives along the Atlantic coast of the USA from Florida and further north, in the Gulf of Mexico, near the coasts of Panama, Australia, and South Africa.
Professional chefs distinguish the common names of wahoo – “Pacific royal fish” and “peto”. It has a rather unusual structure — unlike other mackerel, it completely lacks gill stamens. Wahoos lead an autonomous lifestyle and feed on squid. It affects the nutritional value of the product.
Wahoo: pros and cons
Wahoo is one of the largest mackerel fish species distinguished by its rich vitamin and mineral composition. Also, professional chefs consider this product the most delicious of all similar individuals.
Wahoo has a high-fat content, but the caloric content of fish is quite low – 110 kcal per 100 grams. Biologists warn about the instability of the fish composition, as it varies depending on three important factors: age, time of catch, and habitat. But in terms of the vitamin and mineral complex, all specimens have identical indicators, providing: B vitamins, phosphorus, sulfur, potassium, chlorine, calcium, magnesium, and sodium.
Only 300 grams of such fish will become the daily norm of phosphorus, and 400 grams will provide the daily need for potassium. This composition of the product has a positive effect on the human body:
- slows down the aging process
- prevents the development of cardiovascular diseases
- promotes the breakdown of accumulated fats
- controls cellular DNA synthesis
- nourishes cartilage cells with oxygen
However, any product can also harm the body. In the case of wahoo, there are only a few possible contraindications to use:
- the probability of toxic substances
- chronic intolerance to the product
What does wahoo taste like?
Chefs around the world appreciate wahoo for its taste qualities. Fish meat can be white and gray, thin and dense. The taste of the product is similar to mackerel but less pronounced. It has created some demand for wahoo as a fish sold at a premium price.
In many areas of its habitat, such as Hawaii, Bermuda, and many parts of the Caribbean, local demand is increasing precisely because of the product’s taste. Thus, the wahoo is a low-fat, hard fish with a mild flavor, versatile enough to cook it according to different recipes.
How often can you eat wahoo?
Including wahoo in your diet, it is significant to remember that this kind of fish is fatty. You need to carefully and moderately consume it. A healthy person on average can eat 150-200 grams of wahoo 2-3 times a week.
However, the daily rate of fish depends on the cooking method and age. For example, you should reduce the amount of lightly salted products by 30%. Elderly people need to eat no more than 150 grams a day up to 2 times a week. Being a supplier of priceless Omega fatty acids that help prevent cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, arthritis, wahoo can harm metabolism.
It is important to note that only fresh or freshly frozen fish will retain all the value of the beneficial elements that it contains.
Does wahoo have bones?
Professional chefs appreciate wahoo not only for its nutritional properties but also for the absence of small bones. This greatly simplifies the process of cutting and cooking fish. The product has only the main spine and small side bones that you can easily separate from the meat.
You can easily remove them with a regular kitchen knife. Most often, manufacturers sell frozen fish without bones at all.
What is the best-tasting fish?
Each fish has a unique and inimitable taste. However, not all species have a pronounced flavor. According to gourmets, the most delicious fish is tuna. It is part of the mackerel family and resembles red meat in structure.
Also on the top of the most delicious fish are salmon, perch, and trout. The mackerel family occupies a separate place in this list. You will not confuse the taste of such fish with anything: a bright aroma combined with a whole spectrum of flavors.
How to choose wahoo right?
It is best to buy freshly frozen or smoked wahoo. Choose fish at the farmer’s market to reduce the risk of buying a low-quality or spoiled product. The ideal wahoo has several significant features:
- smooth skin without damage
- dense and elastic carcass
- the aroma of fresh fish
When buying, pay attention to the following:
- the presence of fins and tail
- uniform color without yellowness and spots
- fresh sea fragrance
It is better to choose dry freezing. Then, after defrosting, you increase the probability of obtaining the initial product’s weight. If you are lucky and have found a fresh one, pay attention to the eyes. They should not be cloudy.
Do not be lazy and open the gill slits. The gills of fresh fish is pink and odorless. Do not neglect the advice from experts on the choice of wahoo. It will help you avoid poisoning or stomach problems.
How long to grill wahoo
You can choose different ways to prepare fish. However, the preparation of grilled wahoo remains the fastest. To make the dish tasty, make a marinade of sour cream or mayonnaise in advance.
Remove the wahoo fillets from the marinade and place them on a hot grill. Let the fillets cook for about 4 minutes on each side, until the fish begins to separate easily from the bone. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the dish.
To kill all the bacteria inside the marine product, the internal temperature of the wahoo must reach 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a product becomes completely suitable and safe for consumption.
Best Way To Cook Wahoo (In A Frying Pan)
You can also quickly cook wahoo in a frying pan. To successfully repeat the recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- wahoo — 1 kilogram
- salt – 1.5 teaspoons
- ground pepper – 1 pinch
- flour — 100-150 grams
- dry spicy spices – 1 pinch
- olive oil – 100 grams
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Clean the fish, rinse, cut off the head.
- Cut the wahoo fillet into medium-sized pieces.
- Add salt and pepper to the fish, sprinkle with a mixture of spices and leave in a bowl for 15 minutes for marinating.
