Oily fish: benefits and harms, price, recipes, calories. Oil fish: composition, benefits and harms of oil fish, oil fish in cooking

The name of this class of living creatures was given not by biological characteristics, but by taste. We are talking about the commercial name "butterfish", the consequences of which are one of the most famous "horror stories" in gastronomy.

Brief information

In biology, there is no such thing as "butterfish". It was invented by merchants to refer to a whole category of inhabitants of the ocean, where they fall:

Escolar;
Australian seriolella;
Atlantic butterfish;
Pampanito fish;
Patagonian stromateus.

The main feature by which all these different types of fish were combined into one trade name is similar taste and very fatty, often white, meat.

A large amount of fat is typical for marine inhabitants of tropical latitudes, who live in the area of underwater hills and mountains. The main oilfish supply regions are South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, South America.

Most often under the label "butter-fish" is served ruveta, also known as emery fish. In African countries, locals call her escolar. This is a very large fish weighing several tens of kilograms. Due to the fact that both externally and in behavior it is close to tuna fish, it is often caught by mistake. It lives on the continental shelf and feeds on small fish, crustaceans and squid. In the dark, it comes to the surface. The meat has an excellent texture and high taste.

In this video, Mikhail will tell you how he once bought pampanito fish:

Application in gastronomy

One of the key advantages of this seafood is the variety of ways to cook it:

Smoking;
Frying;
Extinguishing;
Cooking;
Grilling.

Tender tasty meat is very much appreciated by gourmets and regulars of restaurants. However, in order for food not to harm the body, it is necessary to observe a few simple rules:

Of all the cooking options, it is better to choose cooking (fat goes into the broth and must be drained) or grilled (harmful substances drain through the grate). It is better not to eat a smoked product, especially with tomatoes, which enhance the so-called "castor effect";
Before starting cooking, it is better to hang the fish by the tail, after cutting off its head. So a significant part of the oil (fat) will flow out;
Preference should be given to smaller portions. This is how you can get all the nutrients without the risk of catching diarrhea.

Butterfish: calories

Oilfish is known as one of the best sources of energy, which makes it great for athletes, manual workers and just outdoor enthusiasts. A few steaks can replace a full meal.

The average nutritional values (per 100 g) for this trade name are as follows:

Calorie content - 130 kcal;
Proteins - 25 g;
Fats - 5 g.

The contribution of each gram of proteins, carbohydrates and fats to the calorie content is 4, 4 and 9, respectively (i.e. 1 g of protein - 4 kcal). According to the works of leading nutritionists, the best source of energy is carbohydrates, which are extremely scarce in oily fish. That is why those who want to keep their figure in good shape and dieters should forget about eating this dish.

Oil fish: benefits and harms

On the territory of the Soviet Union, the so-called "oil-fish" was sold at a bargain price as feed. In modern Russia, this type of fish is sometimes served as an expensive gourmet delicacy "for the elite." As a bait, merchants cite the following positive qualities of the product:

Pleasant taste;
Variety of cooking methods;
Fish contains potassium, which will help with cardiovascular diseases;
The fats present in the composition can produce a rejuvenating effect, improving the structure of the human integumentary system;
The fish lives exclusively in unpolluted waters, therefore it is advertised as "environmentally friendly";
The work of the endocrine system will help the chromium contained in the product;
The composition contains many trace elements and vitamins.

The harmful properties of fish are no less impressive. If cooked incorrectly - and this happens almost always with home cooking - the product causes severe disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms of food poisoning appear (especially diarrhea). Sometimes an oily liquid may flow from the anus without urging. This happens because oily fish contain an exorbitant amount of fats, many of which are not absorbed by the human body.

However, this lack of fish can be interpreted in a relatively positive light: it can be recommended to those suffering from constipation.

Legislative regulation

The negative effect of eating fatty fish (primarily escolar) led to its recognition in a number of developed countries of the world non-food product:

In Japan, it was recognized as poisonous and banned from sale in the 70s of the last century;
In the Scandinavian countries, the government issues special recommendations, which are declarative in nature, regarding the dangers from the misuse of this seafood;
Regulatory authorities of Canada also decided to limit themselves to advisory measures. Local consumers there are instructed to inquire about the quality of the fish seller;
For several years, "butterfish" was banned in the United States, but under pressure from the lobby of anglers and retail chains, the ban was lifted.

As for Russia, back in the Soviet years, the Kyiv Research Institute escolar was recognized as a product unfit for human consumption. However, now the conclusions of scientists are safely forgotten for the sake of obtaining super profits by merchants.

In Soviet times, this product was sold for a penny and was considered harmful, but today it is positioned almost like the food of the gods. It is, of course, butterfish. The consequences of using it are very deplorable, but not fatal.

