Cooking fish for people who don't like fish?

[Vortexing]

DH and I are just not huge fish fans (DH doesn't like it, I'll eat it b/c I know it's good for me). But I'd like to get more of it in our diet.

I'm looking for any suggestions about how to start integrating it even though we don't LOVE it?

This is what I've tried:
So far broiled/baked in our nice toaster oven really hot (convection) tends to work better for us than frying since it doesn't seem to stink up the house as much. Also, I've been washing the fish really well and drying it, and cooking it ASAP (the day I buy it or the next). We're in the PNW, so I've been buying the fish from the expensive fish place here that should technically have very fresh fish. Are there any other magic tips people have for getting rid of the fishy taste/minimizing the smell?

[lotus.blossom]

We don't like fish either but eat it for the benefits. Living in Maine we have access to good seafood! Lobster is cheaper than salmon or steak right now!!

I have found that some Salmon doesn't smell too bad. Tilapia is also a good firm fleshed fish thats not overly smelly. I think that Haddock is the worst for smell and fishiness.

I find that lightly breading and squeezing with lemon juice before broiling adds a nice flair. It also doesn't hurt to make a nice tartar sauce (mayo, relish, splash of lemon)
We just got a cedar plank and hope to be able to grill salmon this summer when the grill thaws out!

HTH!

[cristeen]

I have an extreme dislike for fish. But I've made a fish stew with white fish that actually turned out pretty nice. I actually did it half and half with salmon, but I still couldn't stomach the salmon.

I haven't done it a second time (since I just don't crave fish that often), but from the notes I made the first time, I'd change the marinade... the stew itself tasted very asian to me, and the marinade really didn't add anything - so I'd probably marinate the fish in more asian flavors like ginger and lemongrass instead of the cumin it calls for.

I will also sometimes make homemade fish and chips. I'll beer batter the fish and serve it with tartar sauce.

Those are pretty much the only two ways I volunteer to eat fish. There is a local restaurant whose fish I will eat, but at home mostly I stick to other seafood. Shrimp and crab being the two biggies, but I can also get all sorts of other shellfish.

[Theoretica]

This is totally me! DH loves fish...he'd eat it EVERY day if he could. But me...well, it makes me gag and retch. I hate the stuff. But it's so damn healthy that I *need* to be eating it. I can do Gordon's Fish Filets (Crispy) which are just overgrown fish sticks (but yummy) and I can choke down a lemon butter tilapia. But that's it. And clams/mussels/squid/and other flotsam/jetsam are all a no-go. I do love me some crab though...DELISH! So is crab as healthy as fish? Cause I can eat that alllllll day. So tell me yes and I'll feel better!

And salmon...omg I can't STAND salmon.

But ohhh how I wish I could eat fish lolol

I'm subbing in hopes an ingenius fish disguising recipe shows up....:

[Alyantavid]

Tilapia doesn't really taste too fishy. I usually bake that with some butter and seasonings. Trout is alright, but it can be a little fishy too. I grill that. Salmon, I can really only eat one way, baked with mayo and pepperjack on it. That does kill some of the fishiness.

The best way I've found to hide the fish taste is tarter sauce. I make my own from scratch and its the only kind I'll eat. Its awesome.

[amcal]

White fish doesn't tend to have a fishy smell or taste.

Dover sole, tilapia and halibut all have a meaty texture but no fishy taste or smell.

I love to coat them with nuts and pan fry.

[pumpkin]

Only buy sashimi grade tuna. (I'm only half kidding)

Seriously, its the only fish I can allow to be cooked in my house. At the most cooking involves searing for a few seconds on each side.

DH likes salmon but has agreed that in the future it will only be cooked outside. He even has a special electric skillet that only gets used for salmon because I can smell it even after the thing has been scrubbed like crazy and sits for several months unused and I can't use the skillet to cook anything else once its been contaminated.

[philomom]

I'm getting them to eat fish in my family by putting it in paella. Yellow rice, fish lightly cooked in olive oil... a little shrimp or sausage thrown in. Yum.

[Vortexing]

These are some good starts!

I do have to say that we did bake (really hot in a convection toaster oven) a salmon filet the other day and I rubbed molasses over the top and then coated that with some brown sugar (it needed some salt first though, but I forgot it). Then the brown sugar/molasses makes sort of a sugary crust on it that isn't overpowering at all (I'm assuming as long as you don't put 1/2 the bag of sugar on there or something), and while it's probably not low cal or good for people who aren't into brown sugar, it did mask the gross taste fairly well.

[gmvh]

What about marinating some white fish (tilapia or we use mahi mahi but I'm not sure if it falls in the "white fish" category) in jalapenos, cilantro, lime, and oil, then bake it. Shred/crumble it and have in burritos or tacos. Or you could use a taco seasoning mix on it and bake it and have it in tacos.

What about pasta salad and crumble cooked fish into it? Do something with strong flavors and the fish will disappear (though this may be very relative as we like fish at our house...).

