Fried fish is very common, but have you considered other ways of cooking it? How about triggerfish? You can cook triggerfish in ways that you don’t actually think is possible. So stop your fried fish habit and try these special ways to cook triggerfish.
In the past, triggerfish was only found in aquariums. But cooks and chefs have now found ways to turn it into a delicious dish that you will definitely enjoy, which means triggerfish could also be served on your dining table. It has a deliciously fine flavor that leaves a sweetish savour on your tongue. It is something worth treating your tastebuds too, right?
As it is only just being discovered as a food by chefs, restaurants rarely serve triggerfish but I wish it was included on most menus nowadays.
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How To Cook Triggerfish
So What Is Triggerfish?
It is a species of fish that lives near the coral reefs in most tropical areas. Triggerfish got its name from the way it locks its spine on the dorsal fins when it’s alarmed.
Occasionally, fresh triggerfish can be found at the market if you live near the coast. Its light, thin fillets have a mild flavor that is suitable for frying, broiling, baking and more.
How To Cook Triggerfish? You Have To Try These Ways
If you are now wondering how to cook triggerfish, here are a number of ways to do so. Let us take a look at some of the best ways to cook it and make extraordinary, mouth-watering dishes for your table.
Watch this video to learn about cleaning and preparing triggerfish.
Grilling
Wood Grilled Triggerfish (Via Flickr)
Why grilling? Well, it is a type of cooking that gives a fantastic, smoky flavor to the fish. I prefer this kind of cooking for triggerfish as the firm flesh can stand up to the direct heat of the grill.
How about grates? Well, it gives the fish beautiful char marks that make it more appetizing to eat. I suggest that you cut the triggerfish into fillets so that it will cook faster.
Here are some tips on how to grill the triggerfish:
- Make sure the grates of the grill are clean. Take a steel scrub and some detergent in the water. Rub the grates with these and the fish fillets won’t stick to a clean grill.
- The best grill for triggerfish is a charcoal one. The smoke penetrates the fish and gives it a delicate flavor.
- Preheat the grill. Many people think it is the fire that cooks the food. Oh, that’s a big mistake! It is the heat in the grates and the smoke that cooks it.
So why do you have to preheat the grill? Well, simply because you want to get enough heat in the grates and reach the smoking point. - Make sure that you dry the fish with kitchen towels before putting it on the grill, as you wouldn’t want the fish to stick to the grates, right?
Deep Fried
Another great way to cook triggerfish is to deep fry it. This is a bit different to your usual fried fish. Deep frying triggerfish fillet creates an excellent crust that keeps the moisture of the fish inside the flesh. It then leads to a wonderfully succulent and juicy fish that even the kids will definitely enjoy.
Do you want to know its secret? Well, the key here is to simply preheat the pot and the oil to the right temperature. It is also important to use oil with a high smoking point, such as soya oil, which is the best example.
To do this, follow the steps below:
- Preheat the oil to 350 degrees (if you have no thermometer, look for the smoke that comes from the oil).
- Create the frying station. Have some all-purpose flour on the plate, seasoned with freshly ground black pepper and salt. You could also crack some eggs into a deep dish or pour some Japanese breadcrumbs onto your plate.
- Slice the triggerfish into two inches squares, cover it in the flour, then the egg and, finally, the breadcrumbs.
- Now deep fry the fillets in the oil for about 3 minutes.
- Finally, take out the fish and dry off any excess oil by using the kitchen towels.
Oven Roasted
Oven Baked Triggerfish (Via Alejandra Soulfit)
So how are you going to roast it in the oven? Well, most typically, it is when you put the dry ingredients in and wait for it to be cooked. But in the case of triggerfish, roasting gives the fish a robust burst of flavor when you bite into it.
Want to learn a trick? Firstly, approach it in a minimalist manner. You definitely don’t want to mask the flavor by having too many ingredients. You need to go with the cooking standard of ten minutes for a one-inch thick fish fillet or you can simply use the touch technique, where you touch the center of the fish and once it feels firm, you know it’s finally cooked!
Consider these ways of roasting triggerfish:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Season the triggerfish with pepper and salt.
- Chop some herbs that go with white fish, such as parsley, basil, marjoram, dill and oregano, then sprinkle them on the fish.
- Line a baking tray with butter.
- Place the fish on the dish and lay the triggerfish in the middle part of the oven and roast.
Pan-Seared Triggerfish Fillet
Breaded Pan Seared Triggerfish (Via TripAdvisor)
Pan-searing is another great way to enjoy triggerfish. This could be something that you enjoy as it is very simple to do.
Did you know that the high heat from pan searing creates a crust on the outside? It is mouth-watering and delicious, right? The coating traps all of the moisture and creates a moist, juicy dish. In addition, clarified butter or peanut oil are the best options for searing.
The following steps will enable you to cook pan-seared triggerfish:
- This involves quick cooking, so you need to get the fish up to room temperature.
- Simply season it with freshly ground black pepper, salt and a squeeze of lemon juice, and let it sit for 5 minutes, so that the fish can absorb the seasonings.
- Place a pan on the stove over a medium to a high heat and pour in some butter or oil.
- Once the oil is hot enough, sear the fish on one side for about two minutes, then flip the fish and sear it for another minute or two.
- At this point, the triggerfish will be cooked, so take it out of the pan and serve.
Wow! As you can see, there are a number of ways you can cook this fascinating and delicious fish dish that are a lot faster and easier. Indeed, the fish is so versatile there are endless possibilities.
For additional ways to catch, clean and cook triggerfish, simply watch this video:
I really hope you enjoyed finding out about the many ways to cook triggerfish I showed above! And if there is anything you want to share, simply write your comments or suggestions below.