Abundant diarrhea guaranteed . It is unlikely that the negative consequences can outweigh the few positive qualities.

Video: if you ate oily fish

In this video, an escolar (oily fish) fillet will be shown, as well as gastroenterologist Andrey Pirogov will tell you what consequences await after its use:

Butterfish is the marketing name for certain types of fish that share a common set of physiological and gustatory characteristics. Oil fish include: escolar, stromatei, seriolella, mackerel, American oil fish and some other species. In addition to the mysterious names, these fish are united by almost similar culinary qualities. They have "oily" meat, that is, very fatty. Fishing is carried out mainly in the Pacific Ocean and in the southern part of the Indian.

Main types of butterfish

Escolar

Escolar is considered the most valuable type of oil fish. Outwardly, it looks like a tuna. The fish is relatively large. Some individuals grow up to 2 meters in length and can weigh about 50 kg. Predator. It feeds on small fish, squid and small oceanic plankton. In cooking, cold-smoked escolar is most valued.

Seriollella

The fish is silvery in color with a red tint. Most often, fish weighing 1.5-2 kg come to the market. Some individuals can grow up to 2.5-3 kg. Seriollella is fatter than other oil fish, the percentage of fat in the product can reach 40%.

pampanito

Pampanito lives in the warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Fish of the Stromateev family, silvery in color with characteristic dark gray spots, because of which it is also called the "star" fish. Relatively small - up to 1.5 kg. Pampanito is almost impossible to catch in winter, as during this period these fish sink to the depth.

American butterfish

The smallest type of butterfish. The weight of adults rarely exceeds 300 grams. The American butterfish, or as it is also called, white butterfish lives along the east coast of North and South America. Outwardly, the fish is a bit like a flounder - roundish, flat, with prominent fins.

Butterfish calories

Calorie oil fish 112 kcal per 100 grams of product.

Useful properties of oily fish

Each type of fish has its own characteristics, unique taste and chemical composition. In general, oily fish contains a large amount of chromium, phosphorus, fluorine, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium and other minerals. The product is rich in vitamins E, PP, A, B1. Butterfish has a huge amount of protein and, of course, fish oil.

Butterfish strengthens and rejuvenates the body. The chemical composition of the product has a positive effect on the appearance and health of hair, nails and skin. In addition, fish is recommended to be eaten for the prevention of diseases of the heart and blood vessels. It has been proven that oily fish is able to normalize and improve the functioning of the human endocrine system.

One of the types of oily fish - ruveta - contains wax esters and palytoxin in fat. These substances are not broken down in the stomach. As a result, after eating this fish, a person may experience diarrhea. A large amount of ruveta can cause poisoning.

All types of oily fish are contraindicated in persons with liver disease. The product is quite "heavy" for the digestive system. This should be taken into account. It is best to eat butterfish infrequently and in small portions.

How to choose butterfish

It is believed that escolar fish is the tastiest. When buying butterfish in plastic packaging, you should pay attention to the amount of moisture inside. Its excess is a sign of low-quality products. Quality fish is slightly hard, dense, with a pleasant smell.

When choosing frozen fish, you need to pay attention to the appearance. The fish must be whole, without defects and excess ice on the surface.

What to cook with butterfish

Butterfish is baked, boiled, stewed, fried. Smoked meats can be used for making sandwiches, cold snacks, served as a cut. Fish can be the main element of the dish or its addition. Butterfish is very tasty.

Many, probably, have heard more than once about butterfish. Such a term does not exist in biology, as some types of fish of different families are called. The concept of "butterfish" is more of a commercial name. Despite the similar taste of the meat of such a commercial subspecies, their habitat is completely different.

Oil related fish

Types of butterfish:

Such species of different families of fish live in the oceans with warm water. This area of the earth's hemisphere is called the tropics. It floats and develops in the uppermost layers of ocean water. It is worth noting that she does not live near the coast, but swims to it only when spawning begins. For development and living, they choose more open spaces not near the coastline, but in the depths of the ocean.

This species is not commercial, are caught while fishing for tuna, as they live in the same environment. On sale can be found everywhere, in every corner of the globe. The meat of such individuals stands out in a pleasant white color, with a small amount of bones. Oily fish benefits and harms must be known.

Benefits of butterfish

If you believe commercial agents, who, of course, praise this type of product because of its high price, you can highlight the following advantages of using this product:

These species are at the top of the list. the most useful. The content of useful substances, along with other species, for example, salmon, exceeds several times.

Harm of oily fish

There are no special warnings from doctors, since few people seek help after using it. But it is worth saying that this product can disrupt the functioning of the stomach and intestines for a while. Maybe this should not even be called harm, because to some extent, sometimes cleansing is simply necessary for the body.

