How to Marinate Sea Fish so it is Not Sour and More Delicious

Illustration (Freepik)

YOGYAKARTA - Many people avoid processing sea fish because they are afraid of the fishy smell that can reduce the deliciousness of the dish. In fact, with a simple technique such as marinating, fish can taste much more delicious and not fishy. Marinating itself is a process of soaking or coating food ingredients with a mixture of spices before cooking.

The good news is that marinating sea fish is very easy to do and the ingredients are usually available in the kitchen. Interested? Reported from Halal Box, the following will discuss how to easily marinate sea fish. However, before that, it's good to understand why marinating is important when processing sea fish.

Why is Sea Fish Marinade Important?

Marinating is not just adding flavor to fish. This process helps the seasoning seep into the fish meat so that the taste is not just on the surface. As a result, the fish tastes richer when cooked.

In addition to adding flavor, marinating also helps reduce the fishy smell that is often a problem in marine fish. Acidic ingredients such as lemon help neutralize the smell. Therefore, marinated fish usually have a fresher aroma.

Another benefit of marinating is keeping the fish texture soft and juicy. The oil in the marinade helps retain the fish's moisture while cooking. This makes the fish not easy to dry when fried, baked, or grilled.

But keep in mind that fish has a softer texture than beef or chicken. If marinated too long, the fish meat can actually become limp. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the time of marinating.

Usually, fish fillets are marinated for only 15 to 20 minutes. This time is enough to make the seasoning penetrate without damaging the texture of the fish. Marinating for too long can actually make the fish lose its meat structure.

Easy Way to Marinate Sea Fish

As mentioned earlier, marinating sea fish is very easy to do. Most of the ingredients may even be available in your kitchen. Here are the ingredients and steps for marinating sea fish that you can follow.

Sea fish marinade ingredients (enough for 500 grams of fish):

2 tablespoons of lemon water1 tablespoon of olive oil or regular cooking oil1 teaspoon of salt1 teaspoon of finely chopped garlic or 2 cloves of garlic that have been crushed1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder½ teaspoon of chili powder (optional according to taste)A pinch of black pepper or ground pepper

After all the ingredients are ready, the next step is to enter the marinating process on the fish. The marinating process is actually quite simple, but there are several things that need to be considered so that the results are maximum.

Steps of marinating sea fish:

Choose fresh fish.

The freshness of the fish is very important for the results of the dish. Choose fish with meat that is chewy, does not smell pungent, and has clear eyes if it is still in its original form.

Clean and dry the fish.

Rinse the fish using cold water to remove dirt. After that, dry it with kitchen tissue so that the marinade does not become diluted.

Mix the marinade ingredients

Put all the marinade ingredients into a bowl. Stir until the salt is dissolved and all the seasonings are evenly mixed to form a slightly thick paste.

Apply the seasoning to the fish

Coat the seasoning evenly over the entire fish. Make sure the top, bottom, and sides of the fish are exposed to the seasoning so that the taste is more even.

Leave the fish for a while

Place the fish in a covered container and store in the refrigerator. The ideal marinating time for fish is usually around 15 to 20 minutes. Avoid marinating fish for more than 30 minutes.

During the marinating process, the seasoning will begin to seep into the fish's meat fibers. Lemon helps reduce the fishy smell while the oil keeps the fish's texture soft while cooking. This combination makes the fish more ready to be fried, baked, or baked.

This marinating technique is suitable for various types of marine fish such as salmon, mackerel, catfish, to tilapia. Even fish with a strong taste can feel more balanced after being marinated.

If you want to try a variety of flavors, you can add coriander leaves, mint leaves, or lemon peel. Some people also add yogurt to the marinade to produce a softer and creamier texture. Happy trying!

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