The Emirati table is well-known for its deep love of fresh seafood, where everyone constantly seeks the highest quality and authentic taste. However, did you know that the secret to a successful seafood recipe doesn’t just depend on the spices or cooking method, but actually begins with how the seafood is cleaned and cut?
Choosing the correct cut and professional preparation plays a pivotal role in maintaining the meat’s tenderness and ensuring it cooks perfectly without losing its distinct oceanic flavor. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the most famous ways to clean and prepare local fish and seafood in the UAE, and how to choose the right option for your next dish.
Most Popular Ways to Cut and Prepare Fish in the UAE Markets
When purchasing fresh fish, you have several preparation options depending on the type of fish and the recipe you want to make:
1. Whole Cleaned
- Description: Scales, gills, and internal organs are completely removed while keeping the fish whole with its head and tail.
- Best Fish Varieties: Shaari, Sea Bass, and Sea Bream.
- Ideal Cooking Method: This cut is the top choice for charcoal grilling, Singari style, or baking in the oven with delicious Arabic seasoning.
2. Fish Steaks / Cutlets
- Description: The fish is cut crosswise into thick slices that contain the central bone and spine in the middle.
- Best Fish Varieties: Kingfish (the undisputed king of steaks) and large-sized Salmon.
- Ideal Cooking Method: Excellent for pan-searing or grilling, as the central bone protects the meat from crumbling and locks in the fish’s natural juices.
3. Fish Fillet
- Description: Slicing the meat longitudinally along both sides of the backbone, completely removing the spine, bones, and skin to get pure, boneless pieces of tender meat.
- Best Fish Varieties: Hamour, Najil, and Salmon.
- Ideal Cooking Method: Fast to prepare and perfect for children; it suits crispy frying, steaming, or rich oven-baked tagines with sauce.
How to Clean and Prepare Seafood (Shrimp, Crabs, and Calamari)
No seafood feast or platter is complete without shell-fish and cephalopods, and preparing them requires precise steps to guarantee absolute cleanliness and eliminate any unwanted odor:
1. Shrimp / Prawns
- Cleaning Method: Shrimp can be prepared in multiple ways; either fully peeled (with the tail left on or removed), but the most critical step is removing the sand vein (the dark line) along the back using a thin wooden skewer or a small longitudinal slit to prevent any gritty texture. It can also be thoroughly washed while keeping the shell intact for grilling recipes.
- Ideal Cooking Method: Peeled shrimp is excellent for tagines, pastas, and soups, while shell-on shrimp is perfect for charcoal grilling or boiling with seafood spices.
2. Crabs ( القبقوب )
- Cleaning Method: Crabs are washed thoroughly with cold water to remove any sand trapped between the legs and claws. The hard top shell (carapace) is removed, the spongy internal gills are completely discarded, and the inner cavity is gently rinsed. After that, the crab can be cut right down the middle into two halves for easy cooking and better seasoning absorption.
- Ideal Cooking Method: Crabs serve as an essential ingredient in premium, luxurious creamy seafood soups, or they can be baked in the oven as a tagine with garlic, lemon, and butter.
3. Calamari / Squid
- Cleaning Method: The head and internal organs are pulled out from inside the tube-like body of the calamari, and the transparent cartilage (the quill/backbone) is removed. After that, the thin, colored outer skin is peeled off to reveal a bright white body. It is washed thoroughly from the inside and then cut into rings or left whole for stuffing.
- Ideal Cooking Method: Calamari rings are ideal for quick deep-frying after being coated for a crispy texture (Crispy Calamari), or they can be cut into small pieces for soups and rice tagines.
Golden Rules for Preserving Seafood Freshness
- Immediate Drying: Excess moisture and water are the primary enemies of fish and seafood. After quickly rinsing the ingredients with cold water, use thick paper towels to dry the meat completely before seasoning.
- Chilled Storage: Fresh seafood should never be left at room temperature during preparation; it must always be kept over crushed ice or inside the refrigerator (between 0°C and 4°C).
Why Is It Better to Buy Professionally Prepared and Cut Seafood?
Cleaning and cutting fish, crabs, and calamari at home can be a tiring, time-consuming process that requires specialized tools to avoid wasting meat. Relying on professionals ensures a deep clean that eliminates all trace of fishy odor while keeping the product fresh, premium, and ready for immediate cooking.
Get Your Order Fresh and Custom-Cut to Your Preference in the UAE
Shopping for seafood no longer requires early trips to traditional fish markets or dealing with the hassle of cleaning and wasting time.
With the Fish Markets App, you can now browse a wide selection of the finest fresh fish and seafood, from shrimp, crabs, and calamari, to Hamour, Kingfish, Shaari, and Salmon. The platform allows you to accurately choose your preferred cleaning and cutting method so that quality experts can prepare your order with ultimate professionalism, shipping it to you fast and chilled right to your doorstep in the UAE.
Don’t wait! Download the Fish Markets App now and enjoy an easy, healthy, and premium cooking experience.
