Thursday, April 2, 2015

B is for Barracuda

BarracudaEveryone is familiar with the barracuda, it features in many adventure stories be it in book or on film. I remember them featuring very strongly in a James Bond story many years ago, no idea which one. They can grow as large as 6ft. 9” and have fearsome teeth. It is a salt water fish and is found in tropical and sub tropical waters. They are eaten as steaks and in West Africa they are smoked in order to preserve the texture of the fish when making soups. It is not recommended eating the larger fish as they have been implicated in cases of ciguatera food poisoning, but the smaller fish are fine.

This is a fairly simple recipe but is apparently very tasty.


Grilled Barracuda

Makes: four steak fillets

Grilled Barracuda
Ingredients:
4 barracuda steaks
2 lemons (preferably Meyer) zested
1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:
1. Mix the lemon zest, olive oil and chopped parsley together. Season with salt and a little black pepper. Coat each side of the barracuda steaks, using about half the mixture. Refrigerate and marinate for at least a half hour or up to one day.
2. Heat your grill to high.
3. Lay the barracuda steaks on the grill and lower the heat to medium.
4. Cover the grill and cook for 7-8 minutes. Flip and grill the other side for 7-8 minutes or until the inner flesh is flaky.
4. Remove the fish from the grill and top with the remaining olive oil and lemon sauce.

Have a great day
Jo

52 comments:

  1. I can't imagine dining on grilled barracuda! Your recipe seems quite tasty, but I don't think I'd be daring enough to try it. Great choice for 'B.'

    Julie

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    1. Oh I would and Hilary says it's delicious.

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  2. Hi Jo - I love Barracuda ... it's so good - we had it a lot in South Africa on the BBQ and I've even bought it here .. but then I grill it ... cheers Hilary

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    1. I'm so glad you have tried it and can praise it for us. Never seen it here But then we don't buy a lot of fish here, very expensive

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    1. It is?

      It does look mean but Hilary says it's good eating.

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  4. Never had Barracuda--after seeing it I can see why--who wants to fish for THAT? :)

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  5. I, uh, think I'll pass. lol I have to say that's probably the first time I've ever actually seen a picture of that fish.

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    1. Well you don't eat fish anyway, I bet your hubby would enjoy it.

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  6. That's such a simple recipe!! And it looks delicious :)

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    1. It is very simple isn't it. I understand from Hilary that it is delicious.

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  7. I come from a place which has loads of water, rivers, lakes, coastline, and fish is a staple naturally, so I'd like a bit of your barracuda please. The recipe sounds/looks delicious. The nastier a fish looks the tastier it probably is..just one of my unscientific theories. The closest I've got to one so far is watching one in Finding Nemo. Must check out in the local shops

    Best wishes for a great A-Z.
    Nilanjana
    from Madly-in-Verse

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    1. Lucky you to have such easy access to fresh fish. We miss that here, living more than 1,000 miles from the sea. You could be right in your theory.

      Will visit you later Nilanjana

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  8. That's a big fish! The recipe sounds delicious. I live near a lake but it probably doesn't have any barracuda in it.

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    1. They are big. First time I ever heard of them was James Bond being surrounded by them and worried they would chomp on him. No, I don't think your lake would include barracuda LOL

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  9. I never would have thought of barracuda being a fish to be eaten!

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    1. Nor me actually until I started researching for A to Z.

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  10. HI, Jo,
    s

    Interesting... I never knew barracudas were so large.OR that you can eat them. Fun theme and thanks for sharing...

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  11. Not sure if I can barracuda here, but looks very tasty, Jo.

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  12. Wow. The recipe looks delicious, but I think I'd let someone else deal with the barricuda. :-)

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    1. I don't think I would like to clean them.

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  13. I'd like to try it but would be happy to avoid it in the water.

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    1. Not good swimming companions I understand.

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  14. I know you wouldn't catch me dead grilling and then eating one of those... but perhaps I'd try it if a grill-meister was in charge (The act of grilling is a lot of fun - as long as I know where the beer cooler is - but I tend to burn even a hotdog.

    The heart is there, but the Chef-iness is not !!

    PS: Yes, Donald has read the manuscript and has signed off on the whole story :)

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    1. I wouldn't want to catch one Mark, but nothing wrong with grilling and eating it. I don't use a barbecue (well these days we don't have one living in an apartment) so would cook it on our indoor grill perhaps. Beer cooler, what about the box of wine?

      I wondered, great to know he has read and approved.

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  15. I never had barracuda. Not sure where I would find it here to buy, but that recipe did sound good!

    betty

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    1. Nor me, but one friend has eaten and enjoyed it both in South Africa and England.

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  16. Your theme is fish then, I take it? Can't say I've had much in the fish world, but I'll let you know when it swims up (I have a feeling it will). :)

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    1. Nope, it just happened the first two fitted in with the alphabet. My theme, if there is one, is all kinds of food. Fish is very good for you. Especially those with high Omega 3.

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  17. I thought Ciguatera poisoning was an Australian thing from Great Barrier Reef fish. I didn't know it was a global thing! Wow. I also wasn't aware people ate barracuda. Was it Live and Let Die?

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    1. Nor was I Pinky. I don't remember which book it was. I know he had to swim among them. Nasty.

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  18. I'm not into eating exotic fish, I'll just stick to salmon, basa, and other simple white fish. I remember the car they called a Barracuda, a type of 'muscle' car. Vroom-vroom.

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    1. You should try them. If you eat fish at all, some of them are absolutely delightful to eat. Don't remember the car.

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  19. That sounds a yummy recipe. Not sure they sell barracuda in my local supermarket but maybe with a different fish it would be worth a try

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    1. Any good solid white fish by the look of it.

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  20. Can't really see myself sitting down to a meal of barracuda. I think I will stick to my favorite fishes.
    Thanks for commenting at my site!

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    1. I would if I could get hold of it.

      You're welcome.

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  21. I've never eaten barracuda, but the recipe sounds delightful. It reminds me of one of my mom's that I still use on all kinds of fish and chicken, because everyone loves it - lemon, butter and garlic. Place fish or meat in baking dish. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the top, add fresh minced garlic and dot each piece with butter. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if desired.

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    1. That does sound good too. Lemon juice is good on most things.

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  22. I am hearing the Heart song "Barracuda" go through my head. This dish looks delicious.

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    1. Someone else mentioned it being a song but I have never heard it.

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  23. What a great theme! I love fish, but I don't think I've ever had barracuda. I may have to give your recipe a try.

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    1. I never have, but I don't think I will be able to get it round here.

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  24. I'll probably sound like a goof, but I didn't realize barracudas were eaten.

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    1. Nope you don't sound like a goof, I didn't either until I was researching.

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  25. Certainly never thought of eating barracuda before! Interesting. Are these recipes you've tried or just find fascinating?

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    1. Nor me Lauren. Some of my recipes I have tried and liked, some I just hunted for to fit the A to Z. I didn't even know barracuda could be eaten before.

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