Such a manifestation of malaise can be an incorrect method of preparation or use in unlimited quantities. The use of the product in smoked form does not cause any unpleasant consequences for the body, because it is prepared in compliance with all production standards. But if you do it at home, you can mess up something: therefore, you should not deviate from the cooking recipes that are recommended by professionals.

It also needs to be said what fresh frozen fish is a common cause of gastrointestinal disorders. Therefore, buy products already in finished form. There are cases of individual intolerance to this food product. In this case, there may be food poisoning. But this is extremely rare.

During cooking, you need to ensure that all the harmful fat comes out of the carcass. After the release of excess fat, only the necessary substances for our body will remain.

There is a ban in some countries on the sale of oily fish due to its poor digestibility by the human body, because oily fish has a very high calorie content. Among the countries that have introduced the ban are:

Japan;
Italy.

There is no such ban in Russia.

Product calorie content

Oil fish has calories 112 kcal per 100 g of product. The composition of the meat includes proteins in the amount of 18-19 g, as well as fats 4.2 g. This fish does not contain carbohydrates. It is extremely helpful when dieting. It is precisely because of its calorie content that it is able to charge the body of a person leading an active lifestyle with the energy he needs for this.

But oily fish, smoked at the factory, is already endowed with a completely different calorie content in the amount of 180 kcal. The content of proteins in it does not change, as a rule, and fats increase by 2–3 times, usually up to 12 g.

That's why for dietary nutrition fresh-frozen is more suitable than smoked. There are many recipes for this product.

Butterfish cooking

Few people know how to cook butterfish. If you decide to cook such a product, you can limit yourself to the simplest and fastest recipe, during the preparation of which the fish will get rid of unnecessary fats and become incredibly healthy.

Method of cooking N1 on the grill

You will need:

4-5 large pieces of fish;
salt to taste;
a little granulated sugar;
soy sauce - 10 g;
lemon juice.

The steaks are marinated with all the mixed ingredients for two hours. Next, the grill is heated and pieces of fish are laid out on the oil grate. Hold on each side for 5-7 minutes, so more fat will come out. After roasting on both sides on well-heated coals, the dish is ready to eat. This cooking method is very simple and does not require much effort. The benefits of a fried product will be quite tangible.

Preparation method N2

You will need:

4 carcasses of medium-sized fish;
cherry tomatoes - 10-12 pcs.;
chili pepper - 1 pc.;
lime;
salt to taste;
ground black pepper;
greenery.

Cooking:

wash the fish, dry it, remove the insides and fins. After removing all excess, rinse again and dry with a towel;
squeeze lime juice and grease it from the inside of the carcass;
mix pepper with salt and rub the carcasses with the resulting mixture;
rinse the greens and put twigs inside the carcasses;
cut the chili pepper into circles and put 2-3 circles along with herbs;
cut the tomatoes in a cross;
also make an incision along the ridge and along the carcass;
take a baking sheet and lay out baking paper or foil, put small pieces of lime into the cuts on the fish;
tomatoes are also laid out on carcasses from above;
wrap with foil and leave to saturate for about 1–1.5 hours;
preheat the oven to 230 degrees, before installing the fish for baking, wrap the fish very tightly with foil. Set for 10-15 minutes, then remove from the oven and unfold the foil;
Drizzle with a little melted butter. And put it back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes.

During the baking of the main dish, you can prepare a wonderful sauce. Take a small amount of mint and sprinkle with olive oil. Finely chopped greens after pour the juice of half a lime. Mix and chill in the refrigerator. Serve in a small gravy boat on a plate with fish. Good white wine and fresh vegetables, chopped coarsely into a salad, go well with the dish.

Cooking method N3

Great recipe for fruit lovers. You will need:

fish carcass;
medium sized apple;
seedless grapes - 100 g;
small tomato;
medium bulb;
salt and ground black pepper to taste.

Cooking:

wash the carcass, cut off the fins and remove the spine along with the entrails, in no case touch the skin on the fish;
grate with salt and season with pepper, make small cuts around the entire perimeter of the carcass;
leave to saturate for 1-1.5 hours;
finely chop the onion, tomato and apple into cubes;
lay out vegetables and fruits inside the carcass;
bake on a wire rack in the oven at a temperature of 160 degrees.

After it has cooked, put on a plate and decorate with fresh herbs, you can pour soy sauce. Skin with scales serves as a shell for delicious meat with a side dish of vegetables and fruits.

