Perfect Pan-Seared Freshwater Eel: A Simple Home-Cooking Guide
Perfect Pan-Seared Freshwater Eel: A Simple Home-Cooking Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Grilling Freshwater Eel at Home in a Frying Pan
I was so excited to find a fantastic sale on eel for ‘Seafood Day’! Eel is one of my absolute favorites, but the price can be quite prohibitive, so I’d been waiting for a good deal. As soon as I saw the discount, I added it to my cart. Tonight, we’re having delicious grilled eel!
Eel Preparation- 3 fresh freshwater eels
For Cooking- 1 swirl of cooking oil (for coating the pan)
- 1 swirl of cooking oil (for coating the pan)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Let’s start by preparing the fresh freshwater eel. Using kitchen scissors, cut each eel in half into manageable pieces. Then, rinse them lightly under running water to remove any impurities. This simple step helps reduce any ‘fishy’ odor and ensures a cleaner taste.
Step 2
Now, let’s get the frying pan ready for our delicious eel. Line the frying pan with parchment paper. Parchment paper is a great helper as it prevents the eel from sticking to the pan and minimizes oil splatters, making your cooking experience much smoother. Drizzle a little cooking oil over the parchment paper to lightly coat it. Place the eel pieces in the pan with the skin-side down first. Starting with the skin side helps to seal in the juices, resulting in a more tender and moist eel.
Step 3
It’s time to enhance the eel’s flavor! Sprinkle some herb salt evenly over the eel pieces as they begin to cook on the skin side. The subtle herbaceous notes and saltiness of the herb salt will beautifully complement the rich flavor of the eel. Feel free to use regular salt or add other seasonings according to your preference.
Step 4
Once the eel starts to look slightly thicker and appears cooked halfway through, it’s time to flip them. Maintain a medium or medium-low heat on your stove. Cooking slowly and evenly will ensure the eel is cooked through without burning the outside. Avoid using high heat, which can char the exterior too quickly.
Step 5
Now, we’ll cook the flesh side of the eel. When the flesh side turns golden brown, flip the eel again to ensure it’s cooked evenly on all sides. This process helps to achieve that delightful chewy texture and savory taste that eel is known for.
Step 6
When the eel is almost fully cooked, use your kitchen scissors to cut the pieces again if needed. This makes them easier to handle and eat, and also allows you to easily check if they are cooked through to the center.
Step 7
For an extra crispy and flavorful finish, try standing the eel pieces upright in the pan. Lean them against the sides of the pan and continue to cook, ensuring all sides get beautifully seared. This technique can impart a texture reminiscent of charcoal-grilled eel.
Step 8
If the eel pieces tend to fall over and don’t stand up well, use a pair of chopsticks to gently press them down and continue stir-frying. This will help them stay upright while cooking evenly, achieving that perfect balance of crispiness on the outside and tenderness on the inside.
Step 9
Voila! Your beautifully grilled eel is ready. Transfer the perfectly cooked eel to a serving plate. Enjoy this restaurant-quality grilled eel right in your own home! It’s best served immediately while it’s warm. Enjoy your meal!
