Thread: Best techniques for filleting fish

Originally Posted by sabang

The most adept filleter I knew did it with a hacksaw. He just substituted the hacksaw blade with stainless steel wire, and got the job done in seconds.

Wow i would love to see that! Is this something that you have witnessed personally or do you have a link to where i might watch such genius?

I witnessed it many times as a kid- old Mario, an Italian aussie neighbour (wog in local parlance). He loved fishing, and loved his fish. Particularly noteworthy, and adorable, he would often use fish that the anglo-aussie's considered junk fish, and just throw away or feed to the cat. Such as Tommy Ruff, a local herring species. And make something delicious from it. They were mostly quite small, and his knack of filleting them in less than 5 seconds was great. The rest he would use for fish stock. I reckon the guy was from the Future!

Originally Posted by hallelujah

This is bollocks. My wife's family say the same, but they'll also travel 35 miles from Penang because they think the prawns are better in some restaurant in Kampung Bumfuck.

It never is, and the cheek isn't the best part of the fish.

Silly nonsense to be filed alongside the wonders of durian (there aren't any- it is shit) and spending 1 hour fighting with a crab for a tiny morsel of its flesh.

Dont let them fool you with their fishwives' tales.

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

So much wrong in one post.

fish cheeks are the best
traveling for good food does make a difference
crab, seriously the best seafood and worth it

Hallelujah has just shown himself to be the antichrist. (And durian are God's gift to humanity)

HalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHal

Originally Posted by panama hat

Hallelujah has just shown himself to be the antichrist. (And durian are God's gift to humanity)

HalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHal

Oh yes, that too!

Durian is the king of fruits.

But not on a plane- that's worse than Snakes on a Plane.

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Durian is the king of fruits.

Mangosteen is the king, durian is the bitch queen as I recall .....

Originally Posted by TheRealKW

Oh yes, that too!

Durian is the king of fruits.

Awful, awful stuff.

Originally Posted by panama hat

Hallelujah has just shown himself to be the antichrist. (And durian are God's gift to humanity)

HalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHalHal

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Here you go, chef.

(Serves 4) Fish head as big as the palm of your hand and two additional fillets. 10 pieces of okra, 1 aubergine, 5 tbsp of kari ikan (fish curry) powder, 2 sliced onions, 10/20 curry leaves (1 or 2 sprigs), 2tbsp of chili boh (paste), 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1 tsp of Maggi cukup rasa (2tbsp of Oyster Sauce if you don't have it), 2 tomatoes, 1 litre of water. Salt and sugar to taste.


3 tbsp of oil in the pan, fry the chili boh for 5 mins, lower the heat and add curry powder and curry leaves and fry together before adding the water. Once it boils, put the okra in and then the rest of the veggies, cook a little longer and then add the fish head and meat. Dont cook for more than 8 minutes because it will fall apart. Turn heat off and stir in evaporated milk. Salt and sugar to taste.

She also said something about cutting the fish head down the middle, so that it cooks evenly. Alternatively, just turn it over.

Let us know how you get on and I hope nothing has been lost in translation!

Thats awesome thanks! I will give this a go in a couple of weeks. I may have to leave out the okra, never been a fan unless its just quickly fried. It often is over cooked and slimy

^ You could go to all that trouble... or just catch a few in the pond, get the gardener to fillet them and the wife to fry 'em up in batter.

Shake on the salt, splash on the vinegar, and good to go!

The wife can still have the eyes... everyone is happy!

Originally Posted by Chef Basics with Baz

Thats awesome thanks! I will give this a go in a couple of weeks. I may have to leave out the okra, never been a fan unless its just quickly fried. It often is over cooked and slimy

She actually sells this in the neighbourhood, so if it doesn't taste like the dog's then I've clearly fucked up somewhere!

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ You could go to all that trouble... or just catch a few in the pond, get the gardener to fillet them and the wife to fry 'em up in batter.

Shake on the salt, splash on the vinegar, and good to go!

The wife can still have the eyes... everyone is happy!

I hope we don't fall out over this, but those peas really should be mushy and drowning in salt and vinegar.

^ Nope... we're good!

Filleted pla nin fish an' chips, garden peas, mushy peas and a pea fritter! How northern is that!

Originally Posted by Topper

Mangosteen is the king, durian is the bitch queen as I recall .....

You recall incorrectly



But it must be consumed nim, nim - suk suk, not the bizarre Thai way of cutting it down from the tree and eating it when it's hard and adding sugar/salt/chili whatever the f they put on.

