Customer Reviews

Fish & Shellfish, Grilled & Smoked

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Most of us fall into one of two categories when it comes to seafood: One group understands the great flavors that comes from grilling or smoking it and the other breads it and fries it. I fall squarely into that second group. It's even come to the point where I just avoid the seafood counter at my local market all together after the damage I've done to some really beautiful slabs of fish. After all, there is a difference between between messing up a $1.99 per pound rack of spare ribs and a $12.99 per pound tuna steak.
But then came along "Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked", an excellent book by Karen Adler and Judith M. Fertig. These authors may sound familiar; between them they've penned 14 cook books, one of which - "Easy Grilling & Simple Smoking with the Barbeque Queens" - they wrote together. Adler owns Pig Out Publications, the world's only book publisher/distributor devoted solely to barbecue. Fertig writes a weekly food column for The Kansas City Star. Thus, their credentials are well-earned and in "Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked" they've done their best work to date.
The book's stripped-down format is a clever move. It's logically arranged into three parts: Grilling Fish and Shellfish, Smoking Fish and Shellfish and Every Thing Else You Need (yes, that is indeed the name of Part III). Parts I and II are divided into two chapters each - one for fish and one for shellfish. Following a 14-page introduction on grilling fish and shellfish, there are over 90 recipes for fish and 30 for shellfish in Part I (the fish and shellfish recipes are conveniently separated into their own chapters). Part II follows the same plan as it applies to smoking with about 25 recipes on fish and 19 for shellfish.
The recipes are presented in an easy-to-read style. Nearly all are contained within a single page and include a complete list of ingredients in one column and numbered step-by-step instructions in an adjacent column. A descriptive introduction is included under the title of each dish and suggestions for substitution ingredients is offered at the end. They've even gone the extra step of alphabetizing the order of recipes by type of fish.
With all this said, if this book could just help me to keep from having most of my grilled catfish filets left clinging stubbornly to the grill grate it would be well worth its price. The authors respond to the challenge with guidance on what type of fire is best for each cut and type of fish to help prevent this problem. Now that we've cleared that hurdle, let's try something more challenging!
The recipes allow for a growing confidence like mine. "Salsa Catfish" is the familiar grilled fish with your favorite salsa added. "Mahimahi with Kiwi Sauce" goes a step further by involving a fresh fruit puree. These are getting so easy now that even "Provencal Grilled Tuna with Sauce Remoulade" sounds doable! Now brimming with this new knowledge, it's time to move to the grilled shellfish chapter. A few recipes for lobster look interesting and then comes a surprise - "Grilled Baby Octopus". I didn't even know octopus was a shellfish, let alone that you could grill it. Nonetheless, Adler and Fertig make this task look easy, even supplying a reference on how to clean octopus.
The chapters on smoking offer up selections like "Apple Cider Smoked Trout with Horseradish Cream" and "Smoky Shrimp Quesadillas". This is looking easier all the time. Maybe it's about time I made a return visit to that seafood counter.
The first chapter of Part III offers a wide variety of rubs, marinades, sauces and the like. Some of these recipes are familiar, but there are plenty of new ideas for tastes that perform their best with seafood. The authors finish strong with a chapter on sides that don't necessarily involve seafood as ingredients but rather serve as great complements to seafood dishes.
So now I am ready to tackle whatever the fishmonger has to offer - grouper, sea bass, tilapia, halibut, monkfish or salmon. I know I can handle any or all with this book on my shelf. But now I have another problem: what do I do with this 50-pound bag of cornmeal fish breading that I have in my cupboard?

These two ladies can BBQ! They have demonstrated that in contests, and here they demonstrate that in a marvelous, complete (nearly 400 pages) compendium on grilling/smoking seafood!

It's all here, recipes, helps, side dishes, marinades and sauces, how to purchase, sources, etc. Also included are neat, useful sidebard discussions, e.g. 10 Tips and Techniques for Great Planked Fish and Shellfish, Every Time."

One can see that these authors know what they're writing about, and they provide excellent substituions, instructions, serving ideas, and so on.

I'm looking forward this grilling season to dig into such as: Lemon-Lime Monkfish, Grilled Lobster-Papya Guesadillas with Pineapple Cream, Grilled Sea Scallops with Pancetta and Bail Aioli, Beer-Brined Smoked Swordfish, and what is fast becoming a favorite: Grilled Lobster Parfait with Brandied Tomato Cream.

What healthier food is there than seafood? Here, creatively, refershingly offered in over 300 Foolproof ideas for your enjoyment. This is a keeper!

Many grilling and smoking books give seafood only passing attention; not this book. Recipes are excellent, and while they are much more adventurous than what is typically found in grilling and smoking books, they are still user friendly in both taste and ingredients. This is one book I'll keep on my "most used" shelf for some time to come.

The collaborative effort of Karen Adler and Judith Fertig, Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked is a superbly organized and presented compendium of three hundred fish and shellfish recipes that are nothing short of mouth-watering and appetite satisfying! From Stir-Grilled Fish Tacos; Swordfish Steaks with Pineapple Salsa; Grilled Caribbean Prawns on Tropical Fruit Planks; and Pecan-Planked Catfish; to Smoked Scallops with Citrus Vinaigrette; Amaretto-Basted Walleye; Vietnamese-Style Grilled Tilapia; and Grilled Haddock Hoagies with Cob-Smoked Cheddar and Fresh Tomatoes, Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked recipes span the simply to the exotic. Enhanced with a wealth of cooking tips and an impressive section of dips and sauces, Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked is a perfect and welcome addition to any seafood lover's personal cookbook collection.

I've had this book for a year now and have made 15 recipes from the book. Not one of them has been anything less that stellar. This has become my "go to" seafood book.

Favorites include Grilled Scallops with Pancetta and Basil Aioli, Grilled Rosemary Trout, Cedar planked Char and Zesty Lemon Trout. These have all been repeated.

I only took a star away because I like cookbooks with pictures.

I also wish sustainability would have been addressed but that's just me. There are some recipes for fish like Orange Roughy which are on the "avoid" list. Please check Seafood Watch at [...] before selecting your fish.

Came in very good shape, fun to read along with some awesome recipes that will come into good use.

Fresh veggies and fish all make for a great meal with the help of up to date recipes.

Thanks.

Loved the book....full of suprises. Not only gives you grilling and smoking but gives you marinades, garnishes and lots more. Good book if you like fish even better if you love fish.....

I had many questions about smoking, shellfish in particular, and this book answered those questions. It is an easy to read book, that I would recommend for anyone interested in grilling and smoking fish!

Already grilled Salmon per book recipe. Very good. Wish there was a picture for each recipe.