Pangasius: benefits and harms to the body

Pangasius belongs to the river inhabitants, is a representative of the Somov family, lives in Vietnam. It is considered omnivorous, therefore, very often consumers have many questions regarding the merits and negative aspects of such a delicacy for the body.

Pangasius is a fairly affordable and tasty fish. Today, such a variety began to be bred in a number of other countries. Often, such fish is grown on specialized farms, which are crowded. Various growth stimulants, supplements and antibiotics are used there. Such products may be hazardous to human health. As for the natural product, the pangasius has a number of useful qualities, which will be described below.

What does the pangasius look like and where is it found?

As already noted, the pangasius belongs to the order Somoobraznyh. In length, an adult can reach more than 1 m, and it can weigh up to 40 kg. Young inhabitants are usually on sale, whose weight does not exceed 2 kg. This fish is characterized by the presence of a fin with 6 rays on the back. This species belongs to river fish. Otherwise, it is also called shark catfish. This is due to the fact that the pangasius has a fin similar to a shark. The color is gray, while the back is dark in color and the belly is lighter. Adult fish have a kind of beard. In pangasius, breathing is carried out not only with the help of gills, but also through the skin, therefore, it can survive even in bodies of water with insufficient oxygen. Fish is characterized by an unpleasant silty odor.

This species is usually found in the Mekong River. For sale, fish is grown artificially.

What is the difference between pangasius and tilapia

Tilapia is a generic name that unites several hundred varieties of freshwater inhabitants belonging to the Cichlid family. Initially, this species was found mainly in Africa and Asia Minor countries, but now this fish has spread widely throughout the world.

Outwardly, tilapia can be identified by a short, slightly compressed body on the sides and a large head with large eyes. Most often, such a fish has a silver body color with shades of green. Weight is 1–1.5 kg.

Tilapia is also omnivorous, but still the main part of the diet consists of plant foods that grow in a pond. An important feature of such a fish is that it easily adapts to changes in living conditions. Despite the fact that these fish prefer tropical conditions and belong to freshwater, they are able to live in sea water and can withstand low temperature.

The chemical composition of such a product is quite rich. It includes easily digestible protein, vitamins E, B, K, PP. The high ratio of nutrients allows tilapia to be included in the children's diet, as well as in the menu of older people and women in position. The disadvantage of this type is the high concentration of cholesterol.

To distinguish between pangasius and tilapia, it should be remembered that the fillet of the first has a white-pink color, may have a grayish color. If the shade of the product is darker, this indicates a low quality. It should also be borne in mind that shark catfish are characterized by the presence of an unpleasant silty smell.In the middle part of the fish fillet there is a pink-brown stripe, and on the sides there is a fat layer.

Composition and calorie content

The chemical composition of pangasius is saturated with many useful components that are required for the normal functioning of the human body. So, in this product there are omega acids, retinol, B-group vitamins such as thiamine, pyridoxine, ascorbic acid, tocopherol, niacin. The mineral composition is represented by an abundance of elements, including K, Ca, Mg, Na, S, P, Cl, Co, Cu, F, Zn and others.

If the fish was grown under normal conditions and fed balanced feeds, the product will be endowed with all this range of useful components. Moreover, organic acids, amino acids and enzymes were found in this fish. The fact that there are no carbohydrates in the pangasius and a “light” protein is present makes it possible to use it in food when it is necessary to follow a diet in order to get rid of excess weight.

Calorie content of the product depends on the method of heat treatment. So, about 100 kcal is concentrated in 100 g of fresh fish, the fried product contains twice as much. In boiled form, the calorie content of the fish does not change, and in the baked pangasius contains about 105 kcal.

Why pangasius is useful

General benefit

The valuable qualities of farmed pangasius are associated with the feed that the individual ate. In order for the fish to retain all the healing properties, it is important to grow it according to special requirements. Only in this case, the product will benefit the body.

1. Firstly, it should be noted that in this fish there are no carbohydrates, and the degree of calorie content is quite low. Thanks to such qualities, fish is one of the best dietary dishes.
2. Omega-3 acids found in the composition of the river inhabitant give elasticity to tissues, strengthen blood vessels, and have a positive effect on the skin, nail plates and curls. There is a lot of protein in fish that can strengthen the muscle system.
3. The macronutrient composition of the delicacy is useful for the cardiovascular system. It protects capillaries and heart muscle.
4. Calcium and phosphorus in fish fillets are designed to strengthen the bone system, stabilize its activity and enhance bone growth. All this will help prevent the occurrence of osteoporosis.
5. Vitamins representing group B (B2, B6, B9) have a beneficial effect on the central nervous system. Regular inclusion of pangasius in food allows you to improve the memorization function, raise your mood, and also withstand stress and insomnia, restoring the normal functioning of the brain.
6. Shark catfish is enriched with antioxidant substances, which also positively affect the work of the body as a whole. So, these substances act as a prophylactic against aging of body cells, and also protect against the negative effects of the environment.
7. Iron found in fish products helps protect a person from the development of anemia caused by a deficiency of this element. Selenium has a beneficial effect on hair and nails. This substance helps protect them from dryness and brittleness.
8. Vitamin D is also available in pangasius. The role of this component in the body is that it allows other beneficial substances to be better absorbed, and also inhibits the development of tumor cells.

