Eel: why is it useful for the human body, how to cook it?

Eel has long occupied a place of honor in the list of favorite foods for gourmets. Its tender juicy meat differs from other seafood with its exquisite taste. This fish, which resembles a snake in body shape, feels great in the depths of the sea and in the shallow waters of rivers. Fishermen consider it an honor to catch a large specimen of eel, and those who manage to do so, tell about the rich catch for a long time afterwards.

Therefore, when snakefish occasionally appears on store shelves, it instantly sells out. And such popularity of the predatory representative of ichthyofauna can not be considered a coincidence. For since ancient times eel has been famous not only for its gastronomic qualities, but also for its healing powers. The nutritious broth prepared with it literally lifted heavy patients from their beds. A diet with this tasty fish even in our time helps people with weakened immune system to recover, as well as speeds up recovery after complex operations. And there is a huge number of dishes that can be prepared with eel.

But before choosing the best recipes, it is worth getting acquainted with this unusual inhabitant of fresh and salt water.

What an eel looks like and where it is found

In the biological classification, the eel is a whole family of different species of marine and freshwater fish. Despite the existing distinctive features, all eel species are united by a number of common features. Therefore, in the description of the main characteristics we will pay attention to the generalizing features.

External characteristics

The eel looks very much like a snake:

1. Its cylindrical, flexible body is elongated in length and covered with mucus, under which small scales of oblong shape are clearly palpable.
2. The coloring on the back is closer to a brown or black shade, the abdomen is yellowish.
3. The head is small and slightly flattened on the sides, and the small mouth is filled with small but very sharp teeth.

Nutrition

The eel is a carnivorous predator. Its diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and caviar of other inhabitants of the reservoir. But like every foodie, this predator has its own favorite delicacies, including snails, worms, and small animals. Basically, an eel can snack on anything that inhabits the bottom of a body of water. In search of food, it lurks silently for hours in an ambush and then suddenly attacks its prey. With teeth as sharp as knives, the eel quickly grinds up the food. Therefore, in one "dinner" it is able to eat a large amount of living mass.

These wonderful creatures feed actively only in the warm season and fall into anabiosis with the onset of cold. In this state, eels survive the winter, using up the energy potential accumulated during the summer. In spring, they come out of their torpor and start hunting again.

Lifestyle

The eel prefers a nocturnal life and burrows into the ground during the day. Only the head remains outside so that the predator can monitor its surroundings. As noted by biologists, the eel adapts very quickly in any conditions, which is confirmed by the geography of its distribution. It feels comfortable in the salty marine environment and fresh water of shallow rivers. Some river representatives of this family can maintain an existence for a long time, even without water, if the external environment is well saturated with moisture.

Reproduction

Only in the last century, scientists managed to thoroughly clarify how eels reproduce. And this process deserves special attention. As soon as an eel reaches the age of sexual maturity, it rushes into the ocean to meet new life. And often this desire is so strong that the fish are thrown out of the water channels onto the land, along which they travel part of their way. This usually happens in the spring. During this period, it is not uncommon to see an eel wriggling in the grass, which people mistake for a snake.

Eels are safe for humans, but they can put a hydraulic structure out of order. It is true that today such emergencies are rare, because snake fish now avoid such obstacles.

Eels lay their eggs in the warm depths of the Sargasso Sea. Interestingly, the female eel lays eggs for the only time in her life, and after spawning all the adults die. At one time the female hatches up to half a million small eggs. The eel larvae travel with the current to the shores of Europe. This journey takes about three years for the young fish. Therefore, by the end of the journey, the larvae turn into small, transparent creatures that resemble willow leaves.

Eels grow very slowly and only reach a meter in length and a weight of about 1.5 kg by their fifth year. But unique specimens up to 2 m in length can be found in nature.

Young fish come to Russian water bodies from the Baltic Sea basin. The fish quickly disperse into rivers and lakes, which for the next 6-10 years become a permanent home for eels.

An interesting fact! Eels are considered a valuable commercial fish. But it is predominantly marine species that are harvested on an industrial scale.