Originally Posted by hallelujah

(Serves 4) Fish head as big as the palm of your hand and two additional fillets. 10 pieces of okra, 1 aubergine, 5 tbsp of kari ikan (fish curry) powder, 2 sliced onions, 10/20 curry leaves (1 or 2 sprigs), 2tbsp of chili boh (paste), 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1 tsp of Maggi cukup rasa (2tbsp of Oyster Sauce if you don't have it), 2 tomatoes, 1 litre of water. Salt and sugar to taste.

Beautiful - I shall pass this on to Mrs Hat . . . she's very good at Asian food, as most Malaysians/Singaporeans are . . . but a good, rich, creamy an thick curry . . . slurp!

Originally Posted by hallelujah

those peas really should be mushy and drowning in salt and vinegar.

Good God man, is nothing sacred to you!!!!

Need I repeat my call for banning Hal?

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ Nope... we're good!

Filleted pla nin fish an' chips, garden peas, mushy peas and a pea fritter! How northern is that!

Man of the year!

Originally Posted by panama hat

You recall incorrectly



But it must be consumed nim, nim - suk suk, not the bizarre Thai way of cutting it down from the tree and eating it when it's hard and adding sugar/salt/chili whatever the f they put on.





Beautiful - I shall pass this on to Mrs Hat . . . she's very good at Asian food, as most Malaysians/Singaporeans are . . . but a good, rich, creamy an thick curry . . . slurp!





Good God man, is nothing sacred to you!!!!

Need I repeat my call for banning Hal?

If it turns out nice (my name is mud if it doesn't), you can bring me some NZ mushy peas for that post-Covid pint in KL.

Regarding durian, I've tried it in every country in SE Asia. Every time the local has said to me that "our durian is the best though" whenever I tell them of my dislike.

And every time, without fail, it's been even worse. It doesn't even taste like a fruit. It's like (what I imagine) licking the insides of a dustbin would be akin to.

Soooooo much good tropical fruit to be had...and that abomination!

Originally Posted by hallelujah

Man of the year!

^^ Not even more silverware for me display cabinet I hope!

Originally Posted by hallelujah

you can bring me some NZ mushy peas for that post-Covid pint in KL.

Deal . . . I can also bring you some petai.

KL? Sure . . . the office is just opposite IKEA and I either stay there or at our place in Desa Park City up the road a bit.

Done.

(the pint, not the mushy peas, heathen)

Boring thread, so the guy posts a video..woopie doo.
I'm not a fan of mushy peas.

Originally Posted by Chef Basics with Baz

I will be waiting impatiently, i look forward to it.

Im interested to know if you particularly dislike cheeks or if you just dont see the fascination as they are similar to the rest of the fish.

As a chef i often find that meat (or fish) muscles that do a lot of work tend to taste better, something about exercising the muscle that develops flavour. For example, i love braised beef cheeks, intense flavour and when cooked correctly, tender and moist. I wonder if you disagree when it cones to fish (or meat for that matter).

I just dont see the fascination, but I agree with you regarding meat.

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Boring thread, so the guy posts a video..woopie doo.
I'm not a fan of mushy peas.

Were you not just complaing on anohter thread about folk 'messing' up your thread?

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ You could go to all that trouble... or just catch a few in the pond, get the gardener to fillet them and the wife to fry 'em up in batter.

Shake on the salt, splash on the vinegar, and good to go!

The wife can still have the eyes... everyone is happy!

That looks great!!
I did say "Except for some recipes that a filet is required, " the above being one of them.
Stuffed filet of sole is another one (Image not mine, lifted from internet)

for fish and chips , I like Cod , deep fried in a nice butter. I can eat it all day.
But for other than that, (for us) a whole fish is so much more tasty. because of all the juices from the bones and other things, plus IMO so much more fun picking the bones clean.

Originally Posted by Mendip

^ You could go to all that trouble... or just catch a few in the pond, get the gardener to fillet them and the wife to fry 'em up in batter.

Shake on the salt, splash on the vinegar, and good to go!

The wife can still have the eyes... everyone is happy!

The gardener? He fillets your fish? a Pond with edible fish? You certainly have more spare cash than me good sir.

I had to spend 3 days fishing (sans liscence) just to obtain these 2 fish. How the other half live!

Originally Posted by MarilynMonroe

Boring thread, so the guy posts a video..woopie doo.
I'm not a fan of mushy peas.

Apologies that this is not to your taste, i will have to hunt down some of your threads for inspiration.

I only post videos here as kitchen videos in the title, although i certainly have been collared for this before