Eating fish is highly recommended because of the numerous health benefits it has. No matter if you like it grilled or prepared any other way, it is just important to consume it a few times a week. It is full of omega 3 fatty acids, as well as vitamin D, calcium, iron, magnesium, iodine, and many others necessary for keeping our bodies healthy. By having it regularly on your plate, you will feel better, healthier, and happier because of all the nutrients it has. If you are fed up with the ordinary kinds of fish that are typically made, look into the ways how to prepare a sturgeon.
What is so special about a sturgeon?
Sturgeon is a common name used for 27 species of fish that have been around since the Triassic (that was the first era in which dinosaurs appeared). Some can still be hunted while others are protected by law and 4 of the said 27 are possibly extinct since they haven’t been observed in nature for quite some time.
Out of the ones still around, you’ve surely heard of various types like the sterlet, beluga or sevruga all thanks to their roe. As a result of the harvesting of roe, wild sturgeon is quite a rarity in the United Stated and you can only find them on the West Coast in two varieties: green and white.
Fortunately, you don’t have to go and catch them to experience their taste as they are available in your local supermarket. It’s a really popular fish (even if not the cheapest) because it has firm flesh like that of a chicken (the “taste like chicken” idiom comes to mind) and it doesn’t really have bones that you have to remove, which can be particularly useful for families with small children. No bones to worry about, no problem.
The sturgeon can be grilled very nicely, but you just have to pay attention to it and remove from the fire exactly when it’s done cooking as it can toughen really fast once it reaches a certain point. If you want to prepare it this way, the process is pretty simple – rub it with olive oil, garlic clove, sea salt, and black pepper. It is the simplest way to make it and prepare one healthy meal in a very short time. Besides, it is so delicious when prepared this way! If you like, you can top it with sesame oil, lemon juice, ginger, minced garlic, Sriracha sauce, oyster sauce or soy sauce. These sauces can even be combined for a more interesting taste. However, on the days when you want to prepare it in some different ways, there are also other recipes you can try.
What’s the recipe?
Image source: meredithcorp.io
According to fisherpants.com, here are some sturgeon recipes you can choose from, as you can imagine, since it’s a very popular dish in many countries including China, Russia, and Vietnam. We’ve prepared one for you as well if you’d like to try, and it’s called ‘Vinegar-poached sturgeon with delicious sauce’. You will need:
- 4 zucchinis
- salt
- butter
- thyme
- pepper
- olive oil
- vinegar
- shallot
- capers
- sturgeon
Make sure you prepare everything before you start making the dish, so you can be fully focused on what you are doing. If you’ve never made fish before, take your time and simply go step by step. For starters, you need to preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cut 4 zucchinis into slices and put some salt on them. Place the slices on a big rimmed baking sheet in an even layer. Leave them like that for about 1 hour so they can soak up the salt. It will give them a much better taste.
Meanwhile, use a small bowl to start blending the butter with thyme and also add some much-needed salt and pepper. For the next step, you have to rinse the slices and pat them dry and clean the baking sheet of everything else. Place the slices back on the sheet and add about 2 tablespoons of oil made from olives. Put the slices again in an even layer and start cooking them for around 30 minutes. Once they get golden brown on the bottom, they’re ready! Be careful not to forget them in the oven, because your efforts would go down the drain. Make sure you set the timer or the alarm if you are a beginner, to help yourself get everything right.
Now you can put the fish on a plate and add 1 tablespoon of vinegar after which you need to put it in the fridge for around 10 minutes. While you wait, combine 2 tablespoons of vinegar and a ¾ cup of water and 1 sliced shallot. Add salt and pepper and the fillets. Cover everything tight and simmer over some low heat for around 8 minutes. Look at the clock, because this is the optimum time necessary for the preparation.
Put the fish on a large plate and remove the poaching liquid into another bowl. Clean the skillet and put it at high heat. Add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil and let it heat until it starts to shimmer. Now you can add the fish again and keep in mind to put the side with the bones down. In 2 minutes it should reach a golden brown color. Let it in for 1 more minute.
Finally, the zucchini and the sturgeon can meet. Put them together and cover them with some foil in order to maintain a warm temperature. Add the strained poaching liquid to the pan and boil it until you’ll only have about a ⅓ of a cup left. Stir in the capers and then remove the pan from the heating area. Start swirling in the thyme butter and add some salt and pepper. Place the sturgeon and zucchini on a plate and add the sauce on top. You have succeeded!
You’ve made this wonderful dish, so the only thing left for you to do is to enjoy it. If you like, you can have a glass of wine with it to completely enjoy the whole experience. The meals should be about enjoyment. Enjoy every bite and let it melt in your mouth. This way, you will feel all the benefits that this kind of nutritious meal has to give. Appreciate it and let it nourish you. Enjoy it to the fullest. Bon appétit!
