Simmer for 30-40 min. The snakehead was the talk of Chinatown since all the Chinese-language newspapers had articles about Mr. Wu’s arrest, and even featured photos of … Luckily for both chefs and seafood lovers, snakeheads offer mild-tasting, meaty, snow-white steaks and filets ideal for inclusion in a wide variety of seafood recipes. Would a new name make the snakehead more appetizing. Can persimmons predict the weather? Cut corn into chunks and pork into large cubes. And if our area restaurants decide to serve snakehead, I’d recommend beer-battered snakehead with chips, although the name should probably change before it’s printed on the menu. Baits that work well include chatterbaits, buzz baits, and top water lures. The other taste tester preferred the snakehead, however, because it had no fishy aftertaste. (Photos), It’s snakehead weather! Snakeheads (Chinese: 蛇头; pinyin: shé tóu; Hokkien: chôa-thâu) are Chinese gangs that smuggle people to other countries. The Northern Snakehead Fish (Channa argus) in Central Park, Burnaby B.C. Snakeheads move to shallow water in the tidal Potomac River and its tributaries when the water temperature warms, usually by mid-May. Beer-battered fish and chips is one of my favorites. One advantage of cooking snakehead for breakfast over other types of fish is the kitchen doesn’t smell fishy when breakfast is served. S picy Steamed Fish with Lemongrass and Galangal. It’s very good served with scrambled eggs. Huai Shan, also known as Wild Yam or Nagaimo (“long potato” in Japanese) is available at most Asian grocery stores fresh or dried – this recipe calls for the dried version which may be harder to find unless you've got a Chinese herb store close at hand. The results were split. The fried shrimp paste chicken is also worth trying. I used two pans because once the fish is battered it looks exactly the same. There is no arguing that the fish tastes good. I baked both fillets in the oven at 450 degrees for 20-25 minutes. One caveat is that some recipes call for the chef to “bury fish in haystacks and burn.” We suggest you consult with your local farmer and/or fire department before doing so. I coated a snakehead fillet and a flounder fillet with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Italian dressing is one of my favorite marinades for grilling fish. Rinse fish under running water to remove excess oil. Just the name and reputation of the fish was enough to turn the taste testers away. (Snakehead images via WTOP, top, and The Artful Gourmet, above). Snakehead Fish Soup Chop the fish into 4-5 sections. Pat the amberjack filets until dry and coat on both sides with the contents of bowl. For the baked taste test, I had two taste testers, including myself. I saved the best for last. Grease an oven tray or dish, place fish on tray, and bake at 350 degrees for eight to twelve minutes. I liked the snake bites better because occasionally I get a fishy tasting catfish nugget. I decided to host a set of snakehead taste tests with people who have never eaten the fish. Copyright © 2013-20. If the restaurant industry in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C., can figure out how to bring the fish to market in quantity, and fishermen can figure out how to supply that market, the effort might help keep the invasive snakehead population in the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay watershed under control. Pan-fry cleaned fish with oil, ginger and spring onion on both sides until … 4. “When man turns its attention to an animal, it's very difficult for the animal,” states David Stein, executive chef at Tony & Joe's Seafood Place in Washington DC. [Eating snakehead for the sake of the Chesapeake]. In our test, the beer-battered fish was deep-fried in vegetable oil. Snakehead fish is completely edible and is supposedly very tasty. I grilled a snakehead fillet and a tilapia fillet side-by-side with an Italian dressing marinade. Snakeheads don’t have a fishy smell or taste, even when it’s cooked. Let’s call it Potomac Cod or Spotted Channa. When choosing a snakehead fish, make sure that you get the smaller species of snakehead as the bigger they are the tougher their meat is. The key here is the use of banana leaves to wrap the fish before grilling: they hold the flavorful juices in, keeping the fish mouthwateringly moist. The cod was extremely good but the snakehead was just a bit better. Rubber worms worked slowly on the bottom can catch snakeheads, but not as frequently as the top water lures. If you are a fisherman who catches snakeheads, please share your fishing tips in the comments section. No wonder they call Thailand “The Land of Smiles.” (Snakehead recipe image via Geckovilla), Also known somewhat less palatably as “Mudfish”, Snakehead is one of the most popular culinary fishes in southeast Asia thanks to firm, fine-grained meat that stays together when cooked. Even better, by putting snakeheads on your menu you help keep our native fish off the snakehead's menu. (Snakehead recipe image via ATravel Diary), Served on a 6-inch Shorty or fully dressed with your choice of garnishes, Snakehead Po' boy Sandwiches add a new twist to Big Easy comfort food. 3. They are normally 3 kilos or more. The snakehead had no fishy aftertaste while