Salmon: What kind of fish is it? And how do you prepare it?

From frying it, grilling it to cooking it in the oven

Salmon is a versatile fish and incredibly tasty. Even people who don’t like fish often like salmon. But what kind of fish is it exactly and what is the best way to cook it? Read all about it in this article.

Chapter 1

What kind of fish is salmon?

Salmon is loved worldwide for its unique taste and structure. There are 207 different salmon species. The most famous species is the Atlantic salmon. The meat of fresh Atlantic salmon is deep pink and has a firm structure.

The wild salmon is an anadromous fish. This means that the fish moves up the rivers from the sea to spawn. Salmon are born in freshwater rivers and as young salmon they migrate to the salt water of the sea.

When they are adults, they swim upstream back to the freshwater where they were born to lay eggs again. Most fish die after spawning.

Salmon is a carnivore by nature and lives in the sea on small marine animals such as shrimps and small fish. This fairly slender streamlined migratory fish is basically a white fish.

The shrimps that are eaten produce a red dye (astaxanthin). This red dye is stored in the fatty tissue of the salmon and gives the fish its characteristic light pink to deep red color.

Chapter 2

Where does the fish come from?

Atlantic salmon are native to rivers and seas in northern Europe and the Atlantic Ocean. In the wild, Atlantic salmon are not very common anymore.

Around 1965 they started breeding Atlantic salmon. Pacific salmon are found in the South Pacific and are usually caught wild.

Today salmon is farmed in Norway, Scotland, Ireland, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, North America, Chile and Tasmania. About 2 million tons of Atlantic salmon are farmed worldwide each year. This number is still increasing. Norway accounts for more than 60% of global salmon production, making it the most important country for salmon farming.

The farmed salmon is usually farmed in the sea, in floating round cages with a diameter of 30 to 60 meters and a depth of about 25 meters. To keep predators at a distance, a second cage is placed around the cage containing the salmon.

Pigment is added to the salmon feed, which is naturally present in the original feed (crayfish and shrimp). This salmon food gives the salmon its characteristic salmon pink color.

The most commercial salmons are:

• Chinook salmon or king salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
• Sockeye salmon, also called “Sockeye” (Oncorhynchus nerka)
• Silver salmon or Coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)
• Pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha)
• Keta salmon also called “Dog Salmon” (Oncorhynchus keta)
• Atlantic Salmon or Salmo Salar.

All of these types of salmon differ in taste and texture. The pink salmon is rated the least, while the Atlantic (wild) salmon is rated the highest in taste experience.

Chapter 3

How does salmon taste?

Salmon has a firm, meaty texture and doesn’t have a typical fishy flavor. It has a unique flavor that you can combine with almost any other flavor.

Salmon is special and the flavor is difficult to describe. The flavor and texture vary by type of salmon, breeding method, time of year and cooking method. But in general, salmon is a fatty fish and has a rich oily taste.

The fact that salmon tastes so delicious is mainly due to the high fat content of this fish. It’s a fatty fish and has a high content of unsaturated fatty acids.

It’s rich in the essential Omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that are important for the health of the heart and blood vessels and the nervous system, among other things. In addition, salmon contains valuable proteins, vitamins and minerals.

The fish is available in salmon steaks, salmon fillets and salmon floss. You can also buy the fish in portions, planks, rolls, whole fish, burgers, chips, skewers, fish sticks, smoked salmon, tartare and other salmon specialties.

Chapter 4

Is it healthy?

In addition to being incredibly tasty, salmon is also healthy and very nutritious. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These are unsaturated fatty acids that protect us against cardiovascular disease. In addition, the B vitamins provide a higher energy level and brain activity.

Salmon is packed with healthy fats and valuable nutrients that are very good for your health. This type of fish can be cooked in countless ways and can be used very versatile for the tastiest recipes.

Hoofdstuk 5

How to cook salmon?

Depending on the cooking method, salmon gives an explosion of flavors in your mouth. Even people who don’t like fish often like salmon.

There are countless ways to make salmon dishes such as steaming, frying, stewing, poaching and smoking. You can also fry the salmon, cook it in the oven or grill it on the barbecue.

With a variety of spices that go well with salmon, you can make the dishes even more adventurous. For example, use allspice or fennel seeds for a Mediterranean touch. Saffron or ras el hanout provide an Arabic touch and ginger and/or lemongrass give an Asian flavor. You can also combine the marinade with lemon, white wine or gin.

Before you start cooking the salmon, it’s important to pat the pieces dry with kitchen paper. Then brush the fish with a little olive oil. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the salmon and the recipe. Always cook the salmon skin-side down. This way you protect the fish and it cooks more slowly without caramelizing.

Chapter 6

Recipe: Grilled oriental spicy salmon

Chapter 7

All recipes

Looking for more inspiration? Then see below more recipes with salmon. Or check our fish recipes for even more inspiration.