Ide fish: what it looks like and where it is found, spawning features and what it eats
Common ide, a representative of fish from the carp family, is highly valued in Russia. They especially love this semi-predatory inhabitant of water bodies, fish, because it can be found everywhere in rivers, flowing lakes and river ponds. The ide prefers to live in areas with a silt-clay bottom, usually located near bridges or in places with dense shrubs along the banks.
What kind of fish is this
For a serious angler, a catch that does not exceed 30 centimeters is not a reason to be proud. According to the description, young individuals of this species, as a rule, have a lighter color, sometimes with a silvery sheen.In addition, the fins are not as brightly colored as those of mature individuals. When the fish reaches maturity, its coloration intensifies and becomes much brighter.
In general, ide is a fish of impressive size. Its maximum size reaches 60 centimeters in length, and the weight can be from two to three kilograms. There were reports of individuals being caught reaching 90 centimeters and weighing 6 kilograms. As a rule, they live 10-15 years, but there are cases when some of them lived up to 20 years or more.
Since 2005, the Russian ide has been placed under legal protection, which means that catching and harvesting this river fish is prohibited during early spring. During the rest of the year, you can freely catch ide and deliver goods to fish markets.
This fish is in demand by customers due to its delicious taste, like all cyprinids. It is also a nutritious food for humans, given its high content of proteins, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.This makes ide an attractive option for those seeking to maintain a he althy lifestyle.
Ide bears resemblance to roach and chub. It has a robust body with a small head and an angular mouth. Its coloration is bright; the scales shine and appear golden, then silvery, light greenish grey, dark grey, blue on the back and almost white on the sides. In the spring, during the breeding season, his head takes on a golden hue.
Sparkling appearance is decorated with bright red lateral and lower fins, as well as purple upper and tail fins. The eyes are greenish-yellow, marked by a dark spot above them. During the mating season, males develop whitish dots on their heads.
These fish have a varied diet that includes algae and other plant matter, but will also happily consume small fish, crustaceans and frogs. Even young ide eats small crustaceans, crabs and insect larvae without any problems.
Habitat
This fish from the cyprinid family is found almost throughout Europe, usually in rivers and lakes with a slow current and considerable depth. They are also found in river ponds. In Russia, they can be found in the Ural river basin, Siberian and Yakut waters, Black Sea rivers and northern Caspian waters.
Ide is a hardy freshwater fish that can adapt to changing water temperatures, tolerates little water pollution and does not go dormant for the winter. Minor salinity levels are not alien to him - he can live both in places where rivers flow into the seas, and in the seas themselves, if there is a low s alt concentration.
This type of fish is usually bred by farmers. After being released into the water as fry in the third year of life, they usually weigh about half a kilogram. It is an undemanding eater and does not require much effort to feed.
What ide tastes like
Carp flesh tastes delicious, like any other member of the carp family. It is light and crumbly, has a creamy white color. The taste is pleasant, with a slight sweetness. There is no annoying smell that usually comes from river fish.
The only negative of the fish is that it has a lot of both large and small bones. Ide lovers have found ways to deal with this problem, such as grinding the pulp into minced meat for meatballs or meatballs. Another option is to stew fish in vegetable oil until the bones soften, creating homemade canned fish. Also, marinating the pulp in a vinegar solution can make it more brittle and make it easier to remove the bones.
Vitamins and substances in fish
The benefits of fish products are undeniable. Let's analyze what substances are contained in the ide:
- Proteins: 20.2g
- Fat: 3.8g (including Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which lower blood cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease).
- Carbs: 0g
- Calories: 98 kcal.
Also, 100 grams of ide fish fillet contains a significant amount of trace elements and vitamins, including:
- Phosphorus: 246 mg.
- Potassium: 344 mg.
- Magnesium: 34 mg.
- Calcium: 11 mg.
- Iron: 0.7 mg.
- Magnesium: 26 mg.
- Vitamin B12: 3 mcg.
- Niacin (vitamin B3): 6.8 mg.
- Pyridoxine (vitamin B6): 0.7 mg.
- Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 0.1 mg.
- Thiamin (vitamin B1): 0.1 mg.
Ide fish fillet also contains vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin K, selenium and copper in small amounts. These nutrients also regulate the acid-base balance in the body.
Useful properties
Ide meat can be added to your diet without hesitation, even if a person is on a diet. It contains essential nutrients that improve the functioning of the human body and make you look good.
Ide is recommended in cases like:
- recovery after serious illnesses, surgeries;
- high stress level;
- living in extreme climates.
Also, people with diabetes, gastritis, stomach ulcers, osteoporosis or atherosclerosis, and thyroid problems can benefit from regular consumption of this fish meat.
The nutritional value and calorie content of the product remain relatively unchanged during processing. During drying, a certain concentration of certain substances occurs due to loss of moisture, but with hot smoking, the calorie content increases dramatically.
Ide fillets are high in protein, which is beneficial for children as it helps the development and growth of cells. Adults are aware of its benefits and tend to consume more to maintain strength, vitality, youth and beauty.
