Redeye: photo, description, useful properties and recipes

Fish with unusual eye color is exported to Russia from New Zealand, where it is caught from April to August. During this period, the redeye has a higher percentage of fat content, and the meat becomes more delicious. Fish stores are more likely to receive the product frozen or hot-smoked.

Redeye: what kind of fish, how it looks and where it lives

Representatives of the redeye family of the order of Cephalopods are not artificially raised in fisheries. Redeye live in the seas, oceans, belong to the pelagic fish species.

Low-calorie meat, rich in easily digestible protein, is included in the list of useful foods.

Species

Of the known 14 species of redeye, the most common are three:

1. Indian. Small fish not more than 10 cm long live off the coast of India, Ceylon, Indonesia, the Philippines. Prefers sandy bottom, does not descend below 15 m.
2. Southern. Large (60 cm) representatives of the species are caught on an industrial scale off the coast of Australia, Africa, New Zealand, Chile, at a depth of 50-100 m.
3. Pink. Shoals to a depth of 200-500 m. Fishing for the species is conducted in the United States, East Asian states, Australia.

Sandy redeye prefers salt water to fresh water, lives in the rivers of Sri Lanka, the Indonesian archipelago, the Philippine Islands, India.

What does it look like?

Flattened laterally, the spindle-shaped body is covered with firmly fixed silvery scales with a pinkish cast. The back is darker, the sides and belly are lighter in color. Distinctive features of red-eye - jaws extended forward, scutiform teeth, large dorsal fin and split tail.

The average body length of mature specimens is 50-60 cm, the maximum weight is 2 kg. A feature of the red-eye family - large red eyes, whose size is explained by living in deep water.

Where Does It Occur?

Redeye found in all oceans except the Arctic. Fishing value is in African countries, India, New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines.

Is mined redeye in the Indian Ocean, the east coast of the Atlantic, in the Caribbean Sea, in the South Pacific.

Members of the family Red-eye form herds on the coast with aquatic vegetation, rich in food. They live at a depth of 50-500 m, except for the Indian species, which does not descend below 10-15 m. Catch fish by trawls, on a hook.

What it eats

The diet of red-eye includes:

• zooplankton, in which the greater volume is occupied by paddlefish, euphausiids;
• squid;
• shrimp;
• gastropod mollusks;
• fry, small pelagic fish.

In addition to protein food, the Perch eats algae with pleasure.

What does it taste like?

Delicacy pink meat tastes similar to herring, catfish, and mackerel, but the muscle fibers of redeye are more dense, on decaying after heating.

Boiled fillets lose juiciness. This trouble is easily corrected with marinade or sauce.

Composition and calories

BWD 100 g of the product - 22, 4 and 0 g, respectively, the energy value is 126 kcal.

The chemical composition of fish meat includes:

1. Vitamins - A, C, PP, riboflavin, thiamin.
2. Macronutrients - copper, iodine, chromium, fluorine, manganese, iron, zinc.
3. Macronutrients - phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, calcium, potassium, chlorine.
4. 12 essential and 8 substitutable amino acids, including arginine, methionine, leucine, alanine, tryptophan.
5. Saturated fatty acids - palmitic, stearic, myristic, and peanut acids.
6. Unsaturated acids Omega-3, 6, 9.

Vitamins and minerals in 100 grams of product:

• PP - 20 mg;
• B2 - 1.8 mg;
• B1 - 1.5 mg;
• A - 0.03 mg.

Micronutrients:

• Cobalt - 0.02 mg;
• Chromium - 0.06 mg;
• Iodine - 0.05 mg;
• Fluorine - 0.43 mg;
• Copper - 0.08 mg;
• Molybdenum - 4 mg;
• Zinc - 0.7 mg;
• Manganese - 0.05 mg;
• Iron, 0.3 mg.

Macronutrients:

• Phosphorus - 200 mg;
• Sulfur - 160 mg;
• Potassium - 350 mg;
• Magnesium - 45 mg;
• Sodium - 150 mg;
• Chlorine - 165 mg;
• Calcium - 50 mg.

