Cooking Fish in Your Gainesville Apartment
Learning to cook a great fish dinner in your can help you enjoy one of the best parts of living in Florida – fresh seafood. There are some important things to keep in mind about fish before you start cooking, however. For instance, good quality fish should have a very mild smell. If fish smells extremely “fishy,” don’t buy it, this is often a sign it’s starting to go bad or has been improperly processed. Also be sure to feel around the thin lower part of your filets for bones and cut out any you find. Fish bones can be very thin and cause a lot of pain if you accidently swallow them. Finally, be sure to remove as much of the dark blood line that runs down the center of the filet as possible. The blood is what creates a “fishy” taste so removing this line will give you a milder flavor when you’re done cooking.
Now that you know how to buy and prepare fish, go to your local supermarket and get the following supplies:
- Fillets of a mild, white fish like grouper, snapper, tilapia or flounder
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Panko or Italian bread crumbs
- Lemon
- Tartar sauce
- Aluminum foil
Once you arrive home to your Gainesville apartment and you’re ready to start cooking, pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees. Next, get a large bowl and beat together 1-2 eggs per pound of fish. Cut down your fillets into portions that are all about the same size and thickness. Wash each portion and pat it almost dry with a paper towel. Coat each portion in a light layer of flour then dunk them in the beaten egg. Coat the outside with breadcrumbs and place on top of a sheet of aluminum foil in an oven-safe pan or baking tray. Bake for around 10-15 minutes. If the fish is flaking easily with a fork, you’re ready to eat; if not, keep checking every 5 minutes until it does. Serve with a wedge of lemon, tartar sauce and your favorite vegetables.
If you’re looking for more adventurous flavors, try replacing the breadcrumbs with a mixture of ground macadamias and shredded coconut. These are just a couple of great ways to put your kitchen at Bellamay Grand to use. For more information on renting one of our Gainesville apartment units, contact us today.
