Move Over Salmon, I’ve Got a New Favorite Fish!
A friend of mine recently said to me, “I know I should eat more fish, but I never know what to buy or how to make it. And I’m afraid I’ll hate it.” Aha! The old fish dilemma. Hey, I understand: I’m right there with you. I often look at the seafood counter with sheer bewilderment. I mean, the pros and cons around fish and seafood can boggle the mind! You hear story after story about how you should eat more fish for better health, which is true. Some fish are powerhouses of omega-3s fatty acids, which are amazingly good for our bodies. But then again, some fish contain too many toxins, or are raised or fished using unsustainable practices, putting our delicate ecosystem at risk (an issue really important to me). And then there’s the lack of options: here in the Midwest, many of the fish recommended in recipes are either too difficult to find, or are way too expensive. (Insert head exploding emoji.)
Many of us turn to salmon for a relatively inexpensive and rich source of omega-3s (choose Wild Alaskan varieties for the most sustainable option). But I’m going to be honest with you: I get tired of salmon sometimes. The Wild Alaskan varieties can actually be a little too…salmony…for me. That’s why I was delighted to discover (in the fish section of my local Aldi of all places!) the star of today’s post, my new go-to: Steelhead trout!
I remember initially picking up the package of Steelhead trout because I thought it was a salmon filet at first—it has a very similar size and color. But the story of our dear Steelhead is really unique: it starts off as your typical rainbow trout (also delicious and sustainable), but after hatching, it goes out to sea where it develops the pinkish color and puts a lot more meat on its bones, then comes back to freshwater to spawn.
Steelhead is rated “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch (seafoodwatch.org), which is the gold standard of seafood sustainability ratings, is relatively inexpensive as fish go, is high in omega-3s, low in toxins and very importantly, has a really lovely, delicate flavor.
Like I said, I find it regularly at Aldi and Costco, but oddly enough it’s not a regular at my other local supermarkets. I love this fish so much, I make a special trip to Aldi just for it.
There are many recipes out there for Steelhead trout (and really, you could substitute it in many of your favorite salmon recipes), but I landed on this one from Life as a Strawberry the first time I tried it and haven’t looked back. Not only is it crazy good, it’s very easy to put together on a busy weeknight. You really can’t go wrong with lemon and butter.
Give this amazing fish a try, whether you use the recipe above or one of your choosing, and let me know in the comments what you think!
xoxo Julie