Red-eye contains nicotinic acid, riboflavin, cobalt, chromium, iodine, phosphorus, potassium in significant amounts.

Redeye fish: useful properties

The general benefits of fish meat:

1. Supports visual acuity, skin health, nervous system, GI tract, thyroid gland.
2. Improves metabolism.
3. Enhances immune defense.
4. Instantly energizes the body, increases efficiency, endurance.
5. Helps to recover from illness, injury and surgery.
6. Strengthens ligaments, joints, mineralizes bones and teeth enamel.
7. Reduces the risk of hypertension, heart disease, atherosclerosis, and vascular accidents.
8. Improves blood circulation in the brain, speeds up thinking, increases cognitive abilities.
9. Participates in the production of nucleic acids, nerve impulses.
10. Stabilizes psycho-emotional state, fights depression, gets rid of depression, anxiety and fear.
11. Regulates electrolyte, water and acid balance.
12. Establishes the regime, the duration of sleep.

Due to its rich mineral composition, content of easily assimilable protein and unsaturated fatty acids, redeye is useful for women, men, children and the older generation. Nutritionists recommend to include the fish in the diet of pregnant women, athletes, diabetics, wishing to get rid of excess weight. Red-eye meat reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, reduces the risk of cancer.

For women

Regular consumption by women red-eye stimulates the production of their own collagen. As a result, youthfulness is prolonged, hair becomes thicker, nail plates are denser. Improves skin condition.

Omega-3 in the fish supports the function of the small pelvis. Reduces pain during menstruation, the intensity of symptoms of PMS, menopause. Including 400 grams of fish in a weekly menu - the prevention of breast cancer.

For men

Statistics show that men more often develop pathologies of the cardiovascular system, heart attacks and strokes occur. Red-eye lowers high blood pressure, protects blood vessels from being blocked by cholesterol plaques and thereby maintains the health of the myocardium.

In addition, fish strengthens muscle tissue, prevents inflammation of the prostate gland, growth of neoplasms, and improves sex life. Men who include fish in the diet, normalize blood flow to the genitals, improves potency.

When pregnant.

Redfish satisfies the child's need for nutrients for growth, proper development. Future mother needs the fish to maintain health.

Redeye meat helps form the fetal skeleton, nervous system, affects the proper development of muscle tissue, hearing organs, vision, brain, prevents metabolic disorders.

Fatty acids in the fish prevents pregnant women edema, high blood pressure, blood clots. The use of boiled or stewed sea fish in the amount of 150 g 2-3 times a week reduces the probability of dryness, premature births, postpartum depression.

When breast-feeding

Portion of redfish during breast-feeding:

1. Provides quick energy, regenerates damaged cells.
2. Prevents gaining excessive weight due to the low energy value.
3. Increases cognitive abilities, eliminates anxiety, reduces the effects of stress.
4. Reduces the risk of respiratory diseases in the baby.
5. Eliminates insomnia in a nursing mother.

Red-eye in boiled, stewed and baked form is useful for chronic fatigue, the development of iron deficiency anemia.
During breastfeeding, pediatricians advise to give up the smoked product, which reduces the production of milk, provokes allergies in the baby.

Can I give it to children?

Fish protein is a building material necessary for the growth of the child. When including sea fish in the diet twice a week in children:

1. Logical thinking develops, memory improves, and attention is concentrated.
2. Mineralized bone tissue, dental enamel.
3. Increases immune status.
4. Accelerates metabolic reactions.

The consumption of fish reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, vascular disease, asthma, allergies.

Can I eat it while losing weight?

Red-eye belongs to the medium-fat products. Fish can be confidently included in the list of products for proper nutrition, weight loss.

Those who wish not to gain excess weight or get rid of obesity are not recommended to eat dried, smoked, marinated and fried fish with a high energy value. These methods of cooking disrupt the stomach, liver and kidneys. On a low-calorie diet, nutritionists advise the product to boil, stew or bake in foil in the oven.

