Quite often people are interested in what kind of fish this is - dorado. It is a large sea bream that lives in warm seas around the world. The distinctive features of this individual include a golden spot between the eyes, reminiscent of a crescent, a dark gray color of the back, and a low-set mouth with thick lips. An important advantage of fish is its high content of valuable components, which makes it very healthy.
- Description of the fish
- Comparison with sea bass
- About dorado meat
- Useful properties of fish
- For men
- For women
- For pregnant women and children
- Dietary properties
- For whom it is contraindicated
- Recommendations for selection
- How to store selected fish
- Cleaning Features
- Cooking tips and recipes
- Fried dorado
- Dorado in salt
- Dorado in the oven with lemon
- Dorado in Spanish
- Interesting Facts
Description of the fish
Dorado is often called seabream or bream. There is also a Romanesque name - “golden spar”. It is associated with the golden stripe that is located between the eyes of this fish. In ancient times, this individual was even dedicated to the goddess Aphrodite. This was due to its attractive appearance and excellent taste.
This fish belongs to the Sparov family. It is found in tropical and subtropical oceans and adjacent seas. Large numbers of dorado are present in the Mediterranean Sea.
These individuals began to be purposefully raised back in Ancient Rome. To do this, they were kept in special ponds or pools that were filled with salt water. Now dorado is artificially grown in Greece, Italy, and Spain. The fish is also bred in the Caribbean and off the coast of North Africa.
Sea crucians have a sedentary lifestyle. However, some individuals form flocks and in some seasons move to Great Britain and France. Young animals prefer to live in lagoons, while adults descend to the depths.
The dorado is characterized by an oval body, slightly flattened on the sides, of a silver-gray color. It can reach a length of 70 centimeters. The weight is 17 kilograms. The meat is usually white in color, but sometimes there is a slight pinkish tint. It is characterized by a dense and elastic texture, and also has a pleasant aroma and exquisite taste.
Comparison with sea bass
Like dorado, sea bass is considered a delicacy. However, despite their similar features, these fish have many differences. These include the following:
- Individuals belong to different families.Dorado is considered a representative of the Sparov family, while sea bass belongs to the Moronov family.
- Sea bass is characterized by a wider distribution area. It is found in the Mediterranean and Black Seas, as well as the Atlantic Ocean. Dorado is predominantly found in the Mediterranean Sea.
- Fish differ in visual characteristics. Dorado is characterized by an oval and flat body shape. Sea bass has an elongated body and a pointed head.
- Both types of fish have white meat. It is characterized by a delicate taste and is almost indistinguishable. If you buy fillets at the store, you can easily make a mistake. In addition, both dorado and sea bass contain a minimal amount of bones. If you still want to find differences, it is important to consider that sea bass has stronger and harder bones. During cutting, you have to pull them out with tweezers. Dorado has no problems with this. This fish has soft bones that are practically invisible and can be easily removed.
Many people are interested in which fish tastes better. Even the most fastidious gourmets are unlikely to be able to answer this question. It is believed that the meat of these fish has the same taste. Therefore, choosing a more refined product is quite difficult. These types of fish also have the same chemical composition. These include iodine, phosphorus, proteins and vitamins.
Thus, the only advantage of dorado is considered to be softer bones. Sea bass has stronger and harder bones. If a person accidentally ingests them, it can cause problems. Therefore, you should be careful. In this case, none of the fish will cause harm to health.
About dorado meat
Unlike river fish, sea dorado has more tender meat with a minimum of bones.It has a pleasant pinkish flesh that exudes a delicate light aroma. This product has a sweetish taste. That's why many people include it in their menu.
This fish is easy to prepare. It can be fried, boiled, baked. The healthiest way to cook dorado is to steam it. This helps preserve the maximum amount of micro- and macroelements. This delicacy goes well with vegetables, rice and potatoes. This makes it possible to experiment and get incredibly tasty dishes. To give the product a more piquant taste, you should use different herbs and spices. An ideal addition to dorado would be parsley, thyme, and rosemary.
Useful properties of fish
Dorado is a sea fish that contains many valuable components. Thanks to this, it brings great benefits to the body. With systematic consumption of this fish, the following results can be obtained:
- Accelerate the development of brain neurons.
- Activate intellectual activity. Fish helps strengthen memory and attention. It also has a beneficial effect on coordination.
- Prevent pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, urinary and digestive systems.
- Improve thyroid function and stabilize hormone balance.
- Normalize metabolic processes.
- Reduce the likelihood of developing cancer.
- Improve the body's absorption of vitamins and minerals. This effect is achieved due to the high phosphorus content in the product.
- Reduce blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Slow down negative processes in the body. This, in particular, concerns aging and the development of atherosclerosis.
- Improve bone tissue.
- Improve visual acuity.
- Make the skin more elastic, give the hair a beautiful shine, strengthen the nail plates.
Dorado contains a record amount of iodine. If the body lacks this important substance, the easiest way to replenish its reserves is by introducing this fish into the diet.
