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Monkfish Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to monkfish
Eating fish as a staple at lunch or dinner is common for many individuals and families. Fish is nutritious and rich in vitamins and minerals like omega-3 amino acids, vitamin B12, and D. It also has zinc, magnesium, iron, iodine, and potassium. Fish is known to have heart and brain function benefits, so if you're thinking of cooking up some monkfish, let's take a look at what it has to offer and some tips for how to cook it.
At first sight, the monkfish is quite a scary-looking fish with sharp teeth and a wide mouth, a large, flat head, arm-like fins, and a long tail which is why they are nicknamed "sea devils." The monkfish is a bottom-dwelling fish from the Atlantic Ocean that lives in both shallow waters. Instead of swimming, it uses its fins to glide along the sandy bottom and eats smaller fish with its wide mouth. It also has a bate-like appendage to attract prey to its mouth.
Although monkfish is a scary-looking fish, it's surprisingly delicious and delicate in flavor. People who don't usually like the fishy taste of seafood might like monkfish for its subtle taste. Monkfish is not as well known as lobster, but it is growing in popularity in the U.S. because of the different ways it can be cooked. It has been prized in Europe for many years for its lobster-like flavor. Each monkfish will give two large fillets as only the tail is edible and is what's mostly sold to consumers.
Monkfish is used commonly in French cuisine and fine dining, and the Japanese use the liver for hand rolls, nigiri sushi, or soup. Since it doesn't have a fishy flavor, chefs enjoy cooking this type of fish with bold, acidic flavors like lemon and capers. It also costs less than other fish with a similar taste.
About monkfish
Monkfish is usually sold ready to cook and can be bought frozen or fresh. Fishermen tend to discard the body and only leave the tail and liver, which is what is consumed. The meat of the tail weighs from one to four pounds and is boneless. If you can get ahold of a whole monkfish, the head and bones are also good to use for stock. The cheeks have even been used in upscale restaurants, so there are ways adventurous chefs can use up more of the monkfish.
Monkfish cooking tips
Cooking monkfish is like preparing most seafood dishes as the fillets are firm and won't fall apart while you're cooking. As with many seafood dishes, acidic and sharp flavors benefit the fish to balance its delicate taste. Ingredients like parsley, garlic, pepper, butter, olive oil, and lemons are classic, go-to ingredients you can rely on to pair with monkfish.
Monkfish can be grilled, fried, sauteed, oven-roasted, poached, or baked. It can also be served raw as sushi or as the star of a delicious soup. However, be aware that the fish excretes a liquid when cooking. These juices taste fine in a sauce or other liquid, but if you're grilling the fish, salt it, and let it rest for an hour before cooking. Then, pat it dry.
Grilling monkfish is ideal since the fillets are thick and hearty. You can also cut the flesh into cubes to make kebabs. If you're frying the fillets, cook them for about 5 or so minutes on each side.
Bold flavors also suit monkfish, given the fish's versatile flavor. Sauces made from tomato, curry, miso, and spicy chilies are interesting takes. There are even recipes that combine cured meats with monkfish. You can also use monkfish as a substitute in lobster salad.
Monkfish Near Me
Buy your favorite Monkfish online with Instacart. Order Monkfish from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about monkfish
Monkfish's flavor has been compared to lobster's, which is why it's known as the poor man's lobster. It has a mild, sweet flavor with bright flesh and costs a fraction of the price of lobster.
Place a knife into the thickest part of the flesh, and remove it. If the knife is hot to the touch, then the fillet is cooked through. If you're using an instant-read thermometer, the fillet should register at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
For monkfish cooked simply, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay pair nicely. If you are cooking a dish that's hearty and flavorful, even light reds like Pinot Noir and Marsannay work well.
If you're planning on cooking up some monkfish, head to the Instacart app, and add it to your order. An Instacart shopper will fulfill the order and bring it to your door, usually within the same day if possible! This way, you can spend less time going to the store and more time picking out a monkfish recipe.