Species

The eel population is considered the most numerous. Representatives of this family can be found almost in every corner of the planet. They are all divided into two main groups: marine and river eels. Then each subgroup is subdivided into species, the name of which is associated with the habitat. To date, biologists have described 18 species of snake fish, but according to experts, the European and American eel are of great value. This interest is caused by the fact that these two species are able to migrate simultaneously through salt and fresh water bodies, while the others survive only in one of the named environments. Let us consider in detail the peculiarities of each group.

River eels
These species are also called migratory because they migrate from their freshwater habitat to salty oceanic waters for spawning. This peculiarity fundamentally distinguishes the river eel from salmon and sturgeon fish. All river dwellers belong to the category of bony fish.

The river Japanese eel can also safely live in any aquatic environment. It lives off the coast of Japan, in the Chinese Sea, in Korea and Taiwan. Representatives of this species glow in the dark. It is the most expensive type of fish delicacy. The Japanese adore eel, so in their national cuisine it occupies the main place. They prepare a huge number of dishes from this fish, including the famous sushi and rolls. Since the fishing of this rare fish is practically uncontrolled by the state, Greenpeace is concerned about the preservation of the population.

The electric eel is another unusual "cousin" of the European species. Its peculiarity is that it generates electricity to protect its person. This unique ability is actively used by the predator during hunting and movement. Sometimes an electric eel gives a discharge of up to 600 V, so it is quite capable of killing or severely stun a large animal or even a person.

Sea eel (Atlantic conger)
Most often representatives of this species are confused with snakes. But the meat of the sea dweller is much tastier than that of its river relative. It has fewer bones, it is more juicy. But despite the saturation of fat, the caloric value of the sea eel is less than that of the river fish. The body of the inhabitant of the sea depths is devoid of scales. This species is found mainly off rocky coasts. The fish makes a cozy home for itself in rock crevices, caves, as well as inside sunken ships. Sea eel breeds in the Atlantic, namely in the area between Gibraltar and the Azores.

The garden eel differs from its congeners by its original spotted coloration. This feature is explained by the fact that representatives of this species almost all their life "stand" in the water, resembling a tree. When in such a position is a whole flock of fish, then such a picture really resembles a garden. However, when approaching the danger fish-trees dive and hide in their burrows on the sandy bottom. Interestingly, when in an upright position, the fish constantly sway, disguised by the stems of aquatic plants. This technique is used by the garden eel to lull the vigilance of the potential victim. He can stand for a long time, swaying in the water, but when a small fish appears, he immediately grabs the prey with his large mouth. Garden eels can be found in the Red Sea and off the island of Madagascar.

The moray eel is also one of the most common species of eel-like fish. It is the closest relative of the sea eel. It has exactly the same long body and fins. Only the moray eel has a dark brown body color with white spots, and the pectoral fins are completely absent. This species forms its own family, although in appearance the moray eel closely resembles an eel. The predator lives in warm tropical waters, leads a nocturnal lifestyle, preying on smaller sea creatures. Moreover, a moray eel swallows its prey whole. Meat of this predator is considered one of the most expensive delicacies.

Note! Lampreys also look very similar to eels, but belong to the class of round-bellied fish. These fish lead a parasitic life, attaching tightly to the host's body with their teeth, and sucking his blood through the mouth sucker. These vampires do not mind eating mice.

Composition and calories

The meat of both sea and river eels is full of healthy substances. Although there is some difference between the compositions of the two species, but the overall set of components is almost the same. The chemical formula is a well-balanced combination of the following substances:

1. Vitamin A, (retinol) improves visual function, skin and hair condition. The presence of this component in food slows the aging process.
2. Vitamin E (tocopherol) is involved in almost all biochemical processes, including the synthesis of important hormones.
3. The vitamin group B in eel meat is present almost in its entirety. These vitamins have a beneficial effect on the nervous system and many other organs.
4. Vitamin D is known to be responsible for the strength of bones and teeth, which is especially important for the growing body of children.
5. Mineral elements are found in huge quantities in eel meat. These are cobalt, copper, zinc, iron, manganese, calcium, and many other valuable minerals from the Mendeleev Table.
6. Omega fatty acids are especially healthy. They play a major role in the formation of the nervous system, stimulate the production of important hormones, prevent the aging of the skin.
7. Protein takes up the largest part of the composition, accounting for almost 15%.
8. High-quality fats make up 30% of the total composition.
9. Amino acids including essential ones regulate important processes in the body including hormone synthesis.
10. Ascorbic acid is also found in eel in small amounts. This substance increases the protective functions of the immune system.
11. In addition to the listed components, eel meat contains ash and useful cholesterol, which is necessary for normal activity of the brain and nervous system.

