Alternatives to frying fish

[MattL]

Hey guys,

I am a student at MSU...therefore I'm poor and I eat fish as much as I can (ya know if I can manage to catch 'em) I live in a townhouse and some of my roomates hate the smell of frying fish. That is really the only way I know how to cook them..I have been looking for other recipes and haven't had alot of luck finding some that sound good. I did find one baking with ranch and parmesan on another post and I think I will try it.

If anyone else has any other recipes they would like to share, lets hear them.

[muskyjim]

i bet your roomates aren't complaining when it comes time to eat them though.........to me there is nothing better than deep fried fish, but if you eat enough of them sometimes even that becomes a little routine. so on the grill; i put the fillets in some tin foil with a few hunks of butter[butter the foil 1st too helps with sticking] and season them with some herb and garlic seasoning[mccormicks]. then wrap them up. 5 to 10 minutes later their done[or when ever they flake apart]. mmmmmmmmmmmmmm no greasy pan to clean, no fishy smell in the house and its cheap & easy. plus who doesn't like to cook on the grill? it also helps to be holding a beer while you do this. man, i'm getting hungry.

[MattL]

Yea, your right! They only complain when I make a small batch of fish for myself! Once it gets a little warmer out I will definately try your recipe. I like the part about no cleanup afterwards.

It seems like once it gets warm out we do a lot of grilling...which leads to alot of drinking! I would try this recipe right away, but I am afraid my beer will freeze in my hand. lol

[riverrat56]

Being a BACS (Broke A** College Student) as well, I have found a few ways to eat fish this year.

My favorite is a good way to stretch a few fish into a larger meal and is real simple (acctually found this recipe on FM awhile ago)-

Fish and Taters

Ingredients-

8-10 panfish fillets or 3 walleye fillets

Potatos, 3 large ones is usually good

Bread Crumbs

Butter

What to do-

Start by slicing potatos into fairly thing slices

Layer fish and potatoes alternatly (start and end with potatos) through out a baking pan, after each layer, pepper to taste and pour on a little melted butter.

Once the pan is full, make a mix of bread crumbs and melted butter to coat the top on the potatoes about a 1/4" thick.

Bake covered in an oven for 45-60 mins and 325, or until potatoes are tender. Removing cover for last 10 mins will allow bread crumbs to get a bit crunchy.

[hartner62]

That last one sounds great and I will be trying that soon. On the ranch recipe I'm not a fan the wife looked around and tried this on some walleyes I had just caught and after trying it I wasn't a fan, the ranch just over powered the taste of the fish and I will never do it again. Grab your fry daddy and set it outside the back door and fry it out there it only takes a few minutes and no smell in the house. Problem solved. Good Luck

[DonBo]

Shorelunch makes a product for oven baking that is real easy and pretty good.

[chberry]

I bake almost all my fish as my wife doesn't like the smell of frying. I have done beer batter, egg-cracker/bread crumb, and many of the prepackage fish coatings work well in the oven. What I have found to work the best is to have the oven at 400, and place the fish on a cooling rack set in a cookie sheet. I spray the rack with non-stick spray to help the fish from sticking. The rack allows hot air to circulate under the fish and crisp up the bottom.

[buddha]

I also do a baked version like chberry only I use Andy's(red). I cut the fish up in cubes and bake in the oven at 400 till done. I love fried fish but this tastes very good and is a little better for you.

[polarsusd81]

buddha, that Andy's red breading is the best stuff on earth huh? I love it, need to buy a 25 lb bulk pack.

Here is one that I plan to try in the next couple weeks.

2 walleye fillets

1 small white onion

butter

kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

First, slice your onion very thin 1/16" slices. Place the walleye fillets in a foil bag and layer onion on top. Sprinkle on your salt and pepper and add enough butter to your liking. Grill over indirect medium heat until the walleye flakes when pulled with a fork. Open your foil bag and dish up. Should be a pretty cheap meal if you have your fish already.

We just got back from LOTW so we have some fresh walleye.

[ZEEK1223]

I found a recipe on this site as well, that is pretty good and simple. lightly coat fillets in mayo, and cover with shredded parmesan cheese and broil in oven till flaky.

[ozzie]

to add to the grilling ideas....a couple fillets- 1/2stick to a stick of butter and peppers red/green/yellow onions if you want and any other spices that tempt you....throw on the grill until white flakey.....the fillets absorb alot of the pepper taste...mmmmmmmm tasty!!

[BigWadeS]

 Originally Posted By: MattL

I would try this recipe right away, but I am afraid my beer will freeze in my hand. lol

Then your not drinking fast enough.....

[BobT]

Try charcoal grilling. Get a hot fire season the fillets as desired, drop on the grate for a couple minutes per side. Very good.

