Healthy Hake Recipes

I spent last Saturday having the best time down at the Good Things Cafe in Durrus, West Cork. There, Carmel Somers, the owner of the cafe and excellent teacher, shared her wisdom and knowledge about the beauty of fish and how best to cook it. Having spent the day sampling a range of fish dishes, all of which were excellent, I decided it was about time I started committing to cooking more fish at home. So what are the benefits of this?

It is suggested by health experts that we increase the amount of fish that we eat, reducing our reliance on meat and dairy as protein sources. Fish should be consumed a minimum of 2-3 a week, more if possible. Fish is an excellent source of protein, and is particularly a great source of tryptophan, one of the amino acids (remember I talked before about protein being made up of individual amino acids). Tryptophan is particularly known for its conversion in the body to serotonin, helping us to feel good, and melatonin which helps us sleep.

Fish is also an excellent source of selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect the body from harmful invaders. Oily fish, such as salmon and mackerel, have become well known for their health promoting Omega 3 oils, which have been linked to weight loss and helping reduce cholesterol in the body.

This white fish dish, a great healthy hake recipe, is my favourite from Saturday’s class. For those concerned with weight loss, this when you get home from work with a large plate of steamed veggies would be the perfect way to end the day.