Oil fish dishes: photo

The Internet and other media provide mixed information about this product. Some say that oily fish causes diarrhea, others do not notice the side effects of it and cook with pleasure. But few people in our country know about its beneficial properties, while in the USA it is a favorite delicacy.

stromatei - with flattened sides, 3 genera of fish belong to it. Lives: in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa, America and southern Asia;
American oil - lives throughout the oceans;
Australian seriolella - lives in the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Contains from 10 to 40% fat;
escolar (gray mackerel delicacy) looks like a tuna, is considered a rare fish. It is large, reaches 2 m in length, weighing up to 50 kg.

The white meat of butterfish ranks first in terms of the content of healthy animal proteins. The composition contains amino acids and saturated fats necessary for the normal functioning of the human body, many vitamins (A, D, E and F) and trace elements (iodine, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium).

The name of oily fish is not accidental, because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, in terms of the concentration of which it is 3 times ahead of salmon! Additionally contains selenium, niacin, vitamin B12.

Its benefits are obvious for people with low resistance to stress, increased anxiety and weakened immunity. Frequent consumption of oily fish improves well-being in cardiovascular diseases and high cholesterol.

Science also knows the benefits of butterfish for women with painful periods or menopause.

When eating dishes from this fish at least 2 times a week, metabolism improves, blood pressure decreases, which has a positive effect on health and quality of life in general.

Harm to the body: myths and reality

The main problem that causes concern and harm to humans when eating this fish is the possibility of a violent reaction of the body in the form of uncontrolled diarrhea. There is evidence that some time after a meal (up to 36 hours) flatulence, a laxative effect, stomach cramps, headaches, vomiting and nausea appear.

The culprit of these manifestations is gempilotoxin, a wax ester that is not able to be absorbed by the body. The high fat content in the product provokes the release of a significant amount of bile, which irritates the surface of the gastrointestinal tract, provokes the removal of fats and oils and stains the stool red.

But you should not blame only one variety of fish eaten for such consequences. Let's turn to statistics: in the total number of such poisonings, there are other seafood.

Due to the large number of such cases, the sale of butterfish in Japan, Canada and many European countries is prohibited by law, since the harm from eating this fish outweighs the benefits.

In Russia, the ban on import and sale has not yet been introduced. It is believed that it has passed all the necessary checks and analyzes by regulatory organizations and is fit for use.

Choose and try

To reduce the likelihood of negative consequences, it is worth paying attention to the methods of heat treatment. The best are: steaming, baking in the oven or grilling. They do not require a lot of oil, and the dishes are not too greasy.

Going shopping, do not forget about the rules of choice:

the frozen carcass must be whole, without damage, kinks and discoloration;
when buying fish even “glazed” from ice, pay attention to its color, spots or damage to the ice crust;
refuse to buy in opaque packaging: in this way, unscrupulous sellers hide the true state and “freshness” of products;
it is better to take it whole, then the seller will have less opportunity for tricks to give it a presentation;
fresh fish of good quality does not have an unpleasant or foreign smell;
it is important that the seafood is elastic and dense, and when pressed on it, the fingerprint quickly disappears.

If you love gastronomic experiments, butterfish gives you a chance to discover new taste horizons. For everyone else, I recommend choosing less exotic products, such as salmon or.

Few people refuse to eat delicious fish, even if they usually prefer meat. Butterfish has a special taste, which, which will be great news for losing weight, is compatible with almost any diet food. Speaking about the energy composition of the product, it is worth considering that the fat content of fish, depending on the habitat, can vary from 0.5 to 13%, while the protein content in meat will be at least 20.

It is also worth noting that butterfish, like any other type of its counterparts, has several cooking methods: it can be fried, boiled or stewed. It is also good in a salty form, and sometimes people who are not too versed in delicacies mistake white butter meat for sturgeon. On the shelves of stores you can only find exolar fillet (as it is also called). In full size, this fish is practically not for sale.

Beneficial features

Speaking about such a product as oily fish, it is worth noting that its main distinguishing feature is an excess of oil, which literally drains from the carcass. Of course, like any other gift from the sea, escolar contains vitamin PP, called niacin, as well as useful minerals: magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, potassium, molybdenum and many others. Some of these substances are present in the fillet in sufficient quantities. In addition, oily fish has a decent composition of iron, which significantly reduces the risk of developing anemia in the body.

Do not forget about the distinctive taste of fish meat, which will appeal to even the most capricious gourmet. In modern cooking, there are a large number of recipes based on this product, but cold-smoked oily fish is still the most common.

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Conclusion

The best way to cook this dish is on the grill. In this case, excess fat will drain during frying. Thus, you can significantly reduce the load on the digestive tract. It is worth noting that in some countries the use of certain varieties of escolar is prohibited due to the high percentage of fat content. Nevertheless, on the shelves of Russian stores, this product has taken its place of honor. At the same time, you should not refuse to use oil if you do not suffer from individual intolerance to fish dishes.