- Put the pan on medium heat. Roll the fish in flour and place it in a frying pan.
- Fry until golden brown for 5-10 minutes.
Best way to grill ono fish
You can cook a delicious lunch or a light dinner without using a stove – on an electric grill. Wahoo will be ready in about 5-8 minutes! To repeat the recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- wahoo – 2 pcs
- lemon – 1 pc
- soy sauce – 120 ml
- vegetable oil – 1.5 tbsp
- salt – 2 pinches
- ground black pepper – 1 pinch
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Let the fish thaw at room temperature.
- Cut off the heads, remove the insides and the black film inside the abdomen. Cut off the fins and rinse the carcasses in water inside and out.
- Pour soy sauce, vegetable oil into a deep bowl and squeeze the juice of half a lemon. Mix gently.
- Cut each carcass in half to the back, cut the ridge along the length on both sides. Put fish in a container or a deep bowl.
- Pour over the prepared sauce. Cut the remaining half of the lemon into slices and put it on the fish.
- Leave the mackerel to marinate for 2 hours in the refrigerator.
- Grease the grill grates with oil and put the wahoo there. The frying time is 5 minutes on each side.
Wahoo sauce recipe
To make the wahoo meat tender and juicy, make the right sauce for marinating. Professional chefs advise making tomato sauce. To prepare it, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- water – 2 cups
- wheat flour – 1.5 tablespoons
- butter – 20 grams
- tomato paste – 1.5 tablespoons
- onion – 1 piece
- carrot – 1 piece
- sugar – 1 teaspoon
- red pepper
- lemon juice
- bay leaf
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Lightly fry the flour in a dry frying pan. Dilute with hot fish broth or water until smooth.
- Chop the onion and the roots of parsley, carrots, celery. Then put them out slightly with the addition of oil in a frying pan.
- Add tomato paste to the vegetables and continue to simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- Pour water into the pan and simmer for another 20 minutes. At the end of cooking, add salt, sugar, pepper, lemon juice.
- Strain the sauce, rub the roots through a sieve or use a blender. Bring to a boil.
Baked wahoo with mayonnaise
You can also bake wahoo in the oven with marinade. Professional chefs advise making a marinade from mayonnaise. To repeat this recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- wahoo — 1 piece
- walnuts — 60-80 grams
- cheese — 70 grams
- mayonnaise – 1-2 tablespoons
- mustard — 1 tablespoon
- lemon juice – 1 tablespoon
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Clean the fish, cut off the fins, head, and gut. Cut lengthwise and open the fish, carefully removing the ridge and large bones.
- Season the fillets with salt and pepper, lightly sprinkle with lemon juice. Then smear with mustard.
- Chop the walnuts finely. Sprinkle the nuts evenly over the fish.
- Then sprinkle with grated cheese.
- Brush the aluminum foil with butter.
- Wrap the fish in foil and send it to the oven preheated to 180-190 C for 15 minutes. Check the readiness of the product with a food thermometer.
How to cook wahoo steaks in the oven
If you want to cook juicy steaks from wahoo, use mustard-soy sauce. To repeat the recipe, prepare the necessary ingredients:
- wahoo – 2 pcs
- onion – 1 piece
- soy sauce – 3 tablespoons
- mustard – 2 tablespoons
- mayonnaise – 2 tablespoons
Step-by-step cooking technology:
- Defrost the fish and clean it from the insides and fins.
- Cut the peeled fillet into portions of the required size.
- Peel the onion and cut it into rings.
- Mix mustard, soy sauce, and mayonnaise for the sauce.
- Dip each piece into the sauce, leave to marinate for 20 minutes.
- Turn on the oven. Grease the baking dish with vegetable oil.
- Put the onion in the first layer. Place the prepared fish on it. Pour the remaining sauce over the top.
- Bake the wahoo in the oven at 190 degrees Fahrenheit until golden brown for 30 minutes.
Life hacks for cooking fish
So that the preparation of wahoo does not cause you difficulties, take into account several tips from professional chefs. You can find convenient life hacks among them:
- The classic way to rid river fish of a specific smell and taste of mud is to soak it in milk.
- Use lemon to break down fish fibers. It will help make the fillet juicier.
- Salt the product 10 minutes before the end of cooking. It will help the fish stay juicy.
- The most dietary and healthy way of cooking fish is evaporation.
- Use an abundance of spices to give the fish a golden crust and a crispy structure.
- The key point for grilling fish is the perfect cleanliness of the device.
- Use lime juice or vegetable oil to remove the fishy smell.
- Defrost the fish only at room temperature naturally. It will help you to preserve the nutritional properties of the product.
Closing
Wahoo fish has unique taste qualities. It is a source of valuable vitamins and minerals beneficial for the human body. In appearance, you may confuse this species with a barracuda or king mackerel. However, the unique flavor and smell will not let you make a mistake.
Also, you can do various things with this product: bake, stew, and grill. The cooking method only helps to reveal the taste of this unique fish.
To simplify yourself, buy a product with pre-cut and cleaned flesh. Choose any recipe that suits you and experiment with the unique taste qualities of tropical wahoo fish!