For women

For the beautiful half of humanity, this product is useful in that it contains Vitamin E, which gives the skin elasticity, prolonging natural youth. Also, tocopherol makes the vessels more elastic, which prevents the occurrence of blood clots. Amino acids and calcium help women preserve the beauty of hair and nail curls, antioxidants and polyunsaturated fats also help protect against premature aging.

For men

Due to the presence of phosphorus and fats in the composition of the river delicacy, brain activity improves, memory is strengthened. Polyunsaturated fatty acids contribute to the restoration of the musculoskeletal system, protecting a person from the development of joint pathologies.

The benefit of this fish is also that the fillet is saturated with a large amount of protein, which acts as a building material for cells, and also takes part in almost all processes in the human body. Protein is especially necessary for those people who are intensely involved in sports, because this component takes an active part in the selection of muscle mass.

During pregnancy

If the product meets the requirements and does not contain hazardous substances, it can be included in the diet of expectant mothers. However, its consumption is still not recommended during this period, although many meat contains many trace elements, in particular iron, which have a positive effect on the circulatory system. This helps prevent the occurrence of anemia. But experts do not recommend consuming this kind of fish during the gestation period, since there is a high risk of obtaining a dangerous product that contains salts of heavy metals.

When breastfeeding

In addition to the above advantages, pangasius has another plus. Since this product contains a lot of chromium, that is, a substance that regulates the synthesis of insulin in the body, such a fish is useful for the baby and for the mother in that it is able to regulate glucose metabolism.

At the same time, it must be borne in mind that there is a possibility of acquiring low-quality products, which can only harm the health of a small child and a young mother. Therefore, during lactation, it is also recommended to abandon such a delicacy.

For kids

Undoubtedly, there is a good fish product for the child’s body. It consists in a high level of calcium, phosphorus in fish fillets. These substances help strengthen the baby's skeletal system and improve the functioning of the nervous system.

It must be remembered that, like any other kind of fish, pangasius can be introduced into the baby’s diet only after three years.

Again, one should not forget about the origin of such a fish. Therefore, before including a shark catfish fillet in the diet of children, you should make sure of the quality of such a treat and be sure to consult a pediatrician.

The danger to the child is also the small bones that are present in the fish. For this reason, you need to carefully examine the pieces of meat on the plate of the child.

When losing weight

Due to its low calorie content, this fish is a dietary product. Indeed, in 100 g of such a delicacy contains only 90 kcal. This allows you to use this fish in various diets designed to reduce weight. Thus, during weight loss, such a component can be included in food almost every day.

A contraindication can only be individual intolerance or an allergic reaction to fish dishes.

The product is highly popular due to its low-fat, tasty and at the same time inexpensive fish fillet. Such meat can be used to make various salads, appetizers, main dishes.

Harm and contraindications

Often the conditions in which pangasius is grown are unfavorable. This can be polluted water bodies, non-compliance with safety requirements, the use of chemical additives to stimulate growth, as well as the use of poor-quality feed.

When buying such fish, it is important to choose quality products. In this case, you should be guided by the appearance, smell. The very low cost should also raise doubts, because high-quality fish cannot be cheap.

Pangasius is contraindicated in persons with intolerance to seafood. The presence of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract is also a restriction on the use of such a delicacy. Small children should not be given fish in order to protect them from accidentally swallowing bones.

During pregnancy and during breastfeeding, you can eat such fish only if there is confidence that the product is of high quality.

How to choose and store

Undoubtedly, only a quality product benefits the body.When choosing a pangasius, you need to pay attention to certain points.

To begin with, it is worth noting that such fish with carcasses is almost not for sale. This is because it is usually butchered in places where it is grown. After this, the fillet is subjected to the so-called “shock” freezing. In this form, the goods are transported for sale. Information on the method of freezing should be applied to the packaging. This helps simplify the product selection process.

According to the rules, fish fillets are delivered frozen, therefore, they should be stored in freezers.

It is also important to study the quality of packaging. Good fish is packed in a vacuum film on which the date and batch number are printed.

