Mullet: benefits and harm to the body

Mullet is a species of sea fish that is found in many bodies of water around the world. Often you can confuse it with her fellow - bearing. In order not to make a mistake in the choice, you should study this representative of the underwater world in more detail.

So, this species belongs to marine life. It was first discovered in the warm waters of southern countries and for a long time it was found only in salt ponds, but moved to the mouths of the rivers in search of food. This led to the fact that the individual began to relate to freshwater fish. In the 19th century, this species of fish was brought to the Black Sea to increase mullet populations.

What does mullet look like and where is it found?

Mullet is characterized by an elongated body that resembles a torpedo. She has a small head and wide eyes. The nose of the fish is flush with the dorsal fin. There are no teeth; the lower lip, which is quite sharp, serves to grind food.

Also, the body of the marine life is covered with large scales. On the back there are two fins and the same on the abdomen. The body shape allows individuals to perform various maneuvers. The body is painted gray with silver elements, the back is covered with black stripes.

Mullet can be found in almost all reservoirs, since it is unpretentious to the amount of oxygen and salt. Such fish do not live only in the Arctic Ocean.

Females are ready for procreation in the eighth to ninth year, as for males, they mature by the sixth year of life. Spawning occurs all summer and ends in autumn. After spawning, the fish floats into freshwater spaces for reinforcement.

This variety feeds on natural sludge, from which individuals obtain nutritional components. In addition, mullet uses worms and invertebrates as a food product.

Feed migration occurs in mid-summer. Some flocks that enter the estuaries remain wintering there. Most fish do not return with the beginning of spring, but the population remains at the expense of the high fecundity of marine life.

Kinds

There are three varieties of mullet:

1. Black Sea species - individuals have an elongated body and a flattened back. The body is painted in gray, the belly may be silver. Nevertheless, such a mullet has two black stripes. Their scales are large. The head is small, the nose is sharp. The adult fish is up to 40 cm long. Life expectancy is 13-15 years.
2. Caspian mullet is larger in size than the Black Sea. The species differs in that spawning occurs in the Caspian on the high seas, while caviar is located on the surface of the reservoir along with plankton. Black Sea fish spawn in the Black Sea and estuaries.
3. Azov mullet is also called a crane. The length of such an individual is not more than 30 cm. Despite its small size, the fish has a high degree of fat content. It is sold both fresh and frozen.

What is the difference between mullet and pelengas

Mullet and pelengas are completely different fish. They can be distinguished by certain pronounced characteristics.

1. First of all, it should be noted that the bearing is somewhat larger compared to mullet. In addition, the first species is distinguished by large scales and orange eyes.The mullet has blue eyes, and the scales are smaller and denser.
2. Differences exist in the methods of feeding and fishing. Pelengas, unlike mullet, feeds from the bottom, of course, trapping will be carried out in different ways.
3. Mullet is a very useful fish, but valuable properties directly depend on the period of the catch and the method of freezing.

Despite the large number of positive qualities, one should still remember that this kind of seafood is rather oily. It is also important to pay attention to the information provided on the label. Otherwise, you can purchase a product that will not only not benefit, but also harm.

Composition and calorie content

Such seafood is enriched with vitamins and minerals, therefore, it has a positive effect on the body.

1. Vitamin A in fish is responsible for the restoration of mucous membranes and skin. The periodic inclusion of such a treat has a positive effect on the organs of vision. Retinol obtained from animal foods is especially beneficial for health.
2. A component such as vitamin B4 provides a reduction in bad cholesterol, which increases the load on the internal organs. This compound also removes toxins and toxic compounds from the body. It is noteworthy that choline has an effect on metabolic processes. As a result, people who use such fish for food are less likely to be overweight.
3. It should be noted that such a product cannot boast a high phosphorus content. This amount of mineral is not enough to restore the activity of the musculoskeletal system. However, it will help to improve the functioning of the kidneys, providing cell production, as well as supporting metabolic processes.
4. Fatty acids in this delicacy prevent the development of CVD diseases, and also maintain the tone of blood vessels and arteries. Experts advise including this component in the diet to reduce the likelihood of heart disease.
5. This variety of fish is distinguished by the presence of ascorbic acid, B-group vitamins. K, P, Na, Mg, Ca, Fe, Zn, Mn can be distinguished from mineral elements.

As for the calorie content of mullet, this indicator depends on the method of processing the fish. So, fresh seafood in 100 g contains about 125 kcal, in boiled form the indicator drops to 115 kcal, in fried form - almost 190 kcal. Braised mullet has no more than 80 kcal per 100 g. This kind of fish is very nutritious due to the high concentration of proteins. The use of mullet in moderate amounts is not able to harm the figure.

