First off, what exactly is Redfish? This is a type of red drum fish that is one of the most popular game fish that you can find inside the Gulf of Mexico and along the Atlantic coast. But as soon as you catch this fish, you might ask yourself whether it is actually edible and what it tastes like.
The article you will find below was built as a short guide around the Redfish, so that you know exactly whether or not to eat it and what is the best combination of ingredients for the best taste.
Is Redfish Safe To Eat?
You can actually eat redfish, and red drum in general, as long as you make sure that it is cooked thoroughly and properly. It is an ocean fish that could be packed with parasites, which means that it is a bad choice for raw recipes like sushi, but tastes really well when thoroughly cooked and seasoned properly.
You can eat redfish up to four times a week with no issues if you’re not a woman of childbearing age and if you’re over the age of 15.
If you’re either a woman of childbearing age or a child of 15 and under, redfish isn’t completely forbidden for you, but you should limit your fish intake to about two portions or less per week.
What About Pregnant Women?
It turns out that in small quantities, this type of fish is pretty safe and for pregnant women, mainly because it is low in mercury. Even so, it still shouldn’t be eaten more than two times per week when you are pregnant.
This isn’t a rule for drum fish alone. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age should try to avoid eating fish high in mercury, and when eating fish low on mercury, they should still try to avoid eating more than two portions each week.
What Does Redfish Taste Like?
In general, smaller redfish, that aren’t more than 10 – 15 pounds in weight, are considered the tastiest. This fish is similar in taste and texture to the red snapper, having a white meat with a medium flaky texture.
This fish can be a great alternative to sea bass, monkfish, and even haddock, because it has a mild flavor that resonates great with a lot of different recipes. It can be cooked in a huge number of ways, one of the most popular being the grill.
Redfish recipes
Redfish On The Half Shell
Ingredients
- Lemon wedges, for serving
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/4 cup minced flat-leaf parsley
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus some more for brushing
Directions
First Step
The first thing you will have to do will be to preheat your oven to 475°. Take a large rimmed baking sheet and oil it lightly. Put the redfish fillets, skin side down, on that baking sheet and then brush them while adding 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season it with pepper and salt and sprinkle it with crushed red pepper as well. You will have to roast the redfish fillets in the oven, on the bottom rack, for around 20 minutes. You should check it with a fork to see it the flesh flakes.
Second Step
The second step involves mixing garlic and parsley with 1/4 cups of olive oil in a small bowl, and season this with salt and pepper. After you move the fish to a platter, you will have to drizzle it with the parsley-garlic oil and serve it with lemon wedges.
Suggested Pairing
A great combination of amazing taste will be between these oven-roasted fish fillets and citrusy New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.
Are you more of a visual person? Check out a a great video of a redfish recipe
Final Words
In general and when no other illnesses come into play, it is completely safe for you to eat redfish. Remember to cook it properly and only eat the recommended portions per week to avoid any future issues.
If fishing is your sport of choice, then you should know that redfish is usually pretty easy to catch, especially for professionals. It is also a great alternative to a bunch of other species of fish in terms of taste. To catch fish easier, here’s the best way to make dough balls.
Do you have e any redfish recipe that you’re dying to share? Use the contact form below to share with me and my visitors what you consider to be the tastiest redfish meal.