Such a rich composition of the seafood is of great value as a natural source of vital elements for muscle, bone tissues. Therefore, the product is included in the list of many diets, despite its high caloric value - 333 units.

This is interesting! The peak demand for eel in Japan coincides with the middle of summer. Residents of the Land of the Rising Sun say that the fatty meat of the sea predator helps them easier to bear the heat.

How useful is eel

General benefits

Medics and nutritionists strongly recommend people of all ages to periodically include eel dishes of any kind in the menu. Of course, these recommendations do not apply to food prepared from raw meat. But a product that has undergone a good heat treatment will bring only benefits. Such a food supplement will serve as an effective prevention from many diseases, as well as accelerate recovery from past pathologies and operations. The benefits of a fish diet with eel dishes are manifested by the following beneficial effects:

• muscle tone is improved;
• the nervous system is stabilized;
• the blood circulation is normalized;
• the work of the heart improves;
• protection of the skin from the harmful effects of sunlight;
• accelerates tissue regeneration and wound healing;
• cancer development is prevented;
• increases the body's endurance;
• normalizes the process of hematopoiesis;
• vision improves;
• the process of aging of tissues at the cellular level slows down.

Eel fish dishes contain a whole group of antioxidants - substances that can neutralize free radicals. They are considered the main provoking factors of many diseases, including the formation of malignant tumors. All these properties in combination provide significant support to the body, increasing its resistance to the negative influence of both internal and external factors. Consider the benefits eel fish can provide people of all ages and genders.

For women

A woman's body throughout her life is exposed to strong emotional, and sometimes physical, stresses. That's why the meat of eel is one of the few products that can offset the impact of many negative causes on women's health.

1. First of all, it should be mentioned that this product is rich in vitamins, and this group of substances regulates the most important processes: reproduction of sex hormones, thyroid gland function, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
2. The second advantage of snakefish is its high antioxidant capacity. It means that if a woman will have at least 2 times a week fish dishes in her menu, she will retain her looks and youthful appearance for many years.
3. The third no less important quality is sexual health. It is not customary to talk about it, but most of the intimate problems that spoil family relationships are exactly in the passive attitude of the woman to her partner. That is why the valuable fish must be eaten, because with its help it is possible to increase libido.

For men

It should be noted that most men are not only avid fishermen, they love to enjoy simple but healthy dishes from their catch. Often such dishes are prepared right on the bank of the river, where the fish was caught. And they do it right, because from fresh eel turns out very tasty and nutritious soup. The fish can be cooked on coals. A dish of fresh fish is healthier than food prepared from a product that has been in the refrigerator.

Sea eel or river eel for men can be a real help in solving intimate problems, if they exist. But even for healthy in this respect, the representatives of the stronger sex normal potency is of great importance. In addition, eel meat is full of useful elements that help you recover quickly after hard physical work and training. Eel, like any other fish, has the ability to calm the nervous system. That is, in stressful situations, a fish diet with eel can play the role of an antidepressant instead of pills.

When pregnant

But future mothers should be very careful about eating eel, despite the fact that in her menu fish dishes should be at least 2 times a week. Although all fish products are strictly controlled, there is a possibility that on the table of pregnant woman will get a copy, in the meat of which the norm of heavy metals is exceeded. In addition, river eels are often infested with parasites.

When breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding women should also choose other fish for their table. Eels, like some other long-lived fish in seas and rivers, accumulate mercury and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), substances that destroy the liver. Given the fact that with the mother's milk such dangerous toxins can enter the body of the child, you need to be very careful in choosing varieties of fish for the diet. It is strictly forbidden to eat any dried, smoked or salted fish, because these products are generally not subjected to heat treatment.

Warning. Both pregnant and nursing mothers should not eat Asian cuisine prepared with raw fish under any pretext.