Useful properties of mullet fish

General benefit

1. It is known that in the composition of this fish contains a large amount of vitamin A. This substance is required for the health of the dermis, improve vision and eye condition. Animal retinol cannot be replaced with plant-based foods.
2. Due to the presence of omega acids in the composition of seafood, the functioning of the brain improves, and the development of heart diseases is also prevented. Regular consumption of mullet eliminates the possibility of a heart attack and stroke.
3. Among the useful qualities of this fish, one can also single out the fact that its composition contains protein enriched with amino acids.
4. In the course of numerous studies, it was found that mullet allows you to restore the function of nerve cells. So, if you eat this variety of fish regularly, you can protect yourself from the development of depression, as well as cope with a bad mood.
5. The beneficial qualities of mullet are also indispensable for intestinal pathologies.
6. If you bake fish in a foil with the addition of vegetables, you get a dish that reduces the risks of developing arrhythmia. It is recommended to eat mullet for people with atherosclerosis, as well as for the elderly to prevent the occurrence of such a disease. In this case, it is better to use a baked or boiled look.

It must be remembered that the highest content of nutrients in the fish is maintained for two days after fishing.Therefore, if it is supposed to freeze in order to preserve the mass of useful substances, it must be frozen immediately after the catch. Defrost in air without using water. After that, it must be used immediately for food.

For women

As already mentioned, mullet is distinguished by the presence of retinol in the composition. It is due to this vitamin that seafood is valued by the beautiful half of humanity. This is due to the fact that this substance gives beauty to the skin, providing them with elasticity.

Vitamins of group B in such a delicacy positively affect the work of the National Assembly. For this reason, doctors advise eating such a product to women who have diseases of the nervous system, as well as to those who are prone to nervous disorders, depression and often experience insomnia.

For men

The rich composition of this type of fish affects the blood vessels. The product allows you to make the walls of the capillaries thicker and protect them from the development of various pathologies. It is known that it is the male half that is more often exposed to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases. Pathologies of the heart often arise as a result of blockage of blood vessels. At the same time, blood clots penetrate into them, which interfere with blood circulation. This leads to disruptions in the activities of various organs and systems.

Regular consumption of mullet will allow you to clean the vessels, preventing the formation of blood clots. This effect is due to the omega-3 acids. In addition, this group of substances is able to cope with high blood pressure.

It is recommended to introduce mullet twice a week.

During pregnancy

This kind of seafood has many healing qualities. It has a composition enriched with macro- and microelements, as well as a mass of vitamins. This allows you to saturate the body with valuable substances, while protecting it from the development of a number of diseases. As for the girls preparing for motherhood, they should consult with a specialist regarding the inclusion of mullet in their diet.

When breastfeeding

Women should consult a pediatrician while breastfeeding. This is due to the fact that along with various trace elements in the fish contains mercury, which can be dangerous for the child. It is best to postpone such a dish until the baby is 10-12 months old.

For kids

It is allowed to introduce mullet into the children's diet no earlier than ten months of age, that is, when the child can already be given meat products. In this case, the initial daily allowance should be no more than 10 g. The dose can be gradually increased to 70 g per day. It should be noted that the broth from fish contains hazardous substances for children. Such a dish does not have great nutritional value. Therefore, before the onset of three years, giving the child an ear is not recommended.

When losing weight

Due to the low calorie content, dishes using mullet are included in the list of dietary products. Dill soup using this type of seafood is one of the means used to normalize weight.

To prepare such a dish, you need 0.8 kg of fish, onion and carrots, 1/2 celery, fresh herbs, bay leaf, 1 tbsp. flour and the same amount of butter, as well as salt in a small amount. Also, a pair of eggs and 0.5 cups of sour cream are required for serving.

First you need to boil one and a half liters of water. Chopped peeled vegetables, place in a pan and cook for 5-7 minutes. At this time, remove the scales, gills and offal from the carcass. Now place the seafood in another container, add the lavrushka, salt and cook for another 6-7 minutes. After that, put the carcass on a plate and cover.

It is necessary to boil hard boiled eggs and peel them from the shell. Finely chop the greens, fry a little, add flour and mix thoroughly. After this, pour the broth into a container with herbs and cook for another 5 minutes. Now mix the yolks with sour cream, and finely chop the protein portion. Dip all this into the soup and mix.

Before serving, first place a piece of fish fillet in a plate, and then pour the ear itself. The dish will be more delicious if you add a little basil to it.

