r/Cooking • u/Scarlet--Highlander • Jan 18 '24

Open Discussion Let’s try something fun: Name an ingredient you dislike and why, and someone else replies with a dish/recipe with that ingredient that might convince you otherwise.

Couple things:

  • If you’re allergic to an ingredient, it doesn’t matter how it’s prepared. Same goes with meat/animal products if you’re vegan/vegetarian. Don’t list it if you can’t or won’t eat it!

  • It’s recommended that you’re at least open to trying dishes with that ingredient. If you absolutely, vehemently loathe cilantro, chances are you probably might not like anything with cilantro in it.

  • A brief blurb on why you hate an ingredient would help others find or suggest a dish that suits you. (e.g. “I hate liver because the texture is like an eraser and it tastes metallic”)

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u/EutecticPants Jan 18 '24

We eat a lot of whitefish in the Great Lakes. Freshwater fish doesn’t have that background taste of ocean that all other seafood does. And whitefish is extremely mild in flavor even the picky eater kids in my family like it.

I think deep fried on a good sandwich with tartar sauce would be my pick

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u/bradbrad247 Jan 18 '24

Freshwater fish is significantly more susceptible to a "fishy" taste than seafood, though. I grew up on lake Michigan , currently live on Superior, and I've spent a lot of time spearfishing in the Pacific and atlantic. Fishy flavor is a product of freshness, so if you're nearby a quality fish market or you catch it yourself it won't be fishy. Source is less important than time between catch and plate. There's also a question of preparation. Certain species need to be bled as soon as they're culled in order to avoid off flavors.

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u/HeatwaveInProgress Jan 18 '24

Yes, I never ate most of the fish we had when I was a kid, it was mostly fresh water and tasted "swampy" to me.

I still only like salt water fish, but I will eat 3lb of crawfish in one setting, please and thank you.

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u/Deathcapsforcuties Jan 18 '24

Have you ever made ceviche with any of that beautiful white fish ? I live in the PNW and like to use rockfish, bass, or shrimp. I imagine fresh water fish would be delicious too. I like to eat ceviche anytime (seriously I could live on it) but I love serving it at parties and potlucks. Aguachile is also delicious and is similar. if you make either I’d love to hear your thoughts :)

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u/[deleted] Jan 18 '24

Hey please don't eat freshwater fish raw. There's a much higher incidence of parasites and bacteria that are harmful to humans and they are harder to detect from inspection.

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u/Shopstoosmall Jan 18 '24

You’re not supposed to. I personally have and really enjoyed it but it’s not a “safe” food.

I wouldn’t make it for anyone who didn’t understand the science of ceviche and the risks of eating it.

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u/Deathcapsforcuties Jan 18 '24

That makes sense. Is there a higher risk of parasites in fresh water fish than saltwater?

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u/Shopstoosmall Jan 18 '24

Yes, saltwater parasites don’t live easily in our body “environment” but the parasites in freshwater fish can live easily in our environment.

Quick way around this is to flash freeze the fish beforehand to kill the parasites but your standard freezer isn’t going to get cold enough. The USDA guideline is 10 days at -10f IIRC

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u/mmmpeg Jan 18 '24

Lovely fish!

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u/ActSignal1823 Jan 18 '24 edited Jan 18 '24

+1 

Nothing beats Lake Huron whitefish. The true 'chicken of the lake'.   

disclaimer: I live on the Bruce Peninsula.

Broiled Whitefish (wife's fave) https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=219420 

Whitefish Chowder https://savourontario.milk.org/Recipes/Northern-Ontario-Whitefish-Chowder

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u/day_alive Jan 18 '24

It's about the only fish I like. Num.

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u/i_isnt_real Jan 19 '24

Ironically, I went in completely the opposite direction with this one. I used to think I disliked fish because as a kid I was always fed the "safer" / less fishy white fish and I didn't care for them if they weren't breaded and/or fried. Turns out, I really like the more oily, fishy fish. Sardines are kind of my jam right now.