For children.

Eel is little suitable for the first complementary food for babies under a year. But older children from this valuable product can be steamed dishes, if they do not have allergies. The first acquaintance with the new seafood should start with a minimum portion, it is enough to give a child to try a small piece. If your baby's body responds well to such a supplement, you can gradually increase the portion up to the age limit. Steamed or boiled eel is full of healthy proteins for the growing body. Cooked in this way a delicacy has a mild and delicate taste. But because of the risk of mercury in the meat, such a dish should not be given more than twice a week.

For weight loss

In diets aimed at reducing body weight, eel meat can form the basis of the diet. Despite the relatively high percentage of fatness sea eel is less caloric than its river counterpart. Its meat is cleaner and tastier, and there is much more iodine for the thyroid gland.

In addition, the seafood is perfectly digested by the digestive system, and the nutrients received by the body saturate tissues and accelerate metabolism. The advantage of the fish diet is that even a small portion of the product will quench the feeling of year, but excess fat will not be deposited.

Once again we would like to emphasize that when losing weight, smoked fish and pickles will not be beneficial, but on the contrary, they can cause edema. Therefore, the food from eel should be prepared only sparingly, necessarily subjecting it to a long thermal effect. But you should not abuse the fish product, especially those who have a tendency to gain weight.

Note: For young children the acceptable daily norm of any fish - 200 g, for adults - 300 g.

Harms and contraindications.

Any product, suitable for consumption, has both positive and negative characteristics. About the direct risks of eating eel meat were mentioned above. But there are also potential dangers that can only appear after consuming fish meat. Eel dishes should not be prepared by those who have:

• chronic gastritis;
• 3rd degree obesity;
• individual intolerance;
• chronic cholecystitis;
• pancreatitis.

As mentioned above, pregnant and nursing mothers are also better not to risk. If the doctor allows, then once a week a small piece of eel baked in the oven can be eaten.

How to choose and store

Sea eel - a frequent guest of store counters, so you can buy a valuable seafood almost always. But it is important to learn how to choose high-quality fish, so as not to spoil the mood with the bad taste of the cooked dish. Experts advise to conduct a few simple tests before paying for the product:

1. Evaluate the smell: eel differs from other inhabitants of water bodies, which does not have a characteristic fishy aroma.
2. Then examine the skin of your favorite specimen: it should be shiny and smooth.
3. The freshness of the seafood is usually determined by its eyes: they should be clear without a cloudy film.
4. And the final test for quality is to press the carcass with your finger. With fresh fish, the dent will quickly disappear.

Rules for storage
Fresh fish is better to put into action immediately. If you do not plan to cook from it on the day of purchase, you can put the product on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for a few hours. In the freezer it is allowed to store only cut fish, but this period should not exceed two months.

How to dress eel properly

Dressing eel is considered the most important part of cooking. The taste of the dish depends on the quality of this stage. Therefore, the basic rules for cutting the fish carcass should be remembered:

1. To quickly remove mucus from the skin surface, rub the carcass with salt.
2. Then rinse the fish thoroughly under water.
3. Dry it with a paper towel.
4. Make a circular incision behind the gills and in the same place use a knife to start separating the skin from the meat, keeping the head.
5. Only after removing the skin from the fish carcass, remove the head.
6. Rinse the fish again with water before cooking.

Addendum: Chefs with experience advise home cooks to simply cut the eel into small pieces and boil it. Then the rich fish broth can be used as a filling.

How to cook eel deliciously: recipes

Eel is considered an integral part of Asian cuisine. In China and Japan, exotic dishes are prepared from snakefish, which Europeans should taste very carefully. Extreme caution should be exercised if you want to try the food from raw fish. Although in China, they prepare a very tasty casserole with garlic, bamboo shoots and soy sauce. Such a snack combined with rice wine is very liked by our tourists. In Japan, sea eel is used to make traditional soups, which are also worth trying when visiting this country.

In European cuisine it is customary to prepare expensive delicacies from the meat of sea or river predators. Domestic housewives can recommend several simple to prepare, but very tasty and healthy fish dishes for the family menu.