Mullet in folk medicine

With regular use of this species of marine life, arteries and capillaries are cleaned, blood pressure indicators are normalized. In addition, mullet is used to treat diseased joints. In this case, you can use the recipe for traditional medicine. To do this, first gut the fresh seafood, while the scales should not be touched. After that, rinse the carcass with water, cut along the ridge so that the pieces are palm-sized. Attach fish pieces with the inside to a sore spot and secure with a bandage. Leave this compress overnight. You can remove it only in the morning. After this, rinse the area on which the compress was applied with warm water and soap. The course of treatment is usually 10 days, but the patient feels improvement after half this period. In some cases, frozen fish can also be used for such procedures.

Heel spurs can be cured in the same way.

The use of mullet in cosmetology

The use of the studied fish in cosmetology is also known. This product allows you to smooth wrinkles and makes the skin fresh due to omega-3 acids. Before applying the cosmetic composition, the dermis should be cleaned by removing residual moisture with a tissue.

1. For example, you can apply fish oil to your face to eliminate wrinkles. This procedure will smooth out the folds, protect against the development of age spots. To obtain a mask, you need to mix 1 tsp. fish oil, 1 tbsp starch and a small amount of ginger oil. Apply the resulting mass to the face and hold for 60 minutes.
2. Raw materials from such seafood are also used to get acne masks. In this case, mix 3 ml of mullet fat with 10 g of blue clay, 15 mg of calendula and a natural sorbent. This composition is valid for half an hour. After the specified time, rinse the mask with water and lemon juice.
3. A mask consisting of 5 ml of fish oil and 3 parsley leaves is suitable for the skin around the eyes. At the same time, grind the parsley to a mushy consistency. Next, moisten the gauze fabric in the mixture and put on the eyelids. After 30 minutes, the product can be removed.

If you combine such an ingredient with honey, the skin will become elastic. If you use sour cream and quail eggs as an auxiliary component, you can get rid of the increased dryness of the skin.

Is mullet caviar useful

Caviar is a product containing a large amount of vitamins and minerals that are necessary for human health. Such a component is easily absorbed, provides increased immunity, and is useful for brain activity. In addition, this product provides normal blood circulation.

Mullet caviar is the most suitable product that can increase the level of hemoglobin in the blood, ensure the elasticity of the skin and restore healthy hair. Such caviar contains minerals such as iodine, calcium, iron, potassium and others. Such a complex of substances is indispensable for anemia, atherosclerosis, poor condition of hair, nails and skin integuments.

Harm and contraindications

This kind of fish has practically no contraindications, except for individual intolerance. In this case, a person may develop an allergic reaction. In this case, it is necessary to limit or completely stop the use of this seafood.

It is also important to monitor the quality of the fish. If it is fresh, it is necessary to pay attention to the presence of parasites. In order not to become infected with helminths, you need to carefully inspect each fish, clean it and remove parasites, if any.

You must remember that you can get poisoning when using low-quality or poorly processed fish.It should be borne in mind that prolonged heat treatment prevents intoxication of the body and protects against infection with helminths that may be in the fish.

It is also necessary to limit the use of fried, smoked and salted mullet to people who have diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. High salt levels will negatively affect blood vessels and intestines. In the presence of such pathologies, it is recommended to prepare fish products using stewing or boiling, without the use of any spices. Children are recommended to make steamed fish cakes.

How to choose and store

The taste and benefits of mullet dishes directly depend on its correct choice in the market. So, when choosing this delicacy, some points must be taken into account. First of all, you should examine the eyes. It must be remembered that they must be clear and vibrant. If the eye sockets are cloudy, the pupil does not differ in them, this indicates that the product is spoiled. Next, you need to pay attention to the density of the scales. In this case, make sure that it does not fall from the carcass. The body should not have any spots, dents or mechanical damage.

To check the elasticity of the product, you need to press on it. If the individual is fresh, the body will quickly recover, spoiled seafood will not be able to return to its previous shape.

It is also important to pay attention to the appearance of the mullet. If the copies on the counter are shabby, they should not be taken. It only says that the fish was subjected to freezing more than once.

The cleaned headless mullet and gills must be thoroughly washed and dried. In this form, it is stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days.

Is it possible to freeze

To extend the shelf life of mullet, it can be frozen. In this case, the carcasses must be wrapped in foil, placed in a vacuum container and sent to the freezer. In this case, the shelf life is two months.

How to carve and clean mullet

Cutting a mullet is not at all difficult. You must first clean the delicacy of scales and viscera. The next step is to remove the head with a sharp knife. Then you need to make an incision along the ridge, remove the fin, and then separate the meat from the bones. It is also important to cut off all the remaining fins and tail of the fish.

