, ,

Croaker: a fish with remarkable nutritional properties

The croaker or umbrine is a fish similar to sea bream and sea bass, but not eaten as much. This could be a consequence of overfishing in recent years, which has made it a rare fish. It is currently available on the market mainly for breeding.

It is a sea bony fish with an oval shape and a silvery color streaked with yellowish on the back, a characteristic from which the name originates. It can be eaten either cooked or raw, after being subjected to the process of killing to eliminate any bacteria that may nest in the meat. It is present in the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the eastern part of the Atlantic Ocean, the Black Sea and the Red Sea. It prefers medium depths because it feeds on invertebrates, which nest in the sandy seabed. It reproduces between May and June, and is fished mainly in winter.

 

Nutritional properties

This fish not only has the delicious meat but also has numerous nutritional properties. Let’s discover its characteristics together, so that we can appreciate it even more. The umbrine is rich in protein, contains Omega-3, vitamin D and some B vitamins. Due to its low mercury content, it can be eaten several times a week. It also has the advantage of being an easily digestible food; it is good seasoned simply with salt, oil and lemon, so it is suitable for feeding children or those with pathologies related to digestion.

So let’s give space in the kitchen to this good and healthy fish!

 

Recipes based on croaker

The croaker is not very greasy, so when cooking you must be careful not to dry it up. Although the meat is very delicate and tends to flake, it can still be pinned and filleted without any major problems. If eaten raw, it has a more delicate flavour, which becomes more intense with cooking. An excellent recipe to prepare with raw croaker is ceviche, which involves marinating raw fish in lemon juice or other citrus fruits, along with some spices (including chilli pepper, which is a must!). At Il Piccolo Mondo, which has a vast menu of seafood from the Lazio coast, you can enjoy, among other appetizers, a delicate ceviche of croaker with lime and red onions.

The croaker can be cooked in different ways: in foil, in a stew, baked, roasted, boiled, always making sure that it does not dry out too much. It has an extremely pleasant taste and can be seasoned with salt, extra virgin olive oil and vegetables. Being a fish mainly caught during the winter, it can be prepared, for example, together with seasonal vegetables such as pumpkin and artichokes. At Il Piccolo Mondo you can enjoy an inviting croaker with pumpkin cream and artichokes among the main courses, appreciating the authentic taste of seasonal vegetables with excellent fish.

If you love fish and good food, Il Piccolo Mondo is the restaurant for you. We are waiting for you!

For reservations please contact us at 06 42016034.

/by
,

Salmon: a good and healthy fish

Salmon is a fish that is born in fresh waters, and then migrates to the cold seas of Norway, Scotland and Canada. Thanks to its pleasant taste, it is one of the most widely reared fish in the world. In trade it is also found wild, but it is less easy to find.

The tender meats and the delicate and tasty flavour make it versatile in the kitchen and suitable for the preparation of numerous recipes. But the salmon is not only tasty, it is also good for the health! Let’s discover together the nutritional characteristics.

 

Nutritive and beneficial properties

Everyone is aware of the goodness of salmon, but not everyone knows its nutritional properties and what it does to the body.

We start from the content of Omega-3, with its countless beneficial properties, of which the salmon is rich. Recent studies state that the greatest benefits in taking these polyunsaturated fatty acids you have consuming foods like fish and vegetables that contain them, rather than supplements. Omega-3 in addition to having an antioxidant action and to combat cellular aging, reduce the amount of triglycerides in the blood while increasing that of HDL cholesterol, the so-called “good” cholesterol.

From a nutritional point of view, salmon has a very high protein content, which makes it a great source of protein. makes it a valuable substitute for both white and red meat. It is also rich in vitamin D, fundamental for fixing calcium in the bones and useful for the prevention of several diseases.

 

Salmon in the kitchen

There are many and varied ways in which you can prepare this fish with a pleasant taste and with tender, full-bodied flesh. You can eat it fresh, cooked (grilled, baked, steamed, pan fried and poached), raw, marinated or smoked. Cooking times of the salmon are short, to keep their meat soft. Recipes range from appetizers, entrees and main courses.

Taking advantage of the arrival in the autumn season of fruits rich in vitamin C such as oranges and pomegranates, at the restaurant Il Piccolo Mondo you can enjoy as an appetizer a tasty salad with marinated salmon, pomegranate and orange.

 

Our recipes

The recipes for preparing quick and easy first courses are different and among these are the following classic salmon pens with cream, but you can experience a more sought-after recipe
like salmon dumplings and double pepper. The ingredients are: potato dumplings, smoked salmon, black pepper and pink pepper in grains, butter, brandy, salt and parsley.

A secret to enhance the taste of salmon is to combine foods with flavours that fight it. An example is the grilled salmon slice with guacamole and sauteed broccoli, a main course of the menu of Il Piccolo Mondo, where the spiciness of this famous Mexican sauce enhances the flavour of the fish.

If you love salmon but not only, at Il Piccolo Mondo you will find a menu full of recipes made with care and creativity.
For reservations please contact us at 06 42016034.

/by