Vitamin and mineral complex, fatty acids in the product support normal metabolism, the immune system, prevent:

• physical and nervous exhaustion;
• the breakdown of muscle fibers;
• malfunction of the heart, thyroid gland;
• stress;
• depression, fatigue.

Fish protein perfectly satiates the body and satisfies hunger, while the protein leptin, the synthesis of which stimulates Omega-3, inhibits the part of the brain that gives the signal for food intake.

Harms and contraindications

There is no obvious harm from fish. Redfish is not on the list of species high in mercury, lead, cadmium. The product can be eaten twice a week.

Fish dishes with a lot of salt are detrimental to health. Sodium chloride causes fluid retention in the body, disrupts kidney function, increases blood pressure.

Smoked redeye, saturated with carcinogens, doctors do not recommend people

• with diabetes;
• with diseases of the kidneys, the gastrointestinal tract;
• people with a weak immune system;
• predisposed to tumors.

Cold smoking at low temperatures does not kill parasites. Increases the likelihood of infection with helminths.

From the use of red-eye in any form should refrain from food allergies, intolerance of seafood.

How to choose and store

When selecting packaged fresh-frozen fish, check the tightness of the package. The next step is to evaluate the ice glaze. If the ice crust is thick, it is better to refuse to buy, because the product has been re-frozen, reducing its nutritional value.

Red-eye is rejected:

• With cloudy sunken eyes;
• spots of unknown origin, mechanical damage;
• yellowish skin.

Important! Tenderer meat in fish weighing up to 1 kg with a length of less than 40 cm.

Freshly frozen carcasses are stored in the freezer for up to six months. Unfrozen on the refrigerator shelf, the product retains consumer properties up to three days at zero temperature and 24 hours at t - 5-6 °C.

Where to buy and how much does it cost

The redeye is purchased in specialized fish and grocery stores or ordered online at online marketplaces.

The average price of fresh-frozen fish is 150-220 p., hot-smoked - 470 p. per 1 kg.

How to cook redeye fish: recipes

The fish is used to cook delicious, fragrant fish soup with transparent broth, and to make jellied fish. Redeye is boiled, steamed, pickled, baked in the oven.

The meat is especially delicious if smoked and served with sour cream-tomato sauce or with mayonnaise.

Force-meat fish is used for meatballs, rolls, dumplings, stuffed kulebyaki, stuffed pancakes.

In the oven

To bake two red-eyes will require:

• 2 tbsp. vegetable oil;
• spices - basil, turmeric, paprika, rosemary;
• the juice of half a lemon;
• garlic clove;
• salt, herbs.

How to prepare:

1. Combine oil, lemon juice, and seasonings.
2. Chop parsley, dill, garlic, mix.
3. Rub marinade into cleaned and washed carcasses with or without heads, put garlic, herbs in the belly.
4. Send the semi-finished product to the refrigerator for 40-60 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 190 degrees.
6. Wrap the fish in an envelope in foil and place on a baking tray.
7. Cook for half an hour.

To spice it up, add a little mustard and honey to the marinade.

Serve baked fish with rice or vegetables, previously removing greens from the stomach.

In a pan

The delicate taste of southern redeye, which comes to Russia from New Zealand, is especially brightly revealed after frying.

Ingredients for 5 servings:

• 1 kg of fish;
• 0.5 tbsp. vegetable oil;
• 50 g of flour;
• pepper, salt.

How to fry:

1. Defrost the redeye, remove scales, head, tail (useful for soup), gut, remove innards, rinse.
2. Dry the fish-cake with paper towels, cut it into portions.
3. Salt and pepper the fish.
4. Put the pan on the burner, pour the oil, turn on the stove.
5. While the oil is heating, coat the fish pieces in flour.
6. Fry the pieces on high heat, until they are crispy.
7. Finish frying the red-eye over low heat.

Serve the dish with mashed potatoes, fried potatoes, crumbled rice, stewed cabbage.