It must be remembered that in this case, for cutting, it is recommended to use sharp tools and special devices designed to clean the fish.

Most housewives advise using boards made of plastic or glass for cutting, since wooden products can absorb unpleasant odors. So that the cleaning process after cleaning does not take much time, you can first put paper or parchment under the fish, which after work to throw out along with giblets and scales.

How to cook a mullet delicious: recipes

Mullet meat is valued for its high protein content and lack of carbohydrates. If the product was purchased frozen, it should only be defrosted naturally. If you use warm water for this, as a result, the meat will lose most of its valuable substances.

Of course, the most useful for the body is fresh fish, which was caught a maximum of two days before cooking. It can be cooked, baked in the oven, stew, fry. It is combined with potatoes, vegetables and cereals. To make it easier to clean the fish from scales, you can pour it with boiling water for a minute.

In the oven

To make mullet in the oven, you will need 3 fish, 2 lemons, a bunch of green onions and dill, 3 tbsp. mustard, salt, 3 tbsp olive oil, 2 cucumbers, a little cilantro and half Peking cabbage.

The cooking process begins with washing all the ingredients.The mullet must be cut and cleaned. Finely chop the cilantro and onion with dill, they will be used for the filling. Squeeze 1/2 lemon on chopped greens. Then salt the mass.

Now in the abdomen of the fish you need to place the prepared filling, as well as a slice of lemon. The carcass should be carefully stuffed. After that, cover the baking sheet with foil and put the fish on it. Sprinkle all this with vegetable oil, sprinkle with the remaining herbs. Prepared seafood wrapped in foil. In this case, it is necessary to leave a small hole on top so that it warms up. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees, after which bake the marine life for 30 minutes. 10 minutes after turning on the oven add 1 tsp. olive oil in foil with each fish.

At this time, you can cook a fresh vegetable salad. To do this, tear the cabbage leaves with your hands and chop the cucumber. In a small container, mix these components. Add mustard, olive oil and lemon juice to this. Arrange the resulting salad on personal plates. Put the finished fish on it. Serve with greens.

In the pan

To fry the mullet, you will need 2 fish fillets, 50 ml of vegetable oil, a pinch of black pepper, 0.5 tsp. oregano, a pinch of sage, tarragon and dried garlic, lemon and salt to taste.

Mullet fillet must first be washed, dried a little and greased with vegetable oil to make it easier to process fish with spices. In a separate bowl, mix all the spices, then roll the fillet in them. Before frying, heat the oil in a pan, and then cook the fish until golden brown. One side usually takes no more than two minutes. Serve the finished dish with lemon juice and some hot sauce.

For lovers of crispy fish, you can dip the fillet in a thick batter made from flour and eggs. This is done after a roll in seasonings.

In a slow cooker

You can also cook mullet not only in the oven, but also in a slow cooker. This method of preparation is much simpler, since in this case you only need to put the product in the device, add the remaining ingredients, set the necessary function and turn on the equipment.

To cook mullet in a slow cooker, you will need the fish itself, pepper, zucchini, as well as spices, oil and salt to taste. Vegetables should be peeled and chopped. Remove all seeds from pepper. Clean and cut the fish into pieces.

Lay out all components in a multicooker bowl in layers. In addition, each layer should be salted, pepper and season with vegetable oil. The last layer should be mullet. It must also be poured with vegetable oil.

Now that all the ingredients are ready and in place, you need to close the lid of the device, select a specific program and turn on the multicooker. It usually takes 90 minutes to prepare such a dish.

On the grill

There is another way to make delicious mullet. From it you can cook kebab. To do this, you will need 1 kg of fish fillet, 2 small zucchini, about 10 pieces of medium tomatoes, 2 tbsp. olive oil, squeezed lemon and salt with pepper to taste.

Peeled and chopped zucchini, as well as fish strung on skewers and bake on the grill. Garnish the finished dish with tomatoes and chopped herbs. It is also recommended to pour everything with lemon juice and olive oil.

Grilled

Mullet is also being prepared on the grill. In this case, all fins should be cut off first. Next, clean the fish from the scales. Particular attention in this case should be given to the abdomen, since it is here that a lot of scales remain, which does not allow making a neat incision for gutting. In addition, it can get on the plate. Now remove all the insides of the fish and make transverse cuts on both sides of the carcass so that the marinade is better saturated.

