Varieties
Sablefish can be found fresh, as frozen fillets and steaks, or commercially smoked and called smoked black cod. The quality of the fish varies with the depth of water at which it is caught—the deeper the better.
Preparation, uses, and tips
The secret to successful sablefish cookery is to not overcook it. Whichever of the following cooking methods you choose, your sablefish will be cooked when its flesh becomes opaque yet is still moist on the inside.
Baking
Place sablefish in a greased baking dish and place on a baking sheet. Brush with melted butter or oil and season with salt and pepper, cover with a sauce, or wrap in oiled foil. Bake in a preheated 450°F (230°C) oven until done, about 10 minutes per inch (about 2.5cm) of thickness of the fish.
Grilling
Place fillets over perforated foil on the grill, 4 to 6 inches (about 10 to 15cm) above prepared coals or fire. Baste with butter, oil, or marinade and close hood of grill. Cook until fish is opaque and moist on the inside, 6 to 8 minutes.
Broiling
Place seasoned and/or marinated sablefish on a well-greased broiler pan. Broil under a preheated broiler 4 to 5 inches (about 10 to 12.5cm) from heat. Cook until opaque and moist on the inside, 6 to 10 minutes.
Pan-frying
Dredge sablefish steaks or fillets with seasoned flour, crumbs, or cornmeal. Shake off any extra coating and fry in a small amount of hot butter or oil, turning once halfway through cooking time. Cook until fish is opaque and moist on the inside, 4 to 8 minutes.
Poaching
Bring poaching liquid, consisting of water, broth, and herbs and spices, to a simmer. Slip in sablefish, then cover pan and keep the liquid at a simmer for about 8 minutes per inch (about 2.5cm) of thickness of the fish.
Steaming
Place sablefish on a greased perforated rack over 1 to 2 inches (about 2.5 to 5cm) of rapidly boiling water. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and keep water at a constant boil through cooking time, 8 to 10 minutes per inch (about 2.5cm) thickness of the fish.
Nutritional Highlights
Sablefish, 1 fillet (5.3 oz.) (150g) (cooked, dry heat)
Calories: 377
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrate: 0.0g
Total Fat: 29.6g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Excellent source of: Selenium (70mcg), Niacin (7.7mg), and Vitamin B12 (2.2mcg)
*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.
When cooked (dry heat), sablefish provides 1.909 grams of omega-3 fatty acids, derived from EPA (0.867g), DHA (0.92g), and ALA (0.122g), per 100 grams of sablefish.
Copyright 2007, Healthnotes, Inc., 1505 S.E. Gideon St., Suite 200, Portland, Oregon 97202, www.Healthnotes.com.
2006-09-07
