Bon Appetit – September 2019

94 – SEPTEMBER 2019

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Branch Out!

You’re tired of cooking salmon

three times a week, right?

Change it up with one of these

reliable, easy-to-find picks:

WHITE FISH

Mild, meaty, and forgiving,

fillets of pollock, hake, and cod

can be prepared in much the

same way as salmon. You’ll know

it’s cooked when the flesh

is opaque and flakes easily.

SQUID

Frozen precleaned squid

cooks in no time at all and is one

of the cheapest and most

ocean-friendly options out there.

Thaw, slice, and toss a handful

into your next pasta pomodoro.

SHRIMP

You’ll never regret keeping

a bag of shrimp in the freezer for

tacos, curries, and stir-fries. They

defrost quickly and cook in

a flash: Take them off the heat as

soon as they’re bright pink.

MUSSELS AND CLAMS

The farm-raised varieties are

affordable, sustainable, and easy

to clean (see next page for

steps). Steam with garlic, butter,

and white wine until they open.

2 Frozen Isn’t a Bad Word

Don’t overlook the freezer section. Unless you’re buying from a coastal

shop selling the day’s catch, frozen seafood is almost always a good

option. Because it’s flash-frozen at sea or immediately upon coming into

port, it doesn’t lose any freshness or flavor, plus it’s often less expensive

than the fresh fish on ice (which, by the way, was likely previously frozen

and thawed anyway). Freezing fish also helps fisheries cut back on

waste, so you can feel good about skipping the line at the fish counter

and having your dinner waiting in the freezer.

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BUY THE GOOD STUFF

When it comes to fish, you’ll want to consider both the quality

of the product and the quality of the sourcing. The very

best way to ensure you’re buying sustainable seafood is to

find a vendor who sources responsibly (localcatch.org

can help). But even at the ol’ grocery store, you don’t have

to shoot in the dark: Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s

Seafood Watch app or look for labels like Friend of the Sea

or Marine Stewardship Council. And no matter what, seek

out smooth, dense fillets; shiny, taut skin; and, for whole

fish, clear eyes. Take a whiff: It should smell briny, not fishy.

Companies like

Lummi Island

Wild and Alaska

Home Pack will

ship sustainable,

high-quality

frozen seafood

to your door.

Basically

ILLUSTRATIONS BY TIM LAHAN