For men
Dorado contains a lot of zinc, which is very beneficial for men. In combination with magnesium, this substance helps increase testosterone levels, reduces the likelihood of infertility and improves fertility. In addition, the product improves the quality and synthesis of sperm. Thanks to its use, a man looks stronger and more active.
For women
This fish is becoming more and more popular in Russia. In particular, it was appreciated by women. Dorado is considered a dietary product, so it can become part of any diet. You can eat fish without fear for your figure.
The product also includes omega-3 acids, which have a beneficial effect on the regeneration of skin cells and makes them much younger. This helps slow down the appearance of wrinkles. In addition, fish contains a lot of zinc, which has a good effect on the functioning of the genital organs. This mineral helps cope with infertility and has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the ovaries.
For pregnant women and children
Dorado is of great benefit during pregnancy. This fish contains many vitamins and minerals. If the expectant mother regularly eats it, it has a good effect on her well-being and the development of the child.
In addition, fish contains folic acid, which has a beneficial effect on the formation of the fetus. This substance helps prevent the development of cerebral palsy and takes part in the development of tissues and organs of the unborn child. A deficiency of this element increases the risk of premature placental abruption and can lead to miscarriage or intrauterine death of the fetus.
During lactation, it is recommended to add fish to the diet gradually, observing the child’s reactions. It is important to ensure that your baby does not develop symptoms of allergies or abdominal pain. A nursing mother should not eat fried fish. A boiled product will be much healthier.
Dorado can be given to children starting at 11 months. In this case, the portion should not exceed half a teaspoon. Gradually the amount of product can be increased. However, it is recommended to do this with extreme caution, since the child may experience allergic reactions, abdominal pain and other negative consequences.
Dietary properties
Dorado, which lives in the sea, helps improve the functioning of the digestive system and activates metabolic processes. Thanks to this, a person loses body weight faster. The advantage of the product is its low calorie content. Therefore, you can safely include it in your diet.
For whom it is contraindicated
Fresh fish that has been properly stored and prepared has a minimum of contraindications. IN description It is said that due to its low fat content, it can be consumed even with gout. Fish can cause harm only in extreme cases. However, when using it, the following features should be taken into account:
- Dorado can cause allergic reactions, although they are extremely rare. This primarily applies to people living in the northern regions. There this fish is considered an exotic product. Therefore, the body can perceive it as foreign food.In any case, if you are prone to allergies, you should start eating fish with small portions.
- Not every seller provides suitable storage conditions. Therefore, there is always a risk of purchasing a low-quality product. To avoid such problems, you need to be careful when choosing a carcass. At the same time, you should be able to identify signs of spoiled goods and reject unusable products.
- Some producers use chemicals to process their catch. This helps artificially increase its storage time. To avoid problems, it is recommended to buy products from well-known manufacturers, for whom their reputation is important.
People with the following problems should be careful when consuming dorado:
- Impaired digestibility of proteins or phosphorus intolerance. Like any other fish, dorado can cause health problems in such people.
- Disturbances in the digestive system. In this case, you should not eat fried, smoked or canned fish.
It is recommended to give small children dorado fillet, carefully selecting small bones from it. It’s even better to mince the fish twice and make cutlets from it.
When choosing cooking recipes, it is important to consider that experts do not recommend supplementing dorado with nuts, mushrooms, and legumes. Also, this product should not be eaten with oats, wheat and rye.
Recommendations for selection
It is best to buy fresh fish. However, not everyone has this opportunity. Most consumers have to buy chilled or frozen dorado. To purchase a quality product, it is important to know under what conditions it was stored. It is also worth paying attention to the following features:
- To make sure that it is a dorado, it is recommended to look for a gold mark on the forehead and a dark spot under the gills.
- Pay attention to the shade. Dorado usually has a dark gray back and silver belly.
- Look at the gills - they should be dark red. It is also important that the fish has clear eyes and moist fins and tail.
- Fresh and chilled fish should have a distinct smell of the sea.
- The scales should not have damaged areas.
- It is recommended to buy carcasses with a maximum length of 20-40 centimeters. They have the best taste.
- When choosing a fish, you should place it in your palm. It should not hang loosely from your hand. High-quality fish remains elastic and holds its shape well. Of course, this method cannot be used to test frozen fish.
- If you press on the carcass with your finger, the dent should quickly disappear. This indicates the freshness of the product.
How to store selected fish
This representative of the Sparov family can be frozen. To do this, the fish must be gutted, washed, placed in a vacuum container and placed in the freezer. In this form it is stored for a maximum of 3 months.
Fresh fish can be kept in the refrigerator for 1-2 days. It is recommended to place it in an airtight container or glass container and cover with cling film. It is important to place the fish in the coldest part of the refrigerator - closer to the wall. However, it must first be washed and dried.
Cleaning Features
To properly clean fish, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- First, rinse the carcass. It may contain sand residues, small scales and other debris.
