Catfish, which is a frightening-looking fish, was liked by gourmets for its excellent taste, low calorie content and high nutritional value. Its cost in the domestic market is not too high, and almost everyone can buy a carcass. Catfish are prepared in various ways: fried, boiled, stewed and baked. But before proceeding to the recipes, we find out what kind of fish it is, and whether there is any benefit from eating its meat for food.

Catfish - what kind of fish?

Catfish - representatives of the family of the Radius perch of the Perciform. You can meet this fish in the cold and temperate waters of the seas located in the Northern Hemisphere. She lives at a depth of no more than 500 - 600 m and feeds on mollusks, jellyfish and small fish.

The body length of the marine predator ranges from 110 to 240 cm, and the weight reaches 20 - 33 kg. The catfish has an elongated trunk, wide massive jaws with large teeth, dense skin and small scales adjacent to it.

Predatory catfish fish, depending on the habitat, can be of the following varieties:

  • Spotted. Distributed in the northern latitudes and are caught in the Atlantic.
  • Striped. They live in almost all waters in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
  • Far Eastern. Populations are common in the north and west of the Pacific Ocean.
  • Acne. They live in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and near the northern shores of America.
  • Exclusive, or blue. Such fish can only be caught in the Atlantic Ocean and at great depths.

All types of catfish are characterized by soft, tender, juicy white meat and a small number of bones, which are easy to remove.

In some countries, catfish meat is considered a delicacy, and not everyone can afford to buy such fish, since its price is very high.

The benefits, harms and dietary properties of fish

The use of catfish for the human body is due to the high content of such useful elements in its meat:

  • vitamins A, B, C, E and PP;
  • phosphorus;
  • potassium;
  • magnesium
  • sodium;
  • chlorine;
  • calcium
  • potassium;
  • iodine;
  • zinc;
  • fatty acids.

In somewhat smaller amounts, fluorine, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, iron, copper, and manganese are present in the product.

Eating catfish meat has a beneficial effect on the body, which is expressed in the following:

  • saturation of cells and tissues with useful trace elements;
  • strengthening immunity;
  • improvement of blood composition;
  • normalization of the digestive tract;
  • restoration of normal heart rhythm;
  • increased bone strength;
  • improving overall well-being.

You can eat catfish in moderation not only for adults, but also for children, as well as for women during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This product can only harm the body if you are hypersensitive and allergic to fish protein. And excessive consumption of catfish meat threatens with disorders of the stool and nausea.

Nutritional value and calorie content

100 g of catfish contains only 126 kcal. In this case, protein - 19.7 g, fat - 5.2 g, and carbohydrates are absent.

Due to this, fish is often included in dietary and sports nutrition programs, since protein contributes to a rapid increase in muscle mass, and the absence of carbohydrates eliminates the risk of gaining excess weight.

Oily or not catfish fish

Those who care about their figure are interested in the question whether catfish are oily fish or not. As mentioned above, the fat in this product contains a little more than 5 g, and therefore this underwater predator can be included in the diet of people who want to lose extra pounds.

Attention! The number of calories and fat can vary significantly depending on how the catfish is cooked. To get a diet dish, it is better to boil this fish, bake in a foil or sleeve, or stew with a small amount of oil.

How to cook catfish tasty

Fish can be prepared in many ways, combining with vegetables, mushrooms, herbs and seasonings. Consider the most simple and affordable catfish recipes.

Catfish steak in the oven

From this inhabitant of the deep sea you can make a wonderful portioned dish in the oven by the time guests arrive.

For work you will need:

  • fish steaks;
  • potatoes;
  • onion;
  • Tomatoes
  • thick cheese;
  • mayonnaise;
  • lemon juice;
  • salt and seasoning;
  • pieces of cooking foil according to the number of servings.

Order of preparation:

  1. Peel the onion, cut into half rings, mix with salt and seasonings, pour half the lemon over the juice.
  2. Cut fish, salt, pepper, grease with mayonnaise and leave to pickle.
  3. Peel the potatoes and cut into round pieces.
  4. Chop tomatoes into thin slices, grind cheese.
  5. First, put the potatoes on the pieces of foil, then the fish, onions and tomatoes, sprinkle each portion with grated cheese.
  6. Raise the edges of the foil so as to cover the blanks and send them to the oven.

A portioned catfish will be ready in 40 to 50 minutes.

Pan fried fish

Quickly and tasty you can fry catfish breaded in a skillet. The pieces of fish will turn out juicy, covered with a crisp.

To work, you will need:

  • catfish fillet;
  • lemon;
  • egg;
  • paprika;
  • ground black pepper;
  • thick cheese;
  • breadcrumbs;
  • salt.

Order of preparation:

  1. Wash the catfish fillet, cut into slices, season with salt and spices, and pour over lemon juice.
  2. Grind the selected cheese and mix with breadcrumbs.
  3. Beat the egg in a deep bowl until a foam forms.
  4. Dip the pieces of fish into the egg mass, then roll on two sides with breadcrumbs with cheese and fry in a pan until golden brown.

Attention! To keep the fillet juicy, you need to lay it only on a hot pan and fry over medium heat.

Cooking Recipe

This simple dish can be cooked in a slow cooker very quickly, using a whole carcass or fillet.

For work you will need:

  • 800 g catfish;
  • several onions;
  • 2 to 3 carrots;
  • sweet bell pepper;
  • tomato puree;
  • 30 ml of vinegar;
  • flour;
  • salt and seasoning.

Operating procedure:

  1. Wash the fish, salt and season with spices.
  2. Cut onion and bell pepper in half rings, chop the carrots on a grater and add all the vegetables in the appliance bowl.
  3. Add salt, spices, tomato puree and vinegar to the roasting, then obscure for a few more minutes.
  4. Spread pieces of fish on top of the vegetable mixture and add a little boiled water if necessary. Close the appliance lid and cook in quenching mode for half an hour.

For lovers of spicy, you can put out catfish in a vegetable mixture with the addition of hot pepper. The taste of this fish is very harmoniously combined with hot sauces.

Cooking in batter

The catfish may seem somewhat fresh, and mayonnaise batter with the addition of garlic and soy sauce will help fix the situation.

For cooking you will need:

  • 700 g fish fillet;
  • egg;
  • 100 g mayonnaise;
  • 30 - 40 ml of soy sauce;
  • some garlic cloves;
  • breadcrumbs;
  • lemon;
  • salt and seasoning.

Order of preparation:

  1. Wash the fillet, cut into portions and sprinkle with lemon juice.
  2. Beat the egg with salt and seasonings, add mayonnaise and soy sauce.
  3. Insert crushed garlic into the batter and mix thoroughly.
  4. Dip the pieces of fish into the prepared composition, then roll in the breading and fry the catfish in a pan. The fish will be ready when covered with a delicious golden crust.

On a note. If you can’t get the fillet, you can take the catfish carcass. There are few bones in this fish and it is very easy to pull them out.

Thus, this not very attractive marine predator with a skillful approach becomes the basis of wonderful, tasty and healthy dishes. Therefore, if you get such a fish on the counter, be sure to buy it and try to cook it. You will not be disappointed!

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