Grenadier fish: a description of the grenadier and where the small-eyed is found, useful properties and what it eats

Macrourus is not the most desirable fish for many consumers due to its soft and scaly texture. However, it is still a he althy food that provides the body with essential vitamins, minerals and bioactive elements needed for good he alth. With the right preparation according to the right recipes, grenadier can make delicious dishes.

What kind of fish is this

This ocean-dwelling species is a relative of the cod. In the markets, it can be seen under different names such as blue hake, grenadier and hoki. Sailors call it the rat tail because of its peculiar shape.

The grenadier has an unusual and unattractive appearance, it looks like a large tadpole, with a large head with bulging eyes that connect to a thin, elongated body, tapering towards the tail. Its scales are either black or silver gray.

The size of an adult is about a meter, and they usually weigh no more than two kilograms. Females are larger and more agile than males, which helps them elude fishing nets and allows them to live up to 40 years. Those who live in the Bering Strait have even longer life expectancy - more than 50 years.

Macrourus is a predatory fish that ambush prey. She hides at the bottom of the ocean and waits for the victim. Its diet usually consists of small crustaceans, mussels, krill and sea urchins, worms and small fish; thanks to its sharp teeth, it easily breaks through shells. Even larger grenadiers don't hesitate to attack smaller ones.

Their eating habits change with the season; in summer and autumn they usually gain weight, and in winter and spring grenadiers hardly consume food as spawning begins.

Grenadiers reach adulthood at the age of 5-8 years, while the body size is 65-70 cm. Males are known to be quite aggressive during the mating season. One female can lay up to 400 thousand fertilized eggs; however, the parents do not provide care for the offspring, so a large number of eggs and fry are eaten by other marine life.

Habitat

Macrourus is a species found in northern Pacific and Atlantic waters, which are located near the polar climate zone, where the water temperature never rises above +8 °C. In areas close to California and Japan, there is a related species known as the small-eyed grenadier. In addition, in Russian waters, the grenadier can be seen around the Sea of Okhotsk off the coast of Kamchatka, as well as near the Kuril Islands.

Russian fishing vessels harvest the grenadier in the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan, which makes Russia the dominant country in this type of fishing.Denmark and Germany also have an active commercial fishery for the grenadier, despite its high demand; however, its population has not yet suffered from intensive harvesting. Every year, Russian fishermen catch about 60 tons of grenadier.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionFemales and young fish are more likely to be caught in nets due to their habit of swimming close to the upper layers of the ocean. Meanwhile, males tend to stick to depths of 600-700 meters, as they prefer to live on the seabed. As these fish age, they go deeper into the sea, until they finally settle at a depth of more than 3000 m for the last years of their lives.

Useful properties

Many shoppers are put off by the strange appearance of deep sea fish and keep their distance in the store, and that makes sense. Small-eyed grenadier is one of the most nutritious marine fish. With proper preparation, it will be possible to please the family with a tasty and at the same time low-calorie treat.

Grenadier filet is a source of many useful components, such as:

• vitamins A, E and C, as well as almost all B vitamins;
• minerals;
• essential amino acids that can only be obtained through food, such as arginine, leucine, tryptophan and lysine;
• omega-acids.

Grenadier is similar in vitamins and minerals to other cod fish, but due to the fact that it lives in polar waters, it contains more omega acids. As a result, the concentration of omega-3 in grenadier is about 30% higher than in cod. Eating its meat two to three times a week can bring noticeable he alth benefits, as it is low in fat. Therefore, the grenadier should be included in the composition of dietary or medical nutrition.

Regular use of grenadier provides many benefits, including the following:

• strengthening bones and muscles;
• prevention of rickets in children and osteoporosis in the elderly;
• improving the structure of hair, skin and nails;
• increasing the elasticity and strength of capillary walls, which in turn improves blood circulation and at the same time improves its composition;
• reducing the likelihood of malignant tumors;
• increase in life expectancy along with the preservation of youth;
• improving the efficiency of the immune system;
• Supports the endocrine system and improves visual abilities.

Granurus meat is a safe treat with no side effects. The only problem that can arise when using it is if someone has an individual intolerance or food allergy. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have young children should be wary of including fish in their diet.

Granberry is an ideal protein product for those who are overweight and on a diet due to its low fat content. It is also beneficial for those who exercise because it is low in calories and fat, while providing essential amino acids and other bioactive compounds that are easy to digest.

Eating fish two hours before your workout will provide your body with the nutrients it needs to regenerate cells, so you don't have to worry about fat accumulation. Grenadier can be useful in recovery from serious illnesses and after surgical operations, as well as muscle and bone injuries.

Contraindications

Eating grenadier fillet may have contraindications for humans. Here are a few of them:

1. Allergy. If you are allergic to seafood, then eating grenadier can cause an allergic reaction.
2. High levels of mercury. Grenadier sometimes contains high levels of mercury, especially if caught in polluted waters. Therefore, its use is sometimes contraindicated for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and people with impaired kidney function.
3. Gastrointestinal diseases. Some people may experience digestive problems if grenadier fish is consumed in large quantities or if it has not been cooked properly.
4. Medications. Some medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants, may interact with the omega-3 fatty acids found in grenadier fish, according to the medication label.

Chemical composition

The grenadier fish fillet contains many useful and necessary elements for the human body. 100 grams of grenadier fillet contains about 20 grams of protein, 12 grams of fat and 170 kilocalories of energy.

