Firm white fish

[randyjl]

I am just learning how to cook fish. I am still in my "white fish only" phase. I do like tilapia. I do not like catfish, even though I live in the heart of East Texas. If a recipe calls for firm white fish, what are my options? Is tilapia considered a firm fish?

[jcattles]

I'm so glad someone posted about this. I was thinking about it the other day. I live in a very landlocked state (WY) and have never eaten much fish unless we are vacationing along coastal areas. I would love to eat/cook more fish and I know the only way to learn is to just do it, but I still hesitate. All the fish/seafood I can buy at my local grocery store has been frozen & shipped. Some looks good but others look waterlogged. I could probably get better quality in Denver, but that is a 2 hour drive, so we don't do it very frequently. We are also very limited to what our stores carry, Tilapia,Cod, Catfish (yuck), Salmon, Trout & Tuna are about it. They won't order in anything special so I'm very limited. It's rather frustrating!

[Puffin3]

Do you live near a fresh fish market? I mean really fresh not fresh because the fish was frozen on a boat and "we've thawed it out and put it on ice for your viewing pleasure" type fish market. LOL

[Phoebe]

Love mahi mahi. Another good chose is rockfish (or striper).

[EricMM]

I would say that grouper is about the firmest fish you can get...also halibut.

[Ruthie789]

Haddock is a mild firm fish which I use often. I don't like Tilapia either it is dry.
Cod fish is also firm but it is quite flavorful and halibut mentionned can be quite expensive.

[Nanzi]

Monkfish, also called poor mans lobster. Very mild and sweet. Yummy.

[mrsfury]

Redfish, halibut and mahi mahi are my favorites. Tilapia, not so much.

[Harters]

Coley, pollock, cod, haddock, hake, halibut are the usual ones for "firm and white" to me.

I go for the first two for preference as they are not only cheaper but are generally regarded as sustainable catches.

[Rodzilla]

black cod, chilean sea bass, albacore, ono, escolar (read about this first), striped bass.

not quite white but I think you could handle it - mahi mahi

[perk]

Swordfish is a very meaty, and mild, fish. You might give that at ry.

[ipsedixit]

I'm not sure swordfish is "mild" in the way that cod or halibt or even tilapia would be.

[twinsue]

Tilapia is firmer than sole, not as "meaty" as cod or halibut. It is less expensive than either of those two, as is Basa, also called Swai. I use them in thai curries a lot. Be sure not to over cook because they will fall apart faster than firmer fish. But they can breaded and sauteed, broiled, baked .

[fourunder]

basa = catfish...

[twinsue]

Thanks for the info, I had no idea. I have now read up on it. I prefer it to American catfish. I find it milder, also it has slightly less fat than the American species. (fish fat may be good for you, but limiting fat is something I try to do)

[ipsedixit]

Cod or halibut - depending on your budget.