How to smoke

Redfish Smoking Guide:

1. Blow open the belly of the fish, remove the viscera, gills, and rinse. Allow the product to drain for a few minutes.
2. Rub all sides of the carcass with salt, put it in a container and refrigerate until morning. It takes about 3 tsp. of seasoning per small fish.
3. Salted fish immerse for a quarter of an hour in a container with cold water so that after smoking there is no white stain.
4. After drying, tie red-eye with twine, hang it to dry on the balcony or over the sink.
5. Pour 4 sticks of alder and beech into the smokehouse. Cover the tray with foil.
6. Place the fish on the grid, close the lid. Fill the trap with water. Place the smoker on the stove.
7. Turn on the burner. Red-eye should smoke for 45 minutes at a temperature of 55-60 ° C.
8. Open the lid after 20 minutes after turning off the heat.

Ready smoked fish transfer to a container with the bottom lined with parchment, put it in the fridge. The next day, the delicacy is ready to eat.

Marinated fish recipe

Pickled redeye is distinguished by its tangy flavor and juicy meat.

Method of preparation:

1. One kilogram of cleaned and gutted redeye chop, transfer to a bowl. Salt (1 tbsp.), add sugar.
2. Chop a couple of medium-sized onions in half rings.
3. Put fish, onions alternately in dense layers in a glass jar or saucepan.
4. Combine half a glass of oil with 60 ml of table vinegar.
5. Pour the sauce over the red-eye, put the container in the refrigerator for two days.

Shake the contents of the jar twice a day to evenly coat the marinade.

Fish soup (ukha)

To prepare fragrant fish soup at the rate of 2.5 liters of water will need:

• 1 kg of fillets;
• 5 tubers of potatoes;
• two onions;
• one carrot;
• bay leaf, black pepper peas;
• 1.5 tsp. salt, dill.

Method of preparation:

1. Cut the red-eye into pieces, drop into a saucepan of cold water. Add one washed but not peeled bulb, which will give the ear a special taste and color.
2. Put the pot on the stove. Turn the burner on medium heat. After boiling, remove the foam, reduce the heat, and continue to cook for another 40 minutes.
3. Peel and chop carrots and onions. Fry the vegetables in a frying pan with vegetable oil.
4. Peel the peeled tubers and cut into slices.
5. Take the fish and onion out of the pot.
6. Into the boiling broth send potatoes, fried vegetables. Cook for 10 minutes.
7. Add fish fillets, salt, spices, chopped dill greens to the pot. After 5 minutes, remove the soup from the stove.

Serve with bread or croutons.

Q&A

Fish lovers are interested in the degree to which the fish is bony, how to clean and cook it, and its availability to the average consumer.

Is the redeye bony or not?

Sea fish has few bones, which makes it suitable for baby food, stewing in sauce, baking in foil. The few bones are removed with tweezers when cutting the carcass into fillets or after cooking.

Can fish be cured and dried?

Although redeye is on sale only when freshly frozen, defrosted is quite suitable for drying.

The carcasses weighing 1 kg are gutted, the gills are removed and incised along the ridges. Pour salt on the bottom of a container or basin. Rub the fish on all sides with the same seasoning, put it in a container, cover it, put a weight on it and put it in the refrigerator. During the salting process, a mash is formed, covering the carcasses.

After 3 days, the fish is washed and left in water for 2 hours to soak. After the liquid drains off, the carcasses are hung out under a shed, on a balcony or in a ventilated room. Dry for at least a week.

How to clean

To facilitate the cleaning of the firmly seated small scales, the thawed fish is scaled with boiling water, lowered into a bowl with water at room temperature, remove scales with a knife or a special device.

The next step is gutting. The red-eye is ripped open with a knife into the abdomen and the insides are removed trying not to damage the gallbladder. After the procedure, the carcass is washed under running water and dried with paper towels or on a rack.

To get gastronomic pleasure from redeye and avoid food poisoning, follow the rules for selection, storage, cooking technology. If these conditions are met, fish will not only diversify the daily diet, but also strengthen the immune system and protect against seasonal infections.

Photo of the red-eye