the tilapia had a slight fishy aftertaste which was barely detectable. The chinese like to prepare Snakehead fish soup for those who go through surgery of any kind. I wanted to give the fish a try. Although, I think “snake bites” is a cool name for a pub appetizer or a food that is served at happy hour. Both had white, flaky meat. The fish fillets looked very similar coming on and off of the grill. The eighth tester liked the fish equally. That is an excellent method to catch a very large snakehead. The easiest and one of the most common recipe for snakehead fish is the snakehead fish congee. What are your thoughts for renaming the fish? Bring the water to boil and put in everything, except salt. I also cooked three other fish for comparison: tilapia, flounder, and cod. Snakehead Fish Soup ... Chinese Fish Soup Recipes Are Easy Ways To Enjoy Fresh Quick Easy Fish Stew You Cambodian Food Culture Recipe Cha Ca La Vong Hanoi Tumeric Fish With Dill Danang Cuisine Every Foo S Must Have Guide To 10 Common Local Fish The But it was the taste of the snakehead that edged out the cod. Would you eat it? Flounder: Baked with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Yes please! I noticed that the flounder had a slight fishy aftertaste and the snakehead had no fishy aftertaste. I preferred flounder over the firmer snakehead meat for that single reason. (Snakehead recipe image via Eating Thai Food), This old family recipe is a great way to use a lot of snakehead in a nutritious manner. Snakehead fish is one of few freshwater fish that doesn’t have lot of small bones. If you do get one, it would most probably involve deep frying. 1 snakehead fish (nourishes the body) 30g herba taxilli (improves liver and kidney function, nourishes and protects foetus) 10 Chinese red dates, seeds removed (reinforces qi to promote the production of bodily fluids) 1 slice ginger; Pinch of salt; Preparation method: Rinse all ingredients thoroughly. https://thaifoodmaster.com/thai_food_recipes/thai_main_dish_recipes/918 If you catch a snakehead, it’s helpful to use tools to extract the hook. During my fishing trip, we caught six large snakeheads — an aggressive, air-breathing species of fish not native to the Potomac or Chesapeake — and I returned home with some nice fish fillets. That also makes the fish easier to catch. I loved the soft texture of the flounder and how it melted in my mouth. Perhaps we can export our Potomac River snakeheads to the U.K. Snake bites for breakfast: Breaded and fried, For breakfast on Saturday morning, I cubed, breaded, and fried a snakehead filet. I went snakehead fishing on the Potomac River last Thursday with the goal to catch a few of the invasive species. I prefer snakehead over tilapia, salmon, cod, and catfish. Read below for the tasty results. How to cook a snakehead. The subtle saltiness comes from the added fried flat fish/snakehead fish. Instructions: In a small bowl, mix mustard, pecans, horseradish, and breadcrumbs. Snakeheads are unusual compared to our native fish in that they guard their young. First Street … Eat Mor Snakehead! I needed both samples to have the same cooking time and temperature for an accurate taste test. It’s a texture vs. taste preference for baked snakehead and flounder. a simple combination of canola oil, salt and freshly ground pepper. (Snakehead recipe image via Thai Food Master), Grilled Snakehead can be ordered in most any domestic Thai or Vietnamese restaurant, or prepared from scratch in most any domestic North American kitchen. Using the technique - Bok Choy Tofu Fish Soup Besides making the soup creamy white, frying the fish beforehand also helps keep the fish in one piece. This fish prefers stagnant shallow ponds,swamps, or slow moving streams and rivers with mud substrate and aquatic vegetation. The snakehead has a mouthful of teeth. The flounder was lighter in color and had a softer, flakier texture compared to the snakehead. A parent snakehead will often attack a lure near their young. Go ahead and challenge your dinner guests while improving the environment with this recipe... no need to hold your nose while doing so. Weedless lures are preferred because the shallow water of the Potomac River often has grass and lily pads that can foul the hook. The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. The snakehead had a more firm texture. 905-829-5244 church.planting@torontochurchplanting.ca. - - -. We don’t know, but here’s a great pie recipe. https://www.pinterest.com/kookymonzstar/recipes-chinese-herbal-soups [Can persimmons predict the weather? [Would a new name make the snakehead more appetizing?]. Cod fish soup with egg tofu. The farmers can catch a fish while working on the field. The cube dimensions were about one to two inches on all sides. Pics of : Snakehead Fish Soup Recipe Surgery. Thanks to the reputable Cantonese chefs in Hong Kong who created this technique, a good bowl of Chinese fish soup is now transcended to another level. Batter & fry snakehead meat as you would any other firm-fleshed fish and lay on the condiments; don't forget to use real French-style baguettes for that authentic Nawlins accent! (This is part 2 of  It’s snakehead weather! As with all of our other taste tests, the snakehead had no fishy aftertaste while the cod had a hint of a fishy flavor with a few of the bites, but not all of the bites. 