Contrary to popular belief fish doesn't require a coating. Try placing the fillets in a shallow glass pan, little butter, lemon slices, and seasoning. Microwave until tender. It won't take long. Very good.

Similar to above you can pan fry the fish using the same idea. I like to use a little butter or bacon drippings instead of oil or shortening. You don't need to have enough oil in the pan to deep fry the fish. Just enough to prevent sticking. Also very good.

I don't have a recipe on the top of my head but I know I could make one up easy enough. I imagine one could grind the fish, add a little onion, celery, maybe some bread crumbs or mashed potatoes, and seasoning of choice and end up with some really good fish pattys. Pan fry them in lightly oiled pan.

Bob

[grpd]

i like the one where you put the fillets in a shallow glass pan

season to taste, a little butter, lots of dill weed, cook for two or three minutes, just before done take out and cover the fillets with parmesian (sp) cheese and cook another minute,the dill weed part sounds odd but it is very tasty, just do not over cook

[IFallsRon]

I saw this one on Good Eats and it looks pretty good:

Fish Roll with Compound Butter Recipe courtesy Alton Brown

See this recipe on air Monday Mar. 24 at 11:00 PM ET/PT.

2 thin salmon fillets

3 flounder fillets

8 sea scallops

1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Salt and pepper, for seasoning

Canola oil, for brushing

Compound Butter:

4 ounces butter (1 stick), at room temperature

1 teaspoon dry parsley flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

On your counter top lay out a sheet of parchment paper and top it with a layer of plastic wrap.

Lay out your fillets of salmon, tails away from you. Overlap the fillets of flounder about 1-inch over the tails of the salmon. Then place the scallops on a metal skewer and set at the end of the flounder furthest from you. Sprinkle the herbs over the fish and season with salt and pepper.

Using the plastic wrap pull the fish towards you so that the plastic begins to pull the flounder over the scallops. Be sure not to roll the plastic into the fish roll. Use a sheet pan to push the roll tightly as you pull the plastic toward you. The roll should be tight and you should be able to remove the sheet of plastic. Then roll the fish in the parchment away from you so it is covered and can be place into the refrigerator. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

For Compound Butter: In a large bowl using a wooden spoon mix all ingredients. Place the mixture on a piece of parchment and fold the parchment over itself. Pull to form a roll and twist the ends. Place in the freezer for 10 minutes to set up. Slice into 1/4-inch rounds and remove the parchment.

Preheat your broiler and place the oven rack 6-inches from the heating element.

Remove the metal skewer and slice the roulade into 3/4 to 1-inch rounds. Place onto a broiler pan and brush each round with canola oil. Put under the broiler for 3 to 6 minutes depending on how well done you like your fish.

Serve with 1 slice of compound butter on each fish roll.

[BobT]

I might have to try your parm cheese idea, grpd. Sounds interesting.

Bob

[Wookiee]

Hey Polar where can you buy the Andy's breading at?

[polarsusd81]

Fleet Farm. I knew I forgot something when we went there today. I picked up some Gulp! Fish Fry though for fishing crappies coming up here in a couple weeks.

Laying on the couch trying to fight off a cold today, I saw a good recipe on Paula Deen's show for fish. Her son used Tilapia for the dish, but I think walleye or perch or even some crappie might be pretty good this way.

6 Tbls E.V.O.O.

6 Tbls Orange Juice

~1 Tbls orange zest

~1 Tbls ground ginger

a pinch of salt and pepper to taste.

Whisk the ingredients together and pour over fish in a glass bowl or even in a ziplock bag and make sure fish is evenly coated. Marinate for 15-30 minutes depending on the size of your fillets. Then you can either grill the fish or wrap it up in a tin foil boat and cook it in the oven.

Looked pretty darn tasty.

[Wookiee]

Tried out the Andy's Red breading on some pannies last night! By far the best packaged fish coating I have used to date. Nice and peppery!

[Cicada]

I'll second the microwave idea. It's a great, healthy alternative to fat fried. Very flexable too. You can try whatever spices and herbs that come to mind. One thing I've found in the produce department at most grocery stores is dill dip or salad dressing. Nice option if you are tired of tarter sauce.

[glenn57]

my double 2 cents worth. first i never new there was on off season to grilling. weather never detered me as to when i grilled. 20 below or 90 above dont matter, second opinion get new roomates. hehe.

[Neighbor_guy]

Snifff Sniff, I smell smoke, anyone else smell smoke????

I love smoked fish for a change of pace.

[LMITOUT]

Lay down strips of bacon in a 13x9 baking pan

Put fillets on top of bacon

Cover with chopped green pepper and onion

Season to taste and cover pan with tin foil

Cook in oven until fish flakes with a fork

Baked potato for a side and you've got a meal.

[riverrat56]

mhmmm....bacon

[raymondk]

Andys red also gets my vote it is by far the cheapest and the best and easyest to use