Good luck! Honey mustard-ish things are good on salmon, too and mustard has a strong flavor!

[kjbrown92]

I used to think fish was about the grossest thing going. But it's not that bad.

Salmon - to me salmon steaks and salmon filets are totally different. The steaks are VERY fishy to me (so I don't buy them). I get the filet. Rub with olive oil, salt and pepper, bake at 425F for 15 minutes. The house doesn't smell like salmon.

The other way to make it is saute some sweet peppers and sweet onions in a little olive oil. Put those over some greens (any kind of lettuce or spinach or whatever). Then fry the salmon filet in the same pan. Put that on the salad. Mix equal amounts honey and balsamic vinegar. Stir that into the fry pan to heat. Then pour that on top as your dressing.

I make salmon cakes too (fry, like a crab cake).

Tilapia is one that my kids don't mind either. Otherwise, I only get fish when I'm at a restaurant.

Scallops are good but I don't know that they're that good for you.

[SquishyBuggles]

Originally Posted by gmvh

What about marinating some white fish (tilapia or we use mahi mahi but I'm not sure if it falls in the "white fish" category) in jalapenos, cilantro, lime, and oil, then bake it. Shred/crumble it and have in burritos or tacos. Or you could use a taco seasoning mix on it and bake it and have it in tacos.

We do these...H loves fish and I hate it but try to eat it occasionally for the benefits.

[dogmom327]

Never tried this myself but I've heard you can soak fish in milk to remove the fishiness. I think it's normally recommended for fish that isn't terribly fresh or has been frozen.

[rebirth]

using heavily aromatic fresh spices is a lovely way to prepare fish, and the herbs will cover up any fishy smell. I like dill and lemon slices covering the fillets, and baked in the oven. Beaking them on a rack helps keep the juices (the smelly bit) away from the fish.

you can also do tarragon, which is delicious, or rosemary if the fish can stand up to it.

another lovely preparation is wrapped in parchment with herbs, lemon, a tiny bit of butter and white wine. It'll steam in the oven and be wonderful- plus it looks super fancy!

I also love grilling salmon with homemade barbeque sauce and honey basted on it. Cooking (and eating) outside will keep the aroma out of your home.

tuna salad is also a good way to get some of the health benefits, without cooking it, as is smoked salmon.

[CookiePie]

Breaded tilapia under the broiler!

[425lisamarie]

I make whatever fish my dad catches. We just went through a whole slew of trout and salmon. I just eat whatever because it's good for me, but the kids need help with that one.

My kids JUST started liking fish a short while back. We are actually making it today. I buy thin filets and then fry them in flour/cornmeal for a nice sweet crunch and they could just eat platters full.

The best is when my dad catches big trout, and filets them for me. I cut them in to pieces easy to pick up by little fingers and pan fry. I'm not messing with any other methods right now because they eat it!

DH lived in Greece for a few years so he eat literally as fishy tasting as they come. Pickled herring, those little greasy looking things you fry whole, anything he loves it

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by cristeen

I have an extreme dislike for fish. But I've made a fish stew with white fish that actually turned out pretty nice. I actually did it half and half with salmon, but I still couldn't stomach the salmon.

I haven't done it a second time (since I just don't crave fish that often), but from the notes I made the first time, I'd change the marinade... the stew itself tasted very asian to me, and the marinade really didn't add anything - so I'd probably marinate the fish in more asian flavors like ginger and lemongrass instead of the cumin it calls for.

I will also sometimes make homemade fish and chips. I'll beer batter the fish and serve it with tartar sauce.

Those are pretty much the only two ways I volunteer to eat fish. There is a local restaurant whose fish I will eat, but at home mostly I stick to other seafood. Shrimp and crab being the two biggies, but I can also get all sorts of other shellfish.

I'm making your fish stew with tilapia...I'll let you know how it comes out! DH is thrilled, I'm nervous...but hey...I'm TRYING it!!!

Ok and I'm starving...that should help considerably LOL

[Theoretica]

Ok I made the fish stew, with tilapia and not salmon, but that is hands DOWN the best fish recipe I've EVER had. Didn't taste fishy at ALL, great flavor, EXACTLY what I'm looking for!!! I didn't have fresh tomatoes so I used a drained can of diced tomatoes. Otherwise we did it exactly the same.

I think next time I might even use more fish!

:

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Any other great fish recipes?? This one just made it to our weekly rotation!! And I'm THRILLED that I actually like it, I can't think you enough for sharing it!

[sewcool]

I'm gagging just at the thought of eating fish - shivers go down my spine- yuck

[Theoretica]

Originally Posted by sewcool

I'm gagging just at the thought of eating fish - shivers go down my spine- yuck

Ok that is me, totally. But I made that fish stew she posted above and it was GOOD. I mean REALLY good. Didn't taste like fish at ALL. And the fish was more like tender chicken. I could totally eat that.