- Go to the process of cleaning fish from scales.To do this, you can use a special tool that will help remove scales in just a few minutes. If you don't have one, you should take a regular knife. It is recommended to start cleaning from the tail to the head. Then you can move on to the spine and abdominal cavity. After this, rinse the fish again.
- Then gut the carcass, cut into the abdominal cavity and remove the internal organs. It is important to be careful with your gallbladder. Under no circumstances should he be pressured. Otherwise the fish will spoil. This product cannot be eaten.
- Separate the film from the tail and rinse the fish again.
- Remove the gills from the fish.
Cooking tips and recipes
When using dorado in cooking, it is recommended to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Dorado is best cooked with the tail and head. However, the gills must first be removed. It is whole carcasses that have a unique taste.
- For cooking, you should use fish measuring 20-40 centimeters and weighing up to half a kilogram.
- When cooking fish on the stove, it is best to do it in a sauce. Otherwise, the meat will quickly dry out and lose its taste.
Today there are many tasty and healthy options for preparing this delicacy of fish. It can be fried, baked or stewed, adding vegetables and spices.
Fried dorado
To simply fry dorado in a frying pan, it is recommended to prepare the following ingredients:
- 1 dorado;
- 200 grams of flour;
- salt;
- pepper;
- 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil.
To prepare fish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Wash the fish, remove scales and gut it. After which the carcass should be washed again and dried with paper towels.
- Rub both sides with salt and pepper and leave for half an hour.
- Sprinkle the carcass with flour.
- Fry in vegetable oil. This should be done for 10 minutes on each side.
Dorado in salt
This is a fairly simple recipe that requires a minimum amount of ingredients. So, you need to take the following:
- 1 large gutted dorado;
- 2 kilograms of coarse sea salt.
To prepare this dish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Pour salt into a bowl and add half a glass of water to it.
- Sprinkle a third of the salt onto a baking sheet. In this case, the thickness of the layer should be approximately 2 centimeters.
- Place the fish on top and cover with salt again. The mass must be pressed against the carcass with your hands.
- Place the baking sheet in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for half an hour.
- Remove the fish and leave to cool for 10 minutes.
- Tap the sides with a knife to release the salt from the fish.
- Carefully remove skin, bones and salt from the fish and place on a plate.
- Serve with lemon juice and garlic sauce.
Dorado in the oven with lemon
To get a tasty and healthy dish, it is recommended to take the following ingredients:
- 2 dorado carcasses;
- 70 milliliters olive oil;
- 4 bay leaves;
- paprika;
- lemon;
- salt.
To prepare baked fish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Clean and gut the carcass, rinse it well inside and out, dry it with paper towels and rub with salt.
- Cut the lemon and cut the halves into thin circles.
- Place 2-3 lemon slices and 2 bay leaves inside each carcass.
- Heat the oven to 190 degrees.
- Mix paprika with olive oil and pour the mixture over the fish.
- Place the dorado in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Pour the juice from the other half of the lemon over the baked fish and serve immediately.
Dorado in Spanish
To prepare this healthy dish, it is recommended to take the following products:
- 1 kilogram of fish;
- 5-6 pieces of red potatoes;
- 1 onion;
- half a chili pepper;
- 2 lemons;
- 3-4 cloves of garlic;
- 0.5 teaspoon of saffron;
- 10-12 tablespoons of olive oil;
- a bunch of parsley;
- sea salt.
To prepare the dish, it is recommended to do the following:
- Clean the fish and cut it along the back, gut it, wash and dry.
- Blend half a bunch of parsley with half the olive oil and the juice of one lemon in a blender.
- Salt and pepper the fish, then coat it with marinade.
- Beat the remaining herbs with garlic, saffron, salt and 3 tablespoons of water.
- Peel the onion and potatoes and cut into circles.
- Mix vegetables with garlic mixture, place on a baking sheet and drizzle with oil.
- Bake in an oven preheated to 180 degrees for 20 minutes.
- Place the fish on the vegetables, sprinkle with oil again and cover with sliced lemon.
- Bake the dish for another quarter of an hour.
- Sprinkle the finished dish with lemon zest and thinly chopped chili pepper.
Interesting Facts
Dorado is a rather interesting fish, with many interesting facts associated with it:
- In the mouth of this individual there are quite noticeable fangs. At one time, Maltese jewelers often inserted them into rings, passing them off as snake teeth, which were considered a powerful magical talisman.
- Dorado was first grown in artificial conditions in Ancient Rome and Greece. Subsequently, they began to do this in Venice.
- At birth, all individuals have the characteristics of males. Only after a while some of them become females in order to bear offspring.
- At a young age, dorado is considered a schooling fish. The older she gets, the fewer individuals are included in the flock. An adult dorado leads a solitary lifestyle.
- Dorado has a good memory. If she breaks off the tackle, she doesn’t take the bait again.
Dorado is a fairly common fish that belongs to the Sparov family. It has become widespread in many countries of the world. This is not surprising, because this individual has tasty and healthy meat, which is often used in cooking.