i have never tried seafood before..

The smell of fish and all other seafood has always put me off.
Though I know the amount of health benefits that it has so thinking of trying it.

Any tips? On good or bad fish/seafood? etc..

Replies

  • try
    Ceviche
  • xxTracey
    xxTracey Posts: 85 Member
    I never used to eat seafood but now i love it, most times i would actually prefer it over chicken now and i dont eat red meat. Cod topped with red pesto and breadcrumbs is really tasty and really quick and easy to make :). I've recently discovered prawn currys too, i was always afraid it would make the curry taste "fishy" but it doesnt at all and is actually just tastes much lighter than having chicken, its one of my new favourite dishes :). x
  • What about just plain tuna out of a tin?
  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
    What about just plain tuna out of a tin?

    It depends.
    My favourite tuna is tuna chunks in oil (Italian style), marketed under the Sirena brand here in Australia. Any other canned tuna smells and tastes like cat food.
  • eylia
    eylia Posts: 200 Member
    I'd suggest getting something out, and trying it that way; perhaps dealing with it in the kitchen will make the smell and such more pronounced to you than if it just arrives yummy and well cooked on a plate. Maybe order an seafood entree and see how you go with it.
  • kelly_e_montana
    kelly_e_montana Posts: 1,999 Member
    I wouldn't start with tuna out of a tin. I love seafood and that's pretty blah. I like shrimp, crab, scallops. Try it first at a restaurant where they know how to prepare it~perhaps as an appetizer to share with friends in case you don't like it. Keep an open mind. It's very filling for the amount of calories if cooked right.
  • chooriyah
    chooriyah Posts: 469 Member
    If it's health benefits you're going for, tinned tuna does not count as an 'oily fish', which is what you are recommended to eat lots of because of the omega 3s and whatnot. Fresh tuna does.

    Not for health reasons but for the environment, tuna is also badly over-fished and unsustainable in many parts of the world. Oily fish which are in more plentiful supply include mackerel, sardines, herrings and anchovies - perhaps consider these?
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    Trying seafood is a challenge because there are so many kinds and because some kinds are very easy to cook wrong. Imagine if someone had never eaten meat before but wanted to try it. It would be a pity if they never tried rotisserie chicken because someone served them an overdone steak.

    Here are a couple of random thoughts that might be of use to you.
    -Overwhelming fishiness is a sign that the fish isn't fresh.
    -Seafood can be divided basically into fish, shellfish, and mollusks/squid-things.
    -If you go for fish, tuna has a much harsher taste and smell than salmon. Tilapia is versatile, but can be fishy smelling. If you find all fish too fishy smelling, you might like sushi (my boyfriend hates fish but could eat sushi every day, and that's not hyperbole)
    -Shellfish are things like shrimp, prawns, and lobster. You might try getting them in Chinese food to get yourself used to the texture without being overwhelmed by taste. They are also delicious deep-fried (sorry).
    -Mollusks and things with tentacles can be tricky because they are easily overcooked. When that happens, they get rubbery. A nice way to get into mollusks is to go to an Italian restaurant and order clams in some kind of sauce. Calamari is also a treat if it is cooked correctly and you aren't squicked out by tentacles.
  • What is the easiest to prepare? I'm at school/work 60-80 hours week and just want something cheap and easy.. I'm not willing to spend the time and money going out to a restaurant
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    ME TOO,,,,, when i make scallops for hubby, I GAG,,, when he eats shrimp rings, i want to go throw them in the pool.
    BUT, i have since ventured out,,, i do like salmon now, i can do tuna,,,
    clams make me puke too,
    UGH!,. i know how you feel,.
    lobster is gross too..
    hubby thought if he got me loaded i would eat anything,
    um, nope, that did not work either.
    so do not do that.
  • damiannikodem
    damiannikodem Posts: 77 Member
    if in south australia go visit barnacle bill, get the pack that has all the things (fish sticks, prawns and calamari. the seafood staples. )

    Alternatively get flake (aka shark) or hake (aka butterfish), calamari rings and prawns from your local fish and chip shop.

    And dont forget tartare sauce since thats a staple when having that kind of seafood.


    that type of seafood is going to have a metric crapton of calories so dont overdo it but its awesome :P
  • bathsheba_c
    bathsheba_c Posts: 1,873 Member
    What is the easiest to prepare? I'm at school/work 60-80 hours week and just want something cheap and easy.. I'm not willing to spend the time and money going out to a restaurant

    The only one I make for myself is fish. Something I like to do is take a salmon fillet and bake it with a topping of either panko crumbs and minced garlic or soy sauce and ginger. With salmon, it is better to undercook it slightly like you would with a steak than to overcook it.

    If your calories allow it, it is really easy to fry any sort of white fish (sole, tilapia, flounder, etc.). Just coat in egg and seasoned breadcrumbs and fry on a medium-low flame. When the breadcrumbs are golden brown on one side, you flip it over.
  • BamBam125
    BamBam125 Posts: 229 Member
    Most truly fresh seafood will not smell like seafood (fishy). If you don't like fish though, I would avoid Mackerel. That fish is the fishiest fish of all fish. Salmon is easy and don't nearly as "fishy." A little salmon will fill you up faster than you think. It's a very meaty and "hearty" fish. Tuna from a can is a lot fishier to me than a good rare tuna steak is. I like both, but if you don't like fish, I'd try a tuna steak before tuna from a can.

    Sea Scallops (much larger than bay scallops) are easy and they don't even look "fishy". Don't overcook. They should be "raw" in the middle like you would do a good steak (or salmon or tuna). In our house we sometimes call them chicken nuggets of the sea. (A co-worker was complaining that she loved seafood but couldn't get her young daughter to eat any shrimp or fish because it looked like an animal. The daughter liked chicken nuggets because they didn't look like they came from a living thing. I suggested scallops because they don't look like an animal. She was delighted with she tried them and her daughter ate them up. Since then scallops have been the "sea nuggets" in our house.)

    My go to scallop recipe is pretty quick and easy. In one pan, start caramelizing onions and toss in some sliced mushrooms. I add a bit of garlic to this as well. Meanwhile, heat up a second pan and prepare the scallops (sometimes you have to take off a tough bit). When the onions/mushrooms are almost done, toss a bag of spinach on top to wilt slightly. Sear the scallops in the hot empty pan with a bit of oil, salt and pepper. It just takes a minute per side or so. Take everything off the heat and serve the scallops over the mix of veggies. The whole thing is ready in under 20 minutes--the onions being the longest part.