Next, you need to pay attention to the appearance of the product. The carcasses must be intact, light pink in color. The dark color and lack of integrity of the pieces indicates that the rules were violated during storage, perhaps the product has been frozen more than once.

Pangasius is kept frozen in a freezer. Repeated freezing after thawing is unacceptable.

How to distinguish pangasius from the sea language

These representatives are completely different, they belong to different units. Distinguishing them from each other is quite simple. The marine language is a representative of flatfish fish, therefore it is characterized by a flat carcass. But since more often than not already processed raw materials are exposed to the consumer, it is quite difficult to determine at a glance which variety is commercially available.

The meat of the marine language is characterized by a light color, it is almost transparent. And the meat of pangasius varies from pale pink to a grayish tint, in any case, there are pink sections on it, which is not observed in the marine language.

Also, the difference is that the tongue fillet is always thin, because the fish itself is flat. In addition, such meat does not exude a fishy smell, and it does not have fatty layers.

How to cook delicious pangasius: recipes

Such a fish is combined with a wide variety of products, it can be prepared in a variety of ways. More than a hundred recipes are known that include such an ingredient, ranging from first courses to cakes.

Best of all is a pangasius with vegetables seasoned with herbs. You can also bake it or use the fillet for grilling. In general, pangasius goes well with any vegetables, and this explains the great popularity of such goodies.

In a frozen state, fish is stored for a month. After defrosting, it must be used to obtain the dish for several hours, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate.

In the oven

If you need to quickly prepare a delicious dinner, you can send the pangasius into the oven. To do this, you need 2 pieces of fish fillet, 2 tomatoes, 2 green onions, dill, vegetable-based oil, a few cloves of garlic, lettuce, salt and pepper.

Such a dish will be an excellent assistant when after work you need to quickly set the table for a family or unexpected guests.

So, to cook the baked pangasius in foil, you need to salt and pepper the fish meat on both sides. Next, put on the foil greens of dill or parsley, prepared fish, and top with green onions and tomatoes, cut into large pieces. Sprinkle all this with sunflower oil and pack it tightly in foil. In this form, transfer the fish to a baking sheet and send for baking in the oven at a temperature of 200 degrees. It usually takes no more than half an hour to cook. The dish is ready for serving. Seafood lovers will like this delicacy, because the fish in this case will turn out to be incredibly tender.

In the pan

Pangasius fillet cooked in a pan can be served with mashed potatoes. When you add a seasoning mixture, the fish is quite juicy and flavorful. It is important in this case not to dry the fillet, this will allow you to enjoy the unsurpassed taste of such a treat. This dish is recommended to serve for lunch and dinner. As decoration, you can use chopped cilantro and coriander.

Of the components you will need 4 pieces of pangasius fillet, 1 tbsp. spices, 1 tbsp. salt, 1 tbsp black pepper, 4 tbsp. butter, squeeze one lemon, a bunch of coriander and cilantro.

First you need to rinse the fish meat and dry it. After this, grate the fillets on both sides with salt, pepper, a mixture of spices. In this form, the product should be marinated for a while. Next, add butter to a preheated pan and wait until it warms up. Now fry the fish fillet on both sides for two minutes.

Put the fried fish on a plate, which will be served on the table. Then reduce the heat to a minimum, squeeze the juice of a lemon into a pan and simmer it with the remaining spices a little more. Use the resulting mixture for refueling a fish product.

In a slow cooker

Almost all species of fish under the cheese layer have incredible taste characteristics. In combination with cheese and sour cream sauce, a very tender and juicy dish is obtained. For cooking, you need such products: 0.5 kg of fish, 1 onion, a glass of sour cream, 1 carrot, 200 g of Russian cheese, 1 tbsp. vegetable oil, salt, black pepper.

First you need to defrost the delicacy and rinse it. After that, cut the fillet into pieces and dry on a paper towel. Then salt and pepper the fish.

Next, chop the carrots on a coarse grater, cut the onion into rings. Grease the multicooker bowl with oil and turn on the “Baking” function. Now put fish in the device and sprinkle with prepared vegetables on top. After that, fill all the products with a layer of sour cream. It takes 40 minutes to make such a dish. While stewing the fish, grate the cheese. 10 minutes before being ready to sprinkle pangasius with cheese, grated.

Serve the finished treat with vegetables and sauce. You can decorate the dish with chopped herbs.

In a double boiler

Pangasius, which is steamed, is quite hearty and tasty. Initially, it is necessary to marinate the fish in soy sauce with spices. Ready-made delicacy goes well with rice or potato dishes.

To cook a fish fillet in a double boiler yourself, you must first marinate the product in a mixture consisting of soy sauce, coriander and black pepper. Some housewives prefer to add lemon juice to the marinade. Such a fish is cooked in a double boiler for a quarter of an hour.