1. A good day of fishing on the Potomac River). ‘Bizarre Foods America’ host loves snakehead. For the grilled taste test, I assembled eight people to try the snakehead and tilapia fillets. Serve to snakehead. If you see a school of small fish between one and two inches long clustered in a dense ball about two to three feet in diameter, it could be a school of snakehead fry.Cast a lure near the school. I cut the snakehead and cod fillets into large strips and deep-fried them in two different pans at the same time. (Snakehead recipe image via Baltimore Sun), Ngohp Bplaa Chaawn? As for Frankenfish Tacos, the name might not be bursting with zesty appeal but the delicioso Grilled Corn Salsa more than makes up for it. Snakehead vs. Snakehead doesn’t sound appetizing. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Snakehead taste test — can a fish this ugly really taste that good? That's one of Stein's creations above, accompanied by the head of the snakehead he cooked. Fatty and spicy meals may also cause abdominal pain, and other foods might give you gas. The snakehead was the clear winner over tilapia. On your plate it's a different story and though the native name of this Bangladeshi recipe is “Taki”, both the taste and presentation are anything but. Thus, there was no winner of the taste test. Cod fish is a very firm white-fleshed fish and it is … (Snakehead recipe image via Wendyinkk), This recipe for Shol Maach er Kalia (Spicy Shol Fish/Snakehead Murrel Curry) is a favorite in eastern India and Bangladesh, though the chef recommends it only prepared in the winter as "this fish shouldn’t be consumed during summer, as they get diseases during the summer". Hey, if the Cooking Channel has embraced snakeheads, so can you... just be sure they're officially deceased when you do it. As a side note, I’ve had fish and chips in London and I think snakehead is better. The results were amazing! Cut fish into large chunks, rub some oil over and bake at 200C until the skin looks slightly golden. The snakehead can be caught using the same techniques as fishing for largemouth bass. 2. We're not sure if snakehead illnesses are transferable to people but hey - we'll take their word for it and so should you. Both the snakehead and the cod were extremely good. The taste-testers found the mild taste of the snakehead was a perfect complement to the beer batter and tarter sauce. That's more than enough reason to reel 'em in and serve 'em up! (Snakehead recipe image via Saltpepperlime), This flavorful fish dish was inspired by the homespun cuisine of rural Cambodia. The bowl may be heavy but the meal won't weigh you down. About Us. If you want to catch a snakehead for your own taste test, here are a few tips. This flavorful fish dish was inspired by … (Snakehead recipe image via Delicious Addiction), Isn't it amazing how a very ugly fish can make a great-looking (and delicious tasting) meal? Rustic Curried Snakehead Fish Grilled in Banana Leaves is about as exotic as it gets but back in Thailand where snakeheads are commonly found, folks have had centuries to refine the best ways to eat them. [‘Bizarre Foods America’ host loves snakehead]. We don’t know, but here’s a great pie recipe.]. Can a fish that ugly really taste that good? Are snakeheads as tasty as people claim? Snakehead is ideal for battering and deep-frying: the firm meat won't break up while cooking and provides an almost chicken-like bite when served. Unfortunately, a few of my prospective taste testers declined the invitation when they heard that snakehead was on the menu. Your use of this site is deemed to be your agreement to be bound by our Terms of Use and Site Disclosures and our Privacy Policy. Snakehead vs. Tilapia: Grilled with Italian dressing. Let us know in the comments. Yo quiero snakehead! Rinse huai shan. Snakehead Stew is cooked in a stone or clay cooking pot along with boneless pork, lemongrass, citronella and other regional spices. I did not have catfish nuggets for a comparison but the snake bites were very similar. The snake bites reminded me of catfish nuggets. Snakeheads like a fast retrieve so there is a lot of casting and reeling with snakehead fishing. The meat of the snakehead was slightly more firm than the tilapia and both fillets had a mild flavor. Seven of the eight testers preferred snakehead over tilapia. In my opinion, I’d rank snakehead up with mahi-mahi and flounder as an excellent eating fish. In the case of the invasive Northern Snakehead, elaborates Stein, “He (the snakehead) is dangerous, but chefs are more dangerous.”. Try to fish in water with a depth between one and four feet. Here's looking at me, kid! https://www.thomsonmedical.com/article/confinement-food-recipes They are found in the Fujian region of China and smuggle their customers into wealthier Western countries such as those in Western Europe, North America, Australia, and some nearby wealthier regions such as Taiwan and Japan. Under running water to remove excess oil, horseradish, and catfish their young never! Strips and chinese snakehead recipe them in two different pans at the same cooking time and for... 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