To prepare the marinade, you can use oil, lemon juice or wine vinegar. If desired, add a small amount of soy sauce to this mass. Now it remains to add greens, dried spices, garlic, coriander, fennel, etc. Mix all these components until a thick consistency is formed. The resulting marinade should grate the fish both outside and inside. For it to marinate, you must wait an hour. Only after that can the workpiece be salted. Before grilling, it is recommended to remove excess marinade so that they do not burn.

What can be cooked from mullet: recipes

There are many recipes for using mullet fish. But in order for dishes from such a variety of seafood to be tasty, you need to use a fresh product immediately after fishing. When stewing a delicacy, you can add garlic, if you have to bake it, it is better to use lemon juice. It should also be remembered that you can defrost a fish only in air without the use of water, otherwise it will lose its taste.

Jellied

The most common way to make mullet is jellied. The flesh of such fish perfectly freezes in the broth and without the use of gelatin. It can only be added to get a stronger filler. In this case, you should not add much water, it is enough that it only covers the fillet, otherwise the broth will turn out to be weak. Of the spices you will need black pepper, nutmeg, basil and thyme.

Main ingredients: 1 kg of mullet, 500 ml of water, 1 tsp. salt, carrot, 2 eggs, onion, 5 peas of black pepper and 2 bay leaves.

Fish should be cleaned, gutted, rinsed thoroughly and filled with water. Add vegetables, salt and spices to this. Boil the mass for a quarter of an hour. After that, remove all the bones and fins, and divide the fillet into pieces. Then spread the flesh on plates together with slices of hard-boiled eggs and carrots. Pour all this with filtered broth and send it overnight to a cold place for solidification.

Ear

To get the fish soup, you will need 4 fresh fish, 2.5 liters of water, 2-3 potatoes, 1 onion, salt, black pepper, lavrushka, fresh herbs.

The process of preparing such a dish begins with washing the fish fillet under running water. It must be cleaned of scales, removed from it all the insides, as well as the bones and ridge. Next, place the fish in a container of water. In this case, the liquid should cover the fillet for 3-4 fingers. Also in the dishes with fish add bay leaf, dill, black pepper and salt. After boiling, reduce heat. Cook the dish until cooked for 15–20 minutes. During cooking, constantly remove the foam using a slotted spoon. Cut the potatoes into cubes, and grind the carrots on a grater. After 20 minutes from the moment of boiling, add vegetables to the pan.

Now cook the dish for another quarter hour. Next, get the fish out of the soup, divide into several parts and return to the pan. After this, cook the ear for another 15 minutes, and then remove from the stove.

Cutlets

Most mothers think about how you can cook mullet so that the baby will like it. An excellent way out of this situation is the preparation of cutlets from such a fish. The minced meat is very tender. In addition, if you add bread soaked in milk, onions and carrots to it, the cutlets will turn out to be juicy and tasty. It will be much easier to sculpt cutlets from minced meat if the workpiece is initially in the refrigerator for an hour. So, you need 1.3 kg of mullet, 100 ml of milk, 2 eggs, 1 onion, 1/2 lemon, 100 g of bread, a pinch of black pepper, 50 ml of vegetable oil.

The cooking process is very simple. You must first chop the fish and grind it with onions. Pour the bread with milk, then squeeze and mix with minced meat. Also add eggs and spices here. After adding lemon juice, mix the mass and mold cutlets from it.Fry them on both sides for 5 minutes on low heat.

How to pickle mullet at home

Currently, mullet can be stewed, baked in the oven, cooked in a pan or grilled. However, earlier this type of seafood was most often salted. Since the fish has fleshy and oily flesh, it is perfectly saturated with salt. How exactly to salt the mullet - whole or cut into pieces, does not matter. The only important thing is that only fresh fish is suitable for such processing, since when defrosting a frozen product, the structure of the fish fillet is violated, and then the pulp will not absorb seasonings. It should also be remembered that for such purposes only coarse salt, not iodized, is suitable.

To salt mullet with your own hands, you will need 1 kg of fish, 400 g of salt and 1 liter of purified water. Half of the salt and 500 ml of water are used to prepare the brine. The fish should be gutted through the gills, the abdomen should not be touched. Rinse carcasses in water with salt, and then dry thoroughly. Pour the remaining salt inside the mullet. Next, put the fish in the dishes and pour the prepared solution. They should be under oppression in a cool place. Change the brine every two days. Such processing of fish requires 2-3 weeks.

Interesting Facts

1. The maximum weight is 7 kg, despite the fact that the length of the fish can reach 0.9 m. Such fish can live up to 15 years.
2. As you know, after spawning, the mullet leaves in freshwater bodies of water, where it remains for the whole winter. During this period, it is forbidden to catch mullet in the Black Sea, because most river fish do not return.

Mullet photo