So, you need 500 g of fish, 2 tbsp. soy sauce, spices - to taste. Cut fish meat into slices, marinate in the composition described above. After 20 minutes, you can use the product for cooking. Lubricate the grate of the device with sunflower oil and put fish on it. Cook for 15 minutes.

Grilled

To cook pangasius on the grill, you need a fresh carcass, several limes, you can take lemons instead, as well as special seasoning for fish. The finished dish is served with vegetables, herbs and olives.

Of the ingredients you will need 1.5 kg of fish fillet, 3 limes or lemon, spices for fish dishes. Cut citrus into rings. Rinse the fish thoroughly. Then add salt and seasonings. Now put fish on the grill grate and lemon circles on top. While the meat is pickled, you can light a fire. It is recommended to grill the delicacy on charcoal. It can take about 60 minutes to marinate. After that put the grill with the fish on the coals.Cook the pangasius until golden brown, constantly turning over.

On the grill

You can also cook kebabs from pangasius. The dish is prepared very quickly, it only takes about half an hour to marinate the product, but if there is no time, this procedure can be skipped.

In order to cook fish fillet on the grill, it is necessary to prepare pangasius, 2 bell peppers, 3 tbsp. soy sauce, salt and ground black pepper.

Cut the washed pangasius into pieces, salt, pepper, add the sauce and leave for 20-30 minutes. After that, soak skewers for barbecue in water. This is necessary so that they do not burn out later. Cut pepper into large squares and string them on skewers, alternating with fish meat. Now it remains only to fry the fish from all sides, and a delicious barbecue is ready to eat.

What can be cooked from pangasius: recipes

Pangasius is a freshwater fish that is used to prepare various dishes. This is due to its low price. It is worth noting that the fish that are grown in the wild is most useful, but at present, the main supplier of such products are specialized fish farms. Nutritionists recommend including such a product in food for those who are overweight. In cooking, such an ingredient is a component of both the first and second courses.

Cutlets

Delicious cutlets are made from pangasius. They are very easy to prepare, as this variety comes on sale in a processed form, that is, you can easily make minced meat from a purchased fish fillet. It will only need to be passed through a meat grinder. Due to the fact that such fish has a fat layer, the dish turns out to be very juicy. The semolina, which is part of such a treat, makes the patties delicious and magnificent.

For the preparation of cutlets you will need 800 g of fish fillet, 1 chicken egg, 1 onion, 3 tbsp. semolina, bread crumbs, salt, a small amount of oil, ground pepper can be added if desired.

First you need to twist the pangasius in a meat grinder. Here you can chop the peeled onion. After that, add the egg, semolina, about 1 tablespoon to the minced meat. breadcrumbs and salt and pepper at your own discretion. Mix this mixture thoroughly and send for a while in the refrigerator. This procedure is necessary in order for the semolina to swell. Thus, the semolina absorbs excess liquid, and when frying the cutlets will not fall apart. Minced meat should stand in the refrigerator for at least an hour. If there is time, it is better to leave the workpiece in a cold place all night, and put off the frying of the cutlets in the morning.

Before cooking, get the minced meat from the refrigerator, form the patties and sprinkle them with breadcrumbs. After this, pour a little oil on a hot pan and lay out the patties and lightly fry them on both sides. Then grease the baking sheet with vegetable oil and transfer the fried cutlets into it. Then send them to the preheated oven for 20 minutes. After the specified time, take out the dish, cool and transfer to a plate for serving.

Soup

To prepare the first dish of pangasius, you need to take 500 g of fish fillet, 400 g of potatoes, 1 carrot, 1 sweet pepper, 1 onion, 1 bay leaf, 2 tbsp. vegetable oil, black peppercorns, ground paprika and salt to taste. You can also add chopped greens to the soup.

Pangasius meat must be cut into small pieces. At this time, put 3 l of water on the fire to boil, lower the thawed fish into the boiling liquid, add salt and lavrushka. Simmer a quarter of an hour over low heat. After that, add potatoes, and after 5 minutes - diced pepper. Cook the mixture for another 10 minutes until the potatoes are ready. Next, chop the onion and grind the carrots. Fry the two components in oil, then add to the pan with the dish. It remains only to season the soup with paprika and other spices, mix and boil for another 5 minutes.Before serving the soup, it is recommended to season it with herbs.

Interesting Facts

1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provided data from which it became clear that pangasius ranks sixth in the ranking of the most popular fish.
2. Previously, this species of fish was called Asian catfish. In the early 2000s, a bill was passed according to which pangasius can not be labeled and advertised as catfish. This name belongs only to representatives of the Iktalurov family, which includes the American catfish.

Pangasius photo