Surimi - what is this product?

Surimi ... What does this word mean? In literal translation from the Japanese language it is minced, and from Chinese - fish puree. Surimi is the basis for the preparation of products imitating lobster meat, crab and other marine creatures. In this case, spices and dyes are added to it.

Surimi ... What does this puree contain? When it is produced, freshly caught ocean fish is used. Varieties that are suitable for surimi must have white meat. In addition, the minimum amount of fat and high density is a prerequisite. Minced surimi produce, as a rule, from codfish. These include blue whiting and pollock, hake and cod. Sometimes they also use herring and horse mackerel, sardines and Ivasi. However, from these surimi varieties, a less qualitative one is obtained. It has low bile-forming properties and a darker color.

In order to produce surimi, the producers use only fish fillets. From the head, bones and skin, bone meal is produced.

Production of surimi - what does this process represent? At the first stage of the fish, caught at least six to ten hours ago, the fillets are separated. After this, the raw material is ground to the state of minced meat and washed several times in cold clean water. As a result of this operation, only insoluble proteins remain. At its core, this product is already surimi. It is additionally placed in a centrifuge to remove excess moisture. At the final stage, ten-kilogram blocks are formed from the protein mass, which are subjected to the fast freezing procedure.

Surimi ... What is this product? One can unequivocally answer that this is a highly concentrated fish protein. This stuffing is very useful. After its production, fish meat is completely cleared of blood, enzymes, fats and other rapidly soluble components. In addition, surimi does not undergo heat treatment. This allows you to save all the useful substances that are in it.
In Europe, products are produced from surimi (photo is located below), which imitate crab meat. Japanese and Chinese cooks prepare a variety of dishes from this minced fish. Include surimi and in the recipes of Asian cuisines.

Russian housewives also often use these crab sticks that have become popular in various dishes. The main advantage of this product is its quick preparation, because it is almost completely ready for use.

As a rule, crab sticks are included in the recipes for cooking salads. You can prepare this product and "under the fur coat." For this dish, you will need five or six hard boiled eggs, onions, fifty grams of butter, an apple, a light mayonnaise and a melted cheese on a shallow grater. An even layer in a deep plate is laid crushed egg whites. The next layer consists of chopped onions. On it put grated preliminary butter, which is covered with a layer of mayonnaise. The next layer is laid out of crab sticks, cut into thin circles. They are covered with a layer of grated apples, mayonnaise and crushed egg yolk.