What is dangerous ide
The risk associated with the use of ide is due to the fact that it lives in a polluted environment. Consequently, its flesh absorbs harmful substances such as pesticides, radioactive particles, and heavy metals from the body of water, making it toxic and unsafe for human consumption. Also, people who suffer from high blood pressure or kidney problems are advised not to consume s alted or dried ide.
Ide is a fish with small bones. It is important to know that the smallest bone can cause harm if swallowed, such as damage to the intestines, stomach, esophagus or throat. Therefore, it is not recommended to feed it to small children.
Disadvantages of this freshwater fish include:
- Risk of allergic reactions.
- Short shelf life.
- Risk of parasites from eating undercooked or contaminated meat.
In addition, according to nutritionists, river fish are less nutritious than sea fish. Experts advise against eating smoked fish because of its carcinogenic properties that can lead to cancer.
Cooking tips
Cleaning an ide is nothing complicated. The scales come off the sides easily, and all you need is a regular knife. Removing scales in the belly area can be a little more difficult, but this does not require any special tools such as iron sponges or graters. In just two minutes, the fish will be ready to eat.
Despite the presence of bones, culinary specialists have come up with various ways to cook fish.Delicious ide will turn out if you cook it in the oven. Homemade canned fish is also a great way to use it. The meat can also be minced and used for cutlets. Dried and smoked ide is a popular delicacy for beer drinkers.
How to s alt
If there is a desire to eat s alty roach, then this is easy to do using the dry method. You should do the following:
- Combine s alt (1 kg) and sugar (50 g) to create a rub, which is then applied to the fish.
- Put a layer of fish on the bottom of the dish, where a layer of s alt has already been placed, and season with pepper and s alt on top.
- Make another layer, also seasoning it with more s alt.
- Cover with either a lid or a plate that is smaller in diameter than the dish and put something heavy on top, like a three-liter jar of water.
- Leave in a cool place for four days.
When the dish is ready, it will be a pleasant treat for lovers of s alted fish, while not significantly decreasing in size.
Frying
If the ide is large, it should be cut into several pieces. Smaller fish can be fried whole. Initially, it is useful to marinate the ide with s alt, pepper and a little lemon juice. Leave it for a while so that the aromas are absorbed.
The next step is to roll the pieces either in flour or crushed breadcrumbs and fry them in vegetable oil until golden brown and crisp on the outside. The meat inside will become soft and melt when tasting.
Ingredients for a simple recipe:
- 4 filet.
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- 1 cup whole wheat flour.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.
- S alt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
Instructions:
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over low heat.
- In a shallow bowl, mix together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder and season everything with s alt and pepper. Dredge the fish fillets in the flour mixture until completely coated on all sides.
- Place fillets in skillet and cook until lightly golden on both sides, about 3 minutes per side, or until desired doneness.
Serve immediately with your favorite sauces and side dishes.
Baking
You can cook ide in various ways, for example, bake it in the oven with vegetable filling or in foil. This fish is the best for grilling. To achieve a delicious crust, marinate the fish and grill on both sides or wrap in foil for a soft and juicy meal.
Cooks have a strategy to deal with small bones in fish. Before baking, they make shallow cuts all over the fish, one centimeter apart, causing the small bones to break into pieces. This softens them and allows them to dissolve into the finished dish. Lemon, onion and potatoes are ideal for baked fish. Sauces that pair well include sour cream, cream or mayonnaise.
Smoking
It is necessary to take s alted fish. S alt will have to be removed and the carcass dried. Hot smoked fish can be cooked in an hour by smearing the carcasses with vegetable oil and laying them on the grills, it is also recommended to put spacers in the abdomen.
Step by step:
- Make some wood shavings like apple tree according to the type of flavor you want.
- Soak the ide in brine for several hours so that it is completely saturated with seasonings and aroma. When finished, pat the fish dry with paper towels and place on the grate inside the smoker.
- Fill the water tray under the grate with cold water (this will help regulate the temperature during cooking) and add wood chips to create smoke in the smoker or grill chamber. Add any additional seasonings before closing the lid and setting the desired temperature (usually between 200-225F).
- Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fish, but should generally take no more than 1-2 hours at most temperatures. When finished cooking, remove from heat and let cool before serving.
If a closed device is used for smoking, be sure to open it slightly during the process so that some steam comes out. The result is a beautiful golden fish with great taste.
Cold smoking takes longer than other methods. The temperature in the smokehouse is kept below 30°C and the fish is hung in the smoke for a minimum of 72 hours.After that, the fish is placed in a cabinet for several hours, and then ventilated for 24 hours. Hot-smoked fish can be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in paper, for 3-4 days, while cold-smoked fish can last up to two weeks if stored in the same way.
How to catch ide
Ide can be caught all year round, with the most active biting in spring and autumn. There is less activity in summer and winter.
To protect the fish population, it's best to avoid fishing during spawning, which occurs in early spring when the fish travel more than 150 kilometers upstream.
A month later, the fish return to the places where they lived in the summer. In the hot season, they can be easily caught with any type of bait. For winter fishing, anglers equip themselves with specific equipment: a nod and a fishing rod with a float, as well as bloodworms and worms. It is difficult to catch such a fish when the air temperature is extremely low.With the exception of this period of time, ide usually provides anglers with excellent bites.
