Today capelin is one of the most popular types of fish used in food in our country. This is due not only to the fact that it is extremely beneficial for the body, but also to the fact that it is a dietary dish. There are only 116 kilocalories per 100 grams of such fish. Recently, a huge number of ways to process such a product have appeared. Capelin is cooked in the oven, a double boiler, in a pan, in a marinade, etc.
And yet, what is this product? And how is it useful?
What it is?
Capelin is also known as the oek. This fish lives in the sea and can live up to 10 years. In length, her body is able to reach 25 centimeters and weigh 52 grams. This variety is distinguished by rather small teeth and two-tone scales: on the back - an olive-green tint, and on the sides and abdomen - silver.
Benefit
Why is the product so useful? But with what:
- Capelin meat contains a large number of proteins that are well absorbed by the human body.
- As part of this product, you can find such compounds as vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids. All these components have an extremely positive effect on the body. The main thing is to properly prepare the product.
- Properly cooked in the oven capelin retains the greatest number of useful elements. This helps lower sugar levels and fight diseases like heart attack and hypertension.
- A similar product contains an antioxidant - selenium, which positively affects the nervous system.
- With regular use of capelin, there is a change in the blood composition in a positive direction, there is an increase in the level of immunity, as well as an improvement in the condition of hair, nails and skin.
- The product contains a large amount of phosphorus. This contributes to the activation of brain activity and the fight against the occurrence of senile dementia.
- One serving of this species of fish contains a weekly rate of iodine that helps fight thyroid disease.
- Average fat content allows you to consume a similar product during dietary nutrition, of course, in moderation.
Harm
But can a product harm our body? Sure:
- Smoked capelin contains quite dangerous bacteria that spread infections. They can harm the body, as they contribute to the production of carcinogens. This, in turn, leads to the formation of cancer cells.
- Smoked meat also contains a lot of salt, which can lead to swelling.
- It is worth noting that such a product can harm people with allergic reactions to fish and other seafood. In this case, the cooking method is absolutely unimportant.
In what form can you meet?
Today in capelin stores sold:
- smoked;
- fried;
- chilled;
- frozen.
Not recommended to buy:
- Chilled fish. It has a short shelf life and deteriorates quickly enough. There is also no guarantee that the purchased product will be fresh.
- Fried fish. In this case, the dish is prepared immediately in the store and sold in portions. However, as a rule, fish with a small or already expired shelf life are on sale. To determine whether a quality product is on the counter or not is possible only by the presence or absence of the consequences of its use.
Thus, for the preparation of capelin in the oven according to the recipes described below, it is worth purchasing a smoked or frozen product. But you should be extremely careful when buying.
How to choose quality fish?
Consider the basic rules for choosing capelin:
- The first thing you should pay attention to is the pupils. In newly frozen capelin, they will be clean and black. In that case, if the dense layer of ice does not allow to make out the color, it is worth going to another store.
- It is preferable to buy the product not in bulk, but in packages. Thus, you can check its expiration date, although these are not always accurate numbers.
- When purchasing a packaged product - watch for the tightness of the packaging. If the package is damaged, then you should refuse the purchase, as the contents may be damaged.
- The carcass of the fish should not have spots or damage in the form of cracks. Color should be even.
- When choosing a chilled product, check the tail. If it is completely dry or completely absent - the fish on the counter is not the first day.
- A rotten smell, no matter weak or strong, indicates poor product quality. Fresh food that has not been processed, smoked, or roasted does not usually smell.
- Before buying, it is worth checking capelin for mucus on the body or under the gills.
The subtleties of cooking
To get a tasty and healthy dish, it is worth considering some cooking features:
- To eliminate the smell, it is worth processing the meat with lemon juice.
- The best way to cook is to bake capelin in the oven or cook fish.
- The fish itself is not too greasy. However, depending on the ingredients added during the preparation, the calorie content may increase.
Now that all the main issues have been considered, we can proceed to immediate preparation.
Standard Recipe for Baked Capelin
An extremely simple way to cook fish that does not require extra effort and time, as well as the availability of expensive ingredients. To prepare capelin in the oven you need:
- 1 kg of fish;
- flour;
- spice.
Cooking process
The carcasses of the fish must be washed well and remove all excess entrails. Grate prepared carcasses with spices and dump in flour. Lay baking paper on a baking sheet. Put fish on top of it. Cook at 180 degrees until a blush appears on the product.
Attention! In the absence of flour, breadcrumbs can be used. So the fish will turn out even tastier.
Capelin baked with potatoes
This is a more complicated option for preparing a similar product. It takes about 2 hours in time. To achieve the best result, it is recommended that you follow the step-by-step recipe for capelin in the oven. A photo of the prepared dish will be given at the end.
Necessary components:
- capelin - 700 g;
- potatoes - 3 tubers;
- mayonnaise - 80 g;
- large tomato - 1 pc.;
- onion;
- seasoning for vegetables - 1 tsp;
- vegetable oil;
- lemon - 1 piece;
- salt, ground pepper.
Cooking
Prepare the fish. To do this, tails and heads are cut off, and the insides are removed. The cleaned carcasses should be washed and dried with napkins. Leave in a colander to remove excess fluid.
In a deep dish, mix mayonnaise, spices, seasoning and the juice of half a lemon. Marinade with capelin and leave in the same bowl for another half hour. At this time, peel the potatoes and cut into thin circles. Fold the workpiece in a plate and season with vegetable seasoning and spices.
Grease the baking dish with oil. Put a layer of potatoes on the bottom. Put capelin on top. Remove the husks from the onion and cut into thin circles. Put on top of the fish. Put the chopped tomato on the top layer.
Grease the top with mayonnaise. Before cooking capelin in the oven, add 100 g of water or broth to the dish. Close with foil. Bake for 2 hours at a temperature of 220 degrees. About 60 minutes after the start of cooking, remove the foil.
Capelin recipe with sour cream
Another easy way to cook this fish. But at the same time, the dish is incredibly tasty, soft and tender. The secret is that when baked in foil, the juice secreted by the fish is mixed with sour cream, forming a kind of sauce. If you follow all the steps you should get the same capelin in the oven, as in the photo.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of fish;
- 3 onions;
- 6 tbsp. l sour cream with 20% fat content;
- salt and pepper are added depending on preference.
Cooking process
As in the previous recipe, trim the fins, gut the carcasses and rinse. Peel and chop the onion in half rings. Grease the baking dish with oil. Put capelin in one row. Salt and pepper. Lubricate with three spoons of sour cream. Put onion. Repeat layers until food runs out. Cover the workpiece with foil. Bake at 170 degrees for 50 minutes.
The most difficult thing to prepare is the processing of fish. For the rest, following the recipes of capelin in the oven with a photo, you can prepare wonderful dishes.