What can be cooked of eel
Eel is considered a self-sufficient product. Therefore, even a dish performed in a mono version will be no less nutritious than in combination with other ingredients. From the meat of eel can be prepared:

• borsches;
• soup;
• rassolnik;
• fish salad;
• cold appetizers;
• shish kebab;
• Balak and many more delicious delicacies.

The following eel dishes will be good enough to add to your home recipe collection.

In the oven

In general, eel does not require any special treatment. Cooking dishes from this fish does not take much time, which is very important for busy hostesses. Today popular fish delicacies cooked in the oven. We hope that pragmatic housewives will take note of this recipe.

For one kilogram eel carcass you will need:

• sour cream - 1 cup;
• garlic - a couple of cloves;
• vegetable oil - as needed;
• salt, pepper, spices for fish.

How to cook:

1. Cut the processed and gutted carcass into portions.
2. Each piece should be salted, peppered, mixed well to evenly distribute the spices.
3. Keep fish in such a dry marinade in the fridge for 10-15 minutes.
4. Then heat enough oil in a pan and fry the pieces dipped in flour on both sides until they have a delicious crust.
5. Coat the fried fish with garlic mixture, put the pieces of eel in a baking dish. Pour sour cream on top of all the deliciousness and sprinkle with the rest of the garlic.
6. Bake the dish for 7 minutes at 200°C.

In a pan

Fried eel is the standard of the everyday diet. But if you change the recipe a little bit, you get a dish that is not ashamed to serve at the festive table. It is better to fry eel after removing the skin. The fish roasts quickly and well if the carcass is cut into 5-7 cm pieces.

The pieces of fish should be put in the heated oil in a pan, throwing each piece in flour or breadcrumbs. Since eel absorbs a lot of oil, it is important to make sure that the fish does not burn. When it is well fried, serve the delicacy right hot. As any fish, eel goes well with rice and vegetables, but culinary experts advise to sprinkle it with lemon juice before serving.

On the grill

Every fisherman with years of experience at least once tried a barbecue of eel. The taste of such a kebab is difficult to compare with any other dish. Therefore, such a delicacy, cooked even in camping and field conditions, will be remembered for a long time. But a delicious fish kebab can be made at home on the grill. What you need for this:

• fish carcass - 500-600 g;
• raw eggs - 2 pcs;
• lemon juice - 2 tablespoons;
• vegetable oil - 3-4 tablespoons;
• salt and pepper, you can add any spices to taste.

Preparation process:

1. With the prepared eel carcass first remove the skin, wash, season with spices, sprinkle with lemon juice.
2. In this form, leave the meat to marinate for half an hour.
3. Then each piece should be firstly dipped in beaten up egg mass, and then roll in breading.
4. Lay the pieces of fish on a greased rack. Liberally sprinkle with vegetable oil.
5. Fry shish kebab of eel on hot coals, often turning the pieces. Spray with oil each time.

Can Muslims eat eel?

The diet of the Muslims is different from the usual Orthodox diet. But the fish is allowed to eat, because it does not have to be slaughtered like the animals. Therefore, eel can be eaten by supporters of this religion.

Interesting Facts

1. Scientists believe that the eel is one of the oldest species of marine life. It appeared about 100 million years ago near Indonesia, and then migrated to the area of the Japanese archipelago. Today, Lake Hamanaka is home to a large population of this fish.
2. Eels are characterized by longevity. For example, the world's most famous representative of this species, the male Putt, lived up to 85 years. He was accidentally caught in the south of Sweden in 1863, but the giant was so interested in scientists that he arranged a comfortable life in a large aquarium, where he spent the rest of his life.
3. Sea eels, unlike their freshwater counterparts, can reach a length of up to 3 meters. Perhaps it is this feature that gave rise to many legends about the existence of a giant snake-like monster, which sailors repeatedly encountered on their way.
4. At the time of Aristotle, people believed that the eel was the spawn of the silt. Such judgments were due to the fact that it was not possible to figure out how these fish are born. Only in our time, scientists have traced the migration paths of predators to the spawning grounds.

After getting acquainted with the amazing fish, there should be no doubts about its useful properties. Eel for every family can become a real boon, since from this type of fish you can prepare nourishing and healthy dishes in almost any known culinary way.

Photo of an eel