The real gem of Mediterranean cuisine is red mullet. The recipes for this valuable fish are very diverse. Most often it is fried or baked. At the same time, fried red mullet is considered one of the most delicious snacks. It can be nibbled like seeds with a glass of cold beer. Let's get acquainted with the best recipes for cooking this fish.
A bit of history
As soon as they call this cute fish. And all her names are pretty sweet - a barbena, a sultanka, a red beard, a mule, a barbunya, a barbunka. This marine inhabitant is not only very beautiful, but also has outstanding taste. She has unusually tender meat, saturated with the smell of the sea and acquiring a pleasant pink color during cooking.
Since ancient times, mullet has been caught off the coast of the Black and Mediterranean Seas. She was especially highly valued in ancient Rome. Moreover, in those days it was believed that the larger the fish, the more appetizing it was. Experience shows that this is actually not the case.
The mullet is fried. Ingredients
This is the easiest way to cook valuable fish. Many consider it to be the most successful. In any case, on the Mediterranean shores, fried red mullet is very much appreciated. The recipe for how to cook this delicious dish, you will learn below. For it you will need the following ingredients:
- mullet - half a kilogram;
- flour - 200 grams;
- starch - 50 grams;
- salt to taste;
- black pepper - to taste.
Cooking methods
- First you need to wash and clean the mullet from scales. Then each fish needs to rip open the abdomen and pull out the insides from it.
- Next, the flour must be mixed with pepper, salt, starch and roll mullet in this mixture.
- Then the fish should be placed in a pan with hot vegetable oil and fry on both sides until a golden crust appears.
- After that, the finished mullet should be put on a dish, sprinkled with freshly ground black pepper and served with greens and lemon.
So easy is fried mullet. Even a novice culinary specialist can master the recipe for this dish in a matter of minutes.
Oven baked mullet. Ingredients
A less common method of preparing the fish we describe. However, this does not make the baked red mullet less tasty. The recipes for this dish have been honed for centuries. One of them involves the use of such products:
- red mullet - four pieces;
- salt, pepper - to taste;
- olive oil - three to four tablespoons (tablespoons);
- garlic - two cloves;
- parsley - half a bunch.
Oven baked mullet. Cooking method
- First, the mullet should be washed, rid of entrails and scales, and dried.
- Next, the fish must be pepper and salt to taste.
- Then you need to put it in a bowl and pour oil.
- After this, chop the garlic and put it on the fish.
- Then parsley must be chopped into small pieces, put in a bowl and gently mix with the rest of the ingredients. Next, the fish should be allowed to marinate for half an hour.
- Then the mullet should be put in a refractory dish, put in the oven and bake at a temperature of 180 degrees. The preparation time for the treat is approximately 40 minutes.
- After that, our fried red mullet will be ready for use. The recipes for this dish say that it goes well with fresh herbs and lemon slices.
Lamb with thyme and lemon. Ingredients
Almost any fish is “friendly” with lemon juice and herbs. Red mullet is no exception. However, for its preparation it is better to use fresh herbs, for example, thyme.
Ingredients:
- red mullet - 650 grams (6 medium-sized fish);
- fresh thyme - a few twigs;
- lemon - one piece;
- wheat flour - for roasting;
- olive or vegetable oil - to taste;
- pepper (freshly ground, black) - to taste;
- salt to taste.
Lamb with thyme and lemon. Cooking method
- First you need to gut the fish and clean it of scales. Then it must be washed in running water and placed in a colander to get rid of excess moisture.
- Next, the lemon must be thoroughly (with a brush) washed in warm water and cut into circles, which should then be cut into neat wedges.
- After that, you need to break in half the branches of thyme.
- Then the baking tray for fish should be covered with foil.
- Next, in a small plate, pour a small amount of vegetable oil to lubricate the fish, and pour a few tablespoons of wheat flour into another container.
- After this, turn on the oven and heat it to 220 ° C.
- Then the fish must be seasoned inside with freshly ground black pepper, sprinkled with salt, put thyme and a few slices of lemon in each abdomen.
- Next, you need to moisten your fingers in olive or vegetable oil and lightly grease the mullet with them from the outside.
- After that, the fish should be rolled in flour, put it on a hot skillet and fry over high heat for one minute on each side.
- Then the mullet should be placed on a pre-foil baking sheet.
- Then it must be placed in a preheated oven and baked for seven to eight minutes. Cooking time depends on the size of the carcasses. It’s not worth keeping them in the oven for a long time, otherwise they will come out too dry.
So our baked mullet is ready. Recipes in the oven indicate that this fish is very fond of lemon juice, so you do not need to feel sorry for it. The dish can also be served with lemon slices and ripe tomatoes.
Cooking Tips
- For baking and frying, both fresh and frozen red mullet are suitable. Recipes for cooking this fish warn that it can only be thawed at room temperature in a natural way.
- Lemon for mullet should be chosen with a thin skin, otherwise after baking it can give a small bitterness.
- When using thyme, a fresh product should be preferred.
- Coarse sea salt is suitable for making mullet . Shallow you can greatly salt the dish.
- If the fish has caviar, you should not throw it away. It is better to try putting some eggs back into the abdomen before preparing for frying.
Now you know how to cook red mullet. Feel free to experiment, and you will get an unforgettable treat for family and friends. Enjoy your meal!