The chemical composition of grenadier fish is rich in such important elements as magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc and iodine. Also, 100 grams of grenadier fillet contains about 14% of the daily requirement of vitamin D and 8% of the vitamin B12 requirement.

Granberry is also an excellent source of omega-3 essential fatty acids, which play an important role in maintaining heart and vascular he alth, as well as lowering blood cholesterol levels.

In addition, grenadier fish contains many other beneficial substances, such as taurine, selenium, niacin and tryptophan, which help strengthen the immune system, improve vision, maintain he althy skin and hair, and improve mood.

Tips for choosing fish

Because of their spiky scales, grenadier fish are usually descaled before being sold. Often on sale you can find a whole fish without a head, as well as pieces and fillets.

To get the freshest product, the best time to buy grenadier is during the commercial fishing season, which is in the spring or early fall. When buying frozen grenadier, pay attention to the thickness of the ice layer; if it is too thick, it indicates that the fish has been stored for some time and has lost a significant part of its nutritional properties.

Expert opinionZarechny Maxim ValerievichAgronomist with 12 years of experience. Our best gardening expert.Ask a QuestionIt is not recommended to buy re-frozen fish, it can be identified by the irregular shape of the carcass, dents in the skin and the absence of a pinkish tint on the flesh.

For long-term storage at home, frozen fish is needed. Fresh fish should be consumed immediately after purchase. The shelf life of grenadier that has been frozen is no more than six months. If the fish has been frozen several times, it should be consumed within two weeks.

Cooking tips

In the northern coastal regions, grenadier dishes are well known, as the flesh of this fish is tender with a pinkish tint and not fibrous. It has a slight fishy smell, and its texture is soft and slightly watery, like being constantly wet.

Fish can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as fried, baked, stuffed or made into meatballs. In addition, it can be dried, smoked or pickled, but it is not recommended to boil or cook soup from it, as in this case the fillet will quickly deteriorate and fall apart into fibers.

For the successful preparation of grenadier, it is suggested not to defrost the fish in the microwave or in a bowl of hot water, as the carcass will become fragile. Instead, take the fillet out ahead of time and leave it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a few hours.

To fry a grenadier in oil, use a very hot frying pan and put small pieces of fish on it; then cook each side for no more than one minute to preserve its texture.If baking in the oven, set the temperature to 200°C and bake for twenty minutes. For the multicooker, set the baking mode.

Makrurus goes well with stewed vegetables, sautéed mushrooms, noodles and boiled green beans. Rice or bulgur are the best "neighbors on the plate" to serve with it. Parsley, basil and spices are suitable as seasonings. Fish dishes can be served with cheese-based sauces, cream or tomato sauces. To pickle grenadier, use garlic, not cold mustard, lemon juice and soy sauce.

Popular and easy recipes

The grenadier fillet can be prepared in several ways, including pan frying or grilling.

Recipe for fried grenadier

Fried grenadier is an easy and delicious way to prepare this fish. Here is a simple recipe for grilled fish.

Ingredients:

1. Grannerian fish fillet – 4 pieces.
2. S alt and pepper to taste.
3. Flour - 1/2 cup.
4. Vegetable oil - for frying.

Instructions:

1. Select a clean grenadier fish fillet and cut it into pieces.
2. S alt and pepper each piece to taste.
3. Put the flour on the plate.
4. Dip each piece of grenadier fish in flour to coat evenly.
5. Heat vegetable oil in a medium skillet.
6. Place the fish in the pan and fry over medium heat until golden, turning once.
7. When the fish is ready, take it out of the pan and put it on paper towels to remove excess fat.

Grilling:

1. Step 1: Prepare the fish, cut into portions, s alt and pepper.
2. Step 2: Preheat the grill to medium heat and apply a small amount of oil to the grate.
3. Step 3: Arrange the grenadier fillets on the grate and grill for 3-5 minutes per side until done.
4. Step 4: Serve the fish with a side dish or sauce of your choice.

It is important not to overcook the fish so that it does not lose its juiciness and taste.

How to bake in the oven

A simple recipe for baked grenadier fish in the oven.

Ingredients:

1. Grannerus fillet – 500 g.
2. Onion - 1 pc.
3. Carrots – 1 piece
4. Bulgarian pepper - 1 pc.
5. Garlic - 3 cloves.
6. Lemon – 1 piece
7. S alt to taste.
8. Pepper - to taste.
9. Vegetable oil - 2 tbsp. l.
10. Greens for decoration.

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
2. Cut the onion into half rings, carrots and bell peppers into strips. Place the vegetables on an oven tray.
3. Cut the grenadier fillets into portions and season generously with s alt and pepper.
4. Place the fillets over the vegetables on the oven tray.
5. Cut the lemon into slices and put it on the fillet.
6. Fill the fish with vegetable oil.
7. Put the baking sheet into the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes.
8. Decorate the finished fish with herbs and serve.

Steam recipe

How to cook grenadier in a double boiler.

Ingredients:

1. Granner fillet – 4 pieces
2. S alt - 1 teaspoon.
3. Black ground pepper - 1/4 teaspoon.
4. Lemon – 1 piece
5. Fresh herbs (parsley, dill) - to taste.

Instructions:

1. Cut the grenadier fillets into portions.
2. Prepare the steamer and fill it with enough water.
3. S alt and pepper the fish on all sides.
4. Place the fish on the cross-cut lemon slices.
5. Put the fish in the steamer and close the lid. Cook for approximately 15-20 minutes until the fish is done.
6. Take the fish out of